Boxfarm - the design

Planter Box :
Hard bodied box, anti-UV and strong enough for most vegetables and small plants. Can be used as a simple stand alone, or with optional staking systems or racking systems.
Box is tapered for stackability.
Size: 30” x 15” x H12”. Water – 2.2 gallons

The Diaphragm:
This is a screen to separate the box into sections – one for the soils mix and a water reservoir area beneath it. The Diaphragm is made of material strong enough to hold the soil mix. It has small perforated holes to promote aeration. The holes are not big enough to permit the soil to fall through. There is another hole cut through for the Water Filling Tube to hold up. Five other larger holes are for access to the Wicking Chambers.

The Diaphragm keeps the soil mix from being soaked in water which would have killed the plants.

Wicking Chambers:
These are like perforated cups whose function is to contain soil mix. Water from the Water Reservoir seeps into these Wicking Chambers and by capillarity water is drawn up into soil mix above the Diaphragm. The soil in the Wicking Chambers act like wickers in a kerosene lamp – its function is to drawn up water.

In this way, soil mix is kept moisturised. There is sufficient moisture in the soil for the plants all the time. When the soil is moisturised, it acts on the fertiliser strip causing a slow, controlled and continuous release of nutrients for the plants.

For plants that require less moisture, the number of Wicking Chambers may be reduced simply by blocking the openings on the Diaphragm with a piece of wood etc, and leaving the Wicker Chamber empty.

The cups making the Wicking Chambers also double as supports for the Diaphragm.

This method means – no need for daily watering the plants!

Water Reservoir:
Water is filled in the planter box up to a level about ½” below the Diaphragm. The gap between the water reservoir and the Diaphragm helps to aerate the soil mix. To ensure that the water level never touches the Diaphragm there is a Water Overflow Hole just slightly below the Diaphragm. This perforation on the box allows excess water to flow out.

Note: To prevent the Water Reservoir from becoming a refuge for mosquitoes, simply tape a piece of fabric at the top of the hole and let the fabric overhang and cover the hole. In this way, water may flow out, but insects can not get in.

No need for daily watering of plants! Unfortunately, periodic refilling of the water reservoir is still required. Nevertheless, this method saves a lot on the water bill. In normal watering, the water eventually seeps down into the earth and much more of the water is need to ensure the soil iis kept moisturised for some time..

Water Filling Tube:
This tube protrudes through the soil mix and reaches the base of the box. Water is poured through this tube to refill the Reservoir. The base of the tube is tapered to prevent the tube from being blocked by sediments that will prevent refilling.

Aeration Tube:
This is an open-ended tubing with many perforations. The tube protrudes on both sides of the planter box drawing air in. Its function is to help in the aeration of the soil mix. Before the tube is placed in position, it is wrapped in a breathable fabric, or some fine netting. This is to prevent soil from filling up and cutting off air flow. The tube is position somewhere in the middle of the soil mix.

No need for tilling! The soils is kept sufficiently aerated throughout..

Fertiliser Strip:
Fertiliser is placed in a strip of a few inches across the box right on the top of the soil mix. Along the mould of the soil, create a small trough and pour the dry fertiliser along the length. Then use some moisturised soil and cover the fertiliser strip.

How much fertiliser and what type to use:-
Use only dry fertiliser (powder form) and not those that require mixing with water.
Use about 2 cups of fertiliser. For organic fertilisers, use 3 cups.

The continuous moisturising of the soil allows the fertiliser to be released slowly over time. In this way, the plants receive continuous and sufficient amount of nutrients for one growing cycle. (Plant growth suffers with no nutrients and too much nutrients can kill the plants.)

No need for laborious regular fertilising!

Plastic Cover:
The planter box is covered with a plastic sheet with appropriate ‘X’ cut openings for the plants to grow through. This plastic cover acts as a mulch:
- It shelters the soil mix from rain. Rain water would have caused all the fertiliser to be washed away. Too much nutrients in the soil would have badly affected plant growth, as well as wastage of fertilisers.
- It prevents the soil from compacting after heavy rain.
- If prevents weed growth. Weed is really irritating. Time and effort is required to de-weed, and the weeds also consume the nutrients meant for the plants.
- The plastic cover helps prevent insects from getting to the soil.
- If insecticides are used on the plants, the plastic cover minimises the chemicals from getting into the soil mix.
- It helps inn regulating moisture in the soil. In cold climate the plastic cover helps retain soil heat, and in hot weather, it helps repel some of the sun heat.

The soil should by filled up to the brim with a moulded centre. This way the plastic cover will not sag to the centre and trap rain water.

For good thermal effect, light coloured plastic covers should be used in hot climate areas and dark colours for cold climate areas.

Staking system:
Simple system that make use of the weight of the box for anchorage and stability.

Base plate tucked under the box for stability .Flexible clamps on vertical support enable the horizontal support to be fixed at any height.Flexible clamps on the horizontal support allow stakes to be fixed at any position. Any number of stakes may be attached.Stakes comme in different lengths.If needed to support 2 rows of plants, use additional cross supports as show