Review: AutoPot Watering System

Watering during the summer is one of those gardening jobs I’d happily do without. Of course, this year’s wet season has cut down on the workload but the rainfall makes no difference when you have a greenhouse. So, I was interested to try out the AutoPot Watering System to see how effective it was. (I was given a free kit to test.)

I met the team behind this irrigation kit at the Garden Press Event back in February and was impressed by their claims – easy to use, effective, and designed for all sorts of growing from seed trays to pots or growbags. In addition, it needs no power and has no complicated timing system to set up.

They sent me a Tray2Grow kit, which the firm describes as the most versatile in the AutoPot range. It has a long tray, four seed trays, capillary matting, a root control sheet (this can be machine washed), and the aquavalve with spikes, pipework and filters to allow plants to gradually draw up water.

The only thing we had to find was a large water reservoir. The kit can be connected to a water butt but, as I’d decided to trial it in my new greenhouse, this wasn’t an option. It wasn’t difficult to repurpose an old plant food bucket – choosing something with a lid is good to stop midges.

Getting the system level is vital if it’s to work correctly and that did take a bit of fiddling. However, the AutoPot kit comes with three spirit levels that slot into the base tray and it was just a case of adjusting things until it was level. The firm recommends sitting it on a hard surface but that wasn’t practical in the greenhouse.

We also found that the flow rate needed adjusting after a few days – possibly down to fitter rather than design error. Once that was done, the capillary matting has been constantly damp.

I decided to trial some cucumbers and melons in individual pots as they are thirsty plants and need regular watering. Four large pots fitted comfortably into the tray.

Within a few weeks, they had put on good growth and seemed happy with the levels of water they were getting. The cucumbers have been cropping well – almost too well – and there are melons slowly growing.

As a system, it’s easy to use – there’s a very good online instruction video for setting it up – and it certainly cuts down on the watering. All we’ve had to do is remember to check the reservoir every few days although a bigger container would reduce the frequency needed.

I chose to use it under cover but the irrigation system is also suitable for outdoors. It would certainly be a good option for holiday watering. A great piece of kit that certainly lived up to the sales pitch.

For more information about AutoPot watering systems, visit their website.

You can read more of my gardening product reviews here.

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