Page 67 - Simply Vegetables Summer 2022

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Curiously Good – Wesley Burton takes on AutoPot
Peeping at your neighbours veg is practically a gardeners prerogative. The time-honoured tradition of casting an admiring or curious glance at a fellow growers’ work and asking ‘how did you do that?’ or ‘why did you do that?’ is the jumping off point for infinitely unfolding discussions about plants, life, and all the rest.
Once the preserve of physical neighbours or fellow allotment tenants, vegetal voyeurism is now well established in online spaces too. It’s easier than ever for growers to take a look, take leaf, or run a mile, to combine techniques with their own ideas and pique the curiosity of more people. Following this exact trajectory, one Wesley Burton of Nottingham has been hooked by his interest in the work of others and is now garnering ample attention for his own splendid efforts.
In SV 3.21 we covered our formative experiences of fig growing, experiences that were guided in no small part by Wesley. He has over two hundred differently shaped fig leaf-shaped notches to his figurative fig growing belt (he’s grown 200+ varieties of figs)! Our interest in his exploits was matched by his in our watering systems.
Keen to reciprocate Wesley’s help in the growing and grafting of the fascinating
fig, we sent Wesley some systems to try. True to form he’d gone rollin’ and tumblin’ into another horticultural odyssey, this time with tomatoes. Inspired by the work of Instagram tomato luminaries and by
the diverse range of tomatoes available, Wesley set out to produce the ultimate expression of over sixty varieties. To do this would mean serving each variety’s exact needs, no mean feat when you’ve a busy life to lead. This is precisely where the XL modules that we’d sent Wesley came up trumps.
Wesley’s polytunnel with over sixty power-free, zero waste AutoPot 1Pot XL modules underway
Going potty, Wesley received and reconditioned some of our XL modules from a decommissioned grow if that’s not growing green then what is?
The modules connect via pipework
and fittings to create a complete watering system that can be run off a reservoir
or water butt. Despite being joined in a system each module waters and feeds the plant within it independently, solving the problem of how to cater to each variety’s individual needs.
The plants themselves are in complete control of their irrigation regime thanks to the AQUAvalve in each module tray. The AQUAvalve meters out a supply of water and/or nutrient solution into the tray. Only once a plant has exhausted the supply will the AQUAvalve reopen to admit a fresh
fill. There’s no power required for timers or computers as no timers or computers are required. Indeed, as the system is gravity- fed it negates the need for any electricity whatsoever, which is a huge bonus for allotment growers like Wesley. Likewise the fact that systems do not require running water.
Wesley reports that the system caused a bit of a stir on his allotment. But the more Wesley’s neighbours have visited his polytunnel the more they’ve grown to appreciate the impetus and flexibility that the system offers. It enhances growth, takes away a laborious task, allows for holidays, and gives growers the chance
attend more closely to the plants.
Whilst Wesley has found that he doesn’t
always HAVE to be present, he and his neighbours are nonetheless spending increasing amounts of time on the plot. They’ve been enchanted by the progress the plants are making and by observing them as they feed. The tomatoes are currently putting on about 5 cm per week in both height and girth.
Wesley will soon be introducing nutrient solution via the reservoir and pipework
at which point riotous development will likely ensue. Hence he’s arranged drop cords throughout the tunnel to keep things trained and enable easy crop management. The polytunnel also has an exciting dual purpose.
Yes indeed, Wesley’s poly’ is a media centre in the making! The plan is to host
a tomato-and-tipples podcast-style video review come harvest time. It’s a genius idea. You spend all season growing a
wild and varied range of fruits so why not sit down to taste with a bottle o plonk to combine the finest fruits of the vine. Expect welcome cameos from Wesley’s ever present fig crop, plus basil and marigolds to boost the sensory experience (aromas not available online) it’s surely one to watch! Find Wesley on Insta @fig_grows_81
Simply Vegetables 67