The Wonderful World of Wicking Beds
with Sophie Thomson
Want to grow more food with less water, less effort, and fewer failures? Enter the magical world of wicking beds — the ultimate low-maintenance gardening system, especially for hot, dry, or tricky growing conditions.In this episode, your host Paul West is joined by gardening legend Sophie Thomson (from Gardening Australia) as she walks us through everything she’s learned from 12+ years of building and experimenting with wicking beds — from cheap DIY setups to portable IBC builds and community garden mega-projects. If you’ve ever been curious about wicking beds, this is the episode for you
“Wicking beds make growing veggies easy, saving enormous time and water – I only top mine up once or twice a week, even in hot weather.”
Sophie Thomson
🧭 In This Episode
- What exactly is a wicking bed, and how does it work?
- How wicking beds save time, water, and effort — especially in harsh climates
- Why they’re ideal for renters, small spaces, and concrete courtyards
- DIY options: IBCs, fridges, styrofoam boxes, washing machine drums, and pallets
- How to avoid common pitfalls (e.g. overheating, poor wicking, bad soil)
- Wicking bed anatomy: inlet pipes, overflows, reservoirs, geotextile, and soil
- Why soil quality is absolutely critical
- How to grow in wicking beds year-round — even during 45°C summers
- The great wicking bed addiction (you’ve been warned!)
💡 Top Tips from Sophie
- “Wicking beds make gardening easier — and addictive.”
- “Get the soil right, or the system won’t work.”
- “Think of your veggies like premmie babies — they need gentle, even care.”
- “Every part of the bed has a purpose — respect the layers.”
- “Clad your IBCs to block light, cool the soil, and extend the life of your bed.”
🛠️ Anatomy of a Wicking Bed
- Reservoir: Holds water at the base of the bed, allowing plants to wick moisture from below.
- Geotextile Fabric: Separates soil from reservoir and prevents fines from clogging the system.
- Inlet Pipe: Delivers water directly to the reservoir without wetting foliage.
- Overflow Pipe: Prevents waterlogging by draining excess water at the soil line.
- Optional Drain Valve: Allows complete drainage — great for flushing salts in arid zones.
- Soil Layer: Needs to be rich in organic matter to ensure proper wicking.
🔨 DIY Options Covered
- IBC tanks (cut in half) — strong, durable, and portable
- Washing machine drums — compact, upcycled, and water-efficient
- Old fridges — stylish with a custom collar (community garden favourite)
- Styrofoam boxes — great short-term option, but not UV stable
- Commercial inserts like WaterUps — increase water-holding capacity
- DIY inserts made from plastic pallets and nursery pots
- Self-watering pots — mini wicking beds perfect for tomatoes and herbs
🌿 What Grows Best in Wicking Beds?
Best suited for:
- Lettuce and salad greens
- Bok choy and leafy Asian greens
- Kale, chard, and silverbeet
- Herbs that don’t like drying out
- Tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant
- Compact cucurbits like mini pumpkins or gem squash
- Crops you want fresh and tender (not bitter or bolted!)
More care required for:
- Carrots and seeds (need top watering to germinate)
- Tiny root veg or shallow-rooted crops
- Extra-large, sprawling plants like tromboncino (they’ll take over!)
🗣️ Listener Q&A Highlights
- How deep should my soil layer be? → 30cm is the sweet spot. Big crops can handle 50cm.
- Do I need to change the soil over time? → Not if you consistently add compost and organic matter.
- Can I fertilise through the reservoir? → Yes — seaweed, worm tea, or diluted organic feeds work well.
- What about fruit trees in wicking beds? → Possible with full IBCs, but picking height and nutrient draw are issues.
- Can I build these on concrete? → Absolutely. Wicking beds work on any flat surface.
📚 Resources & Mentions
- Sophie Thomson on Gardening Australia
- Sustainable Gardening Australia’s worm wicking bed how-to
- DIY insert options: WaterUps, plastic pallets, nursery pots
- Cladding tips: timber slats, insulation, weed mat (if cool climate)
- How to upcycle: sourcing second-hand IBCs, salvaged materials, dump shop treasures
Ready to build your own wicking bed?
- 💧 Start small with a self-watering pot or repurposed drum
- 🧰 Hit the tip shop or FB Marketplace for IBCs and materials
- 📬 Subscribe to the podcast for more how-to growing episodes
- 🌱 Join our newsletter for wicking bed plans, videos, and seasonal planting guides
- 📸 Share your setup with us on Facebook or Instagram @growitlocal
Thanks to our Sponsors:
This podcast was made with the incredible support of our Local Government partners from around Australia as well as our friends at Backyard Farmer, Pope and Cyclone Tools
