Any container used for vegetables organic
gardening must have drainage holes that allow excess water to drain
away freely.
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In wide shallow containers, in
particular, it is essential to have drainage holes well spaced around
the perimeter of the base;
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rectangular ones should have at least a
drainage hole at each corner. Otherwise, if the container is on an
uneven surface, water will be trapped and become stagnant.
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However, there is no need to waste soil
space by filling the base with crocking material as previously
recommended.
Drainage material in containers must
allow excess water to escape without taking the soil with it.
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One of the easiest and most space-saving
methods is to cover the drainage hole with pieces of fiberglass insect
gauze about 5 cm square.
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If the soil is fibrous and crumbly, it is
unlikely that extra covering will be needed, but as a precaution and to
speed water escape, cover each gauze square with about 1 cm of either
crushed charcoal, gravel, rice hulls or other open material that does
not decompose rapidly.
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In containers more than about 25 cm wide
put 1 cm thick layer of this type of material over the entire base.
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