Hydrofarm Tomato Barrel with 4 ft Tower | Self-Watering Planter

What the Hydrofarm Tomato Barrel Comes With

The planter is a round barrel, 14.75 in across and 11.5 in deep, holding 0.75 cu ft of growing mix. Underneath it sits a basin reservoir with a capacity of 1.5 gal. A wick carries water up from that basin into the mix, so the plant draws what it needs rather than waiting for the next can. The trellis builds from four support rings and four connecting risers, and reaches 4 ft at full height. Rings clip into the risers, which is how the cage grows with the plant instead of standing tall from day one. The frame is rated for tomatoes, beans, peas and other climbing plants and flowers. Shipping weight for the set is 3.63 lb, and cases hold four of them. Its part number is GCTB2, with UPC 638104020855 and GTIN-14 10638104020852. The reason a frame like this matters is weight distribution. Held by a ring, the plant spends its energy on the fruit instead of on holding the fruit up. It also keeps ripening fruit clear of the soil surface, which is where most of the rot starts.

Running a Self Watering Tomato Planter Through Summer

A self watering tomato planter changes the daily job from watering to refilling. Fill the basin and the mix takes up what it needs through the wick, which smooths out the swing between soaked and bone dry. That swing is what splits tomato skins, and what triggers blossom end rot in a dry week. Check the basin rather than the surface. A dry top inch above a full basin is normal and does not mean the plant is thirsty. In high summer a mature plant can empty the reservoir in a day or two, so the basin becomes the daily look. Feed through the basin rather than over the top where you can. Nutrient drawn up by the wick reaches the whole root mass instead of running down the inside wall of the pot. Build the cage as the plant grows and tie the leader in loosely at each ring. A tight tie cuts into the stem once the stem thickens, and that damage shows up weeks later as a weak point. Keep the barrel on a hard level surface, because a basin standing on soft ground tips as it fills. Indoors it wants the brightest window available, and outdoors it wants six hours at minimum. Empty and rinse the basin at the end of a season, since standing water in a warm reservoir grows algae and attracts larvae.

Key Features

• 14.75 in barrel: Holds 0.75 cu ft of mix on a round, heavy-duty base.
• 1.5 gal reservoir: A basin beneath the mix, filled from the side.
• Wicking system: Water and feed move up to the roots instead of down past them.
• Four rings, four risers: Builds the trellis up to 4 ft as the plant climbs.
• Fruit support: A held truss lets the plant spend its energy on the fruit.
• Indoor or outdoor: The same unit works on a patio or by a bright window.
• 3.63 lb shipping weight: The empty set is light to carry and quick to put together.

Technical Specifications