Planting the Polycrub with Summer Crops + a new OLLA watering system

[@MsLindy57]

I was looking for more information about the Thirsty Earth watering system and came across your video. I especially want to thank you for showing how to use string for tomatoes. Your instructions are the easiest to follow. And thank you for the information about eggplant; I didn’t know you plant them deep like tomatoes. Great tutorial and information!

[@Lovelygreens]

You're most welcome!

[@philjameson292]

We have a Polycrub and are in the Scottish Highlands. We harvested our first 500g of strawberries this weekend. It's getting blood to +30C on sunny days. We've also just put 2 slimline water butts in

[@Lovelygreens]

Absolutely roasting in mine too! I'm already leaving one door open all day long, and that keeps the temperature to about 24C. Last month it was over 40C inside with the doors closed!

[@s.z.6200]

Your poly tunnel is so well organized and planted. I love the huge water barrels and watering system, looks so nice.

[@Lovelygreens]

Thank you :) keeping organized is the only way I can keep on top of the garden.

[@jeaninevanzantvoort4042]

It's an absolute joy seeing you planting for upcoming months. My beans got their rack today so they can climbe. Still waiting for my greenhouse to arrive. Wish we could skip a few months into harvesting :D That's my favorite time :D I don't have a cat but i love seeing yours!

[@Lovelygreens]

Your greenhouse will come in handy any time of the year - excited for you!

[@andreabriem853]

It looks very nice and clear this time of the year. But I can't wait to see the mass of vegetables you producing in the Polycrop. I love this

[@Lovelygreens]

Me too! Just 2-3 months away 😍

[@karswan]

I bought these for my small greenhouse and got your discount you mentioned. Thank you. I found you via your sweet potato video. I also have made soap for years, just not lately. These will be a salvation.

[@Lovelygreens]

They work so well! You'll be so glad to have them in the summer. Hopefully, you'll be inspired to make soap again, too :)

[@persicetum]

Thanks for your ideas. I wonder about big ollas in which to grow useful aquatic plants to reduce evaporation instead of symply covering the pots with underpots. Then we would need a centralised low tech system to keep the water level costant. That shouldn t be a vig problem...great video

[@lisagoldberg5178]

This is amazing! Thank you for showing this product. Can't wait to see the hill behind the polycrub when it is blooming.❤🐝🐞🥀

[@Lovelygreens]

It's going to be interesting! I seeded it last year but many of the plants in it now are wildflowers and "weeds" - its going to be incredible for pollinators 😍

[@lisagoldberg5178]

@@Lovelygreens ❤🐝🦋

[@potagermalo]

Coucou 👋🏻 👋🏻 Superbe travail bravo. J'adore ce système d'arrosage 😉 Merci pour ce partage A bientôt

[@Lovelygreens]

I love it too! Thank you 💚

[@potagermalo]

​@@Lovelygreens de rien 😊

[@pots-and-petals]

🌱🌱 I took the plunge this weekend and planted my tomoates, cucumbers and aubergines out in the polyhouse this weekend! I was worried I might be too eager! 😅 I've recently started my own allotment garden channel if you fancy taking a look. Just finished a plot tour, so I'm going to relax and enjoy your video. I've been a loyal subscriber for a while and really enjoy what you do on this channel! 🌱🌱

[@Lovelygreens]

Thank you and wishing you much luck with your channel! We need more people sharing the love of gardening 💚

[@tulle7358]

Hi Tanya, since your climate doesn’t get too cold, you should try overwinter your eggplant in the poly crop … They are originally perennial plants but don’t survive hard frost. Just prune them a little for overwintering. I think they will do just fine in your poly crop, that way you get a head start the next year with already established plants. In case of a winter with very cold weather and it gets too cold in tunnel, you can just wrap them in some jute fabric to help them those days… 😊 xx from Denmark 🇩🇰

[@Lovelygreens]

When I say, not too cold, that's relatively speaking. It got down to 0⁰C in the Polycrub last winter. Probably too cold to overwinter aubergines, but not a bad idea to take cuttings and see if I can overwinter those in the house!

[@tulle7358]

@@Lovelygreens 0 is okay as far as I know.. just no freeze and cold cold wind.. or a cutting,as you mentioned, would be fun to try 😊👍

[@jackparton3198]

Wow that’s amazing your new watering system I had just ordered something similar to what you have for two new raised beds. Thank again for sharing your beautiful garden 🪴

[@Lovelygreens]

My pleasure, and I hope your watering system works well, too! Smart watering is becoming essential for good vegetable production 👌

[@danyoutube7491]

I've never seen anything like that pink colour coming off the spinach plant, that's interesting.

[@Lovelygreens]

Me either! It's crazy how it just rubs off 💚

[@HashHyped]

you’re a stud 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 great job, that’s a lot of hard work!!! Thanks for the great videos 🤟🏼💚

[@LisaMay_HomeAndAway]

You are such an inspiration

[@Lovelygreens]

Thank you 💚

[@stevendowden2579]

cracking video tanya

[@Lovelygreens]

Thanks Steven 🙌

[@ufoman4468]

Hello Tanya Lovely Greens, All in your garden is looking great. All systems go. I was worried my Toms were not growing fast enough but they are on a par with yours and i have every confidence in your planting. Which gives me confidence in mine . Gees im wrattling on again arent i.🤭 PS Enjoy the upcoming TT Week.😘

[@Lovelygreens]

Thank you, and I'm sure your tomatoes will be fine! They grow so quickly 🙂

[@sarahbell4344]

Looking wonderful. I used jute string last year , some of them rotted through , so this year I am using a thicker plastic string, I did try to be environmentally friendly 😬

[@Lovelygreens]

Yes, it rots below/around soil level for me too. Hence reusing the aerial part of last year's string and tying new string on using a double loop. Plastic string should last many years for you!

[@Paravetje]

I will be growing vegetables for the first time this year. I'm interested in this type of watering system for my new raised beds that I will be building soon. I have previously thought about drip irrigation, but I thought it would be good for me to experience watering for at least one year, to get an idea of how much work it is, and to see how the plants do, and also to give me incentive to be in the garden to check on everything every day. Do you advise new gardeners to get an automatic watering system? I did think though, the soil that's not next to the olla won't be moist, can the roots still absorb the nutrients from dry soil?

[@expat2023]

Excellent episode - thank you!

[@Lovelygreens]

I'm glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@laurendolan]

hello- how are you keeping your kitties from using your planters as litter boxes? thank you!

[@Lovelygreens]

They prefer the grass lawn, thank goodness!

[@kellywalton4195]

Do you have a follow-up video after using the olla watering system?

[@Lovelygreens]

I shared it regularly in last year's monthly gardening videos. The Garden in June, July, etc.

[@kristieoblak963]

How do you manage pests like insects in the greenhouse? I had an infestation of aphids this past spring that was impossible to control!

[@Lovelygreens]

Pests tend to appear when humidity is low, soil is dry, spaces aren't clean, plants are stressed, and there's places for them to hide. I try to keep on top of those aspects, but there's always some unwanted creatures about. As long as they're not causing too much harm to plants, I don't worry about it.

[@letsdoitgull2478]

Thanks for the video 💓🎁🎁

[@go.green379]

Luar biasa, sangat menginspirasi saya sebagai pemula

[@MrDemetrius98]

Can you tell me what water basins you have? I've been looking online and can't seem to find the ones that look like yours. We are purchasing the 20 pack and need to do the DIY for the water barrel.

[@Lovelygreens]

They're these ones thethirstyearth.com/products/the-automatic-olla-watering-system-for-your-garden?variant=41487537012770&sca_ref=3783154.nDDAZBfveK

[@cyndiweyler910]

Hi Tonya, I am in Canada and enjoy your channel to see what other countries have for gardening products. As well as ollas, I was wondering if you could share the name of the of the pots you had your seedlings in? They looked fairly sturdy and really interesting bottom for easy pushing out plant. Are they considered reusable, easy to clean, sanitize and store for next growing season? Are they sold online? Do they come in smaller starter pot for seed starting? Thanks

[@Lovelygreens]

Hi Cyndi, I love those pots and bought loads of them in a sale last year. The brand is called Clever Pots, and I'm not sure if they're available across the pond! I've just had a look on Google and Amazon and no luck. And yes, they're reusable and easy to clean and come in several different sizes. Teeny tiny ones to big ones.

[@kimberleyong321]

I'm a newbie gardener in the UK and I wanted to buy this Olla Watering System but it seems like Thirsty Earth doesn't deliver to the UK! Does it deliver to the Isle of man? I'm so curious! I feel like now that I know this system exists (and it is not available to me) I am gutted to even consider other traditional irrigation options! D: (Update) - I've just seen the part of your video talking about the import charge! thanks for the info.

[@Lovelygreens]

If you'd like to make individual ollas, it will be far cheaper than importing. You have to fill each manually, but if you’re a consistent gardener, then it's not an issue. Here's one way to make them lovelygreens.com/how-to-make-diy-ollas-low-tech-self-watering-systems-for-plants/

[@kimberleyong321]

@@Lovelygreens thank you! I saw that video right after seeing this one and yes I am so inspired to try this! I can't wait!

[@poolfield2]

How do the nutrients get from the compost mulch to the plants if there isn’t any watering from above?

[@Lovelygreens]

Good question. Moisture and worms bring nutrients from the compost down into the soil. If I were using ollas outdoors in one of my in-ground beds, I wouldn't water the beds except in extreme conditions. Because these beds are raised, and inside the Polycrub (dries out quicker and no rain), I'll still be watering the beds. However, with the ollas, I hope to reduce the need for watering from above from every day (last summer!) to once a week.

[@poolfield2]

@@Lovelygreens ok, I’ll still do some above ground watering. I’m experimenting with your homemade Ollas in my polytunnel where the strawberries are because I find it difficult to water strawberries without encouraging slugs.

[@health.bites.5615]

Were you unhappy with the diy ollos?

[@Lovelygreens]

No, why?

[@health.bites.5615]

I'm curious why you switched from using your homemade ollos to the Thirsty Earth irrigation system.

[@richardcooney7789]

Try lining your growing areas with a strip of copper slugs don't like it and wont cross it .

[@catface101]

It seems to be a solution to a problem that doesn't exist, y'know? Like if it can be made with terracotta pots with lids and drip irrigation constantly filling up the pots, then why by the Thirsty Earth brand specifically?

[@Lovelygreens]

It's a better solution to the DIY one since you don't have to manually fill each pot. It also makes it easier to go away on trips and not have your plants die. Even DIY ollas need filling every few days in the heat. The Thisty Earth is the only good and affordable automatic ollas I've seen.

[@catface101]

@@Lovelygreens if you fill it the first time (which you'd be doing with the Thirsty Earth) then have the pot being constantly replenished by a drip irrigation line then it'll serve the same purpose, no?

[@susiea1419]

The Thirsty earth olla system is fantastic but I just could not afford it so I am using big glass globes instead

[@Lovelygreens]

​@@catface101 This makes no sense to me. I'm not sure that you completely understand the concept.

[@Lovelygreens]

​@Susie A1 Hi Susie, not sure how that would work - glass doesn't wick moisture.

[@awacero3699]

hello¡¡¡ have a cuestion , ollas function in combination of nutrients? , does nutrients can be filtered by ollas terrracota pores?

[@Lovelygreens]

I would only use pure water for ollas - no fertilizers. Why? The added nutrients could create a festering mess inside each cup.