I have been using homemade earth boxes to grow some of the new dwarf variety tomatoes with good results. Wanting to make some more, but reluctant to spend several hours constructing the reservoir and wicking systems, I had an idea.

I put two grow bags inside a plastic tote from a big box store and filled them with a bag (1 cu ft) of planting mix plus a few shovelfuls of compost to create the growing volume, and added water to the space between the bags and tote walls made the reservoir. The holes in the bags provided the wicking system. Total cost ~$7 plus the mix; assembly time ~12 minutes!

The picture also shows the PVC frame I will use to support the branches. Unfortunately the overcast day did not show the mix in the bags well. Each bag has a cross-section of 9"x8.25" when empty, but filling pushes them out to a cylindrical shape about 11" in diameter. I calculated that filling the bags to a height of 12" produces a volume of between 4 and 5 liquid gallons each (about the equivalent of a 5 to 7 gallon trade pot) and they could be filled another inch or two if needed. I haven't decided whether to provide a cover or not, but I'll report back in a couple of months on how this is working.

I do something similar, but using pots and large deep trays.
I call it the semi hydroponic way of growing tomatoes.

Great idea and explanation Don. I look forward to seeing the tomatoes once they are fruiting. I can almost taste them just thinking about it.

How did this work out? Does the grow bag material wick water gradually into the growing medium, or does the plant end up in a swamp?

love your pvc grow tower!

I am using a lot of grow bags this year but I would not have thought of doing this. How much water do you put in the tub? Will be interesting to see how the roots do not stay to wet

grow bags (or any pots, but the bags conform to the shape of the tub nicely) with wicks on any type of platform, so that only the bottom of the bag and/or the wicks are in contact with the water... now, that I could see, and it seems easier to put together than most HEB designs.

Don, do you mean there is water in there all the time?

I am in my third year of planting heirloom tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, and squash in 10-gallon grow bags which are set in medium-size kiddie pools (3 to a pool). I live in inland southern California, so this is a perfect system. I don't have to spend all my time watering. I put about an inch or two of water in the tubs and then let the bags wick it up. About every third day, I let the pools dry out. This is the first year I have done this, and I think the plants look better and it's good for getting rid of mosquitos. I always get lots of vegetables. All plants go in tomato cages and I clip them together at the top with clothespins for stability.

Great idea @4sheilaboola. Could you show us some pictures if possible.

I'll try to send pictures (I'm not very good at this). All plants are on a deck covered with shade cloth entirely (to prevent sun and birds getting in) and wire about three feet up on the bottom (to prevent squirrels, pack rats, and mice getting in). Not last year, but this year the bees didn't like going through the shade cloth. I have self-pollinating cucumbers and I am pollinating the squash by hand. Next year, I'll get self-pollinating zucchini.

Thank you for the pictures @4sheilaboola. What a marvelous set-up!

Thank you!