Agro-Tower Grow Pots Insulation & Operating Suggestions

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=96 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c28601erlcgo.png"> <div> <B>AGRO-TOWER  GROW POTS, Vertical,  Stackable, Planters. </B><B>Gives  Gardeners's  A  Chance To Use Their Creative Talents</B><B>  </B><B>And  To Grow Beautiful  Gardens,  Even If They  Live In A High Rise Apartments. </B><B>The Agro-Tower Grow Pots Are</B><B> Becoming The Leaders In</B></div> <div> <A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><U><I><B>Home</B></I></U></A><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>          </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B><B>Hydro Tower Organic Farms And Gardens.  Considered The wave of future For Horticulture Farms.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>AGRO-TOWER  GROW POTS:  "Lee Blevins Vertical Planters"</B></div> <div>   </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>                             </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>                                                                                    </B></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02ad2c01dkelyh.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><U><B><U>Home</U></B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Installation</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Welcome ToThe ........ "><U><B><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011899330000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Next Page</U></B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Grow Pot Top View</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="1418c690.png" border=0 width="140" height="105" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Grow Pot Bottom View</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="13f8c690.png" border=0 width="140" height="105" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Note:</U></B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003399" FACE="Arial" ><B> A 1/2 inch to 1-1/4 inch post or pipe can be used to stabilize the towers in windy conditions.</B></FONT><B> (Hole Size 1/14 i</B><B>nch ID</B><B>)</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Mail To</B><A HREF="mailto: fleeblevins@charter.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: fleeblevins@charter.net"><U><B>: fleeblevins@charter.net</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=384 BGCOLOR="#99FF66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B>Agro-Tower Grow Pots Insulation & Operating Suggestions</B></I><I><B>.....</B></I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <B>Page # 2</B>      <IMG SRC="0d5422e0.gif" border=0 width="66" height="46" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>  </B></I><I><B>Farming And Gardening Is Fun,  When Using My Vertical Grow-Pots.</B></I></FONT></div> <div> <I><B>Great For City Gardens and Farming in small areas.</B></I></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><A HREF="mailto: fleeblevins@charter.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: fleeblevins@charter.net"><U><I><B><IMG SRC="0e332320.gif" border=0 width="50" height="50" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></U></A></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><A HREF="mailto: fleeblevins@charter.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: fleeblevins@charter.net"><U><I><B>E. Mail To</B></I></U></A></FONT><I><B>:  </B></I><A HREF="mailto: fleeblevins@charter.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: fleeblevins@charter.net"><U><I><B> </B></I></U></A><A HREF="mailto: fleeblevins@charter.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: fleeblevins@charter.net"><U><I><B> fleeblevins@charter.net</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <I><B>When e-mailing us for information, or placing an order, please leave us a phone number and address with your zip code.</B></I></div> <div> <I><B> PRODUCT DIMENSIONS:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Scroll Down To View</B></I></div> <div> <B>                       </B></div> <div> <B>  </B><B>The </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Agro-Tower Grow Pots</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>come</B> <B>nestled together like buckets for </B> <B>easy shipment and storage. </B></div> <div> <B>  Each</B>  <B>unit is 20 inches in diameter and contains 6 </B> <B>planting ports with 4 inch openings. </B></div> <div> <B>  Planting ports are 10 inches </B> <B>apart and 8 inches depth and one unit weighs 2.86 lbs.   </B>                                    </div> <div> <B>                                                                  </B>           </div> <div> <IMG SRC="0f8766e0.png" border=0 width="118" height="110" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B> You can stack </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Grow Pots </B></FONT><B>as high as you desire!</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B> A stack of 6 units is 16 inches high </B><B>when shipped and 4 feet high when Assembled, containing 36    </B></div> <div> <B>  planting ports. </B></div> <div> <B>  Each</B><B> </B><B>Grow Pot</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>unit added  provides 6 more planting ports.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B><U>INSTALLATION:</U></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B>        </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Grow Pots</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>lock securely into place to</B> <B>achieve the desired height. </B></div> <div> <B>        During installation, simply insert the 1 inch </B> <B>pegs on the bottom of each unit into</B> </div> <div> <B>        the holes provided on the top of the </B> <B>succeeding unit!</B> </div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>  Pre stack the </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Towers</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>empty before  filling them with medium. This allows </B><B>the units to return to the </B> <B>original shape when molded and  they will be easy to re-stack after filling with planting mix. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  Before using in Windy Climates: </B></div> <div> <B>       T</B><B>o add to the stability of the </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Towers</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>in high  wind conditions, you may wish to install </B><B> </B><B>a pipe or   </B></div> <div> <B>       a post,  (from </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>½</B></FONT><B> inch  to 1-1/4 inch in diameter ) through the center of the </B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Towers.</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>A  1-1/4 inch </B></div> <div> <B>        ID, (inside measurement) hole is  provided in </B><B> </B><B>the center of each of the units. </B></div> <div> <B>        Insert  the </B><B> </B><B>pipe or post best suited for your </B><B> </B><B>conditions.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Some commercial growers,</B></FONT><B> bury a galvanized pipe or a piece of rebar that</B><B> extends through    </B></div> <div> <B>         the first three pots and</B><B> fits inside a 3/4 inch schedule 40 PVC pipe, or a piece of conduit pipe.</B></div> <div> <B>        They slide the PVC pipe over the rebar or conduit, then use an inverted plastic bucket,</B></div> <div> <B>        (nurseries use for potting trees) about eight and one half inches across the bottom, or a eight </B></div> <div> <B>         inch PVC or sewer pipe cut into lengths about 12 to 13 inches. This elevates the towers and </B></div> <div> <B>         has a slick surface  for rotating the towers 180 degrees back-in- forth for maximum sun or </B></div> <div> <B>         easy harvesting.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  Umbrella Stand Stabilizer:</B></div> <div> <B>        </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>If stacking the Agro-Tower Grow Pots over 3 units high, some umbrella stands work great on </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>        balconies, roof tops, or patios and can be used with different accessories such as,  half wine </B></div> <div> <B>        barrels, plastic pans filled with colorful rocks and a platform roller makes it easy to change </B></div> <div> <B>        locations if desired. All of these items can be purchased at your local garden center.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="14446860.jpg" border=0 width="582" height="390" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">       </B><B>  </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B><U>Metal Post Stabilizer:</U></B></div> <div> <B>        Metal Post such as galvanized steel, conduit pipe are very good  when you are installing</B></div> <div> <B>        several Towers in a row.  You can use  a PVC-T </B><B> with a short nipple that fits over the top of </B></div> <div> <B>Post to run your irrigation line or lateral  through. </B></div> <div> <B>        Plug a 1/4 inch hose into your irrigation line and connect to a circle, (or a double circle) of drip tubing on the top of the Tower, and about half way dow</B><B>n if needed. </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">        </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B><U>Commercial Vineyard Type Applications: </U></B></div> <div> <B>        For commercial growers, vineyard style</B> <B>applications work great with the </B> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Towers.</B></FONT><B> To increase  </B></div> <div> <B>        stability,  a vineyard </B> <B>wire can be run over the top from post</B> <B>to post, then simply run the </B></div> <div> <B>        irrigation laterals over  the top of the </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Towers </B></FONT><B>and </B> <B>connect to the vineyard wire. Plug a</B> <B>1/4 inch </B></div> <div> <B>        distribution hoses into the lateral above the</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B><B>Towers </B></FONT><B>and connect to a sprinkler or a circle of </B></div> <div> <B>        drip hose, (add more circles if needed).</B> </div> <bR> <div> <B>  Another suggestion would be to use a PVC pipe as a stabilizer through the</B> <B>center of the  </B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B>        Tower,</B></FONT><B> then use a PVC - T </B> <B>with a 2 inch or 3 inch piece of PVC pipe</B> <B>inserted into the T, then   </B></div> <div> <B>        slip the short</B> <B>piece of pipe-T over the top of the stabilizer pipe, then  run the irrigation  lateral </B></div> <div> <B>        through the T's from </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Tower</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>to </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Tower, </B></FONT><B>(no glue is needed when making the  PVC post caps).</B></div> <bR> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B> Suggestions:  </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>       This is a</B><B> real s</B><B>imple way to stabilize the </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" ><B>Towers</B></FONT><B> when stacking over 4 units   </B></div> <div> <B>        high and</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </B></FONT><B>be able to rotate them for maximum sun.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>  Step # 1 -</B></FONT><B> </B> <B> Bury the stabilizer pipe  about 12 to 24 inches in the ground. The post should be   </B></div> <div> <B>  plumb and long enough to clear the top of the tower by 4 to 5 inches. </B></div> <div> <B>  It is important for the tower to be plumb and level for the irrigation to flow evenly down through </B></div> <div> <B>  the tower.</B></div> <div>  </div> <div> <B>  Step # 2 -</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> Purchase a plastic pan 20 inches in diameter and  2 - 4  inches in depth from your  </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>        garden</B><B> </B><B>store, then use a hole saw to cut out a hole in the center of the pan.</B><B>  The plastic pan </B></div> <div> <B>        makes a slick smooth surface for the tower to rotate on and you can twist the tower 180 </B></div> <div> <B>        degrees back in forth for maximum sun.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>  Step # 3 - </B></FONT><B>Slide the pan over the</B> <B>post and countersink it in the </B></div> <div> <B>        ground about 1.5 inches, a base of gravel or sand is great for proper drainage. Make sure the </B></div> <div> <B>        pan is centered and level, the </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Towers </B></FONT><B>need to be level and the post plum, in order for the </B></div> <div> <B>        irrigation  </B></div> <div> <B>        water to flow even from unit to unit.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B><U>Note:</U></B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Another very good method is to cut an 8 inch diameter PVC pipe </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>       into lengths that you desire and bury part of the pipe into the ground around  </B></div> <div> <B>       your stabilizer pipe. This gives your Tower extra height and a smooth base </B></div> <div> <B>       that will allow you to rotate the Tower 180 degrees back and forth after each    </B></div> <div> <B>       pick for maximum sun. </B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>  Step # 4 - </B></FONT><B>"Suggestion" This is a </B> <B>good time to mix into the medium and a</B> </div> <div> <B>        small amount of a good slow release</B> f<B>ertilizer, if none is provided.</B></div> <div> <B>        Miracle Grow potting soil is very good and you will not have to add any fertilizer until fruiting,  </B></div> <div> <B>        then add Liquid Miracle Grow as needed. Other potting soils and fertilizers that can be </B></div> <div> <B>        purchased on the Internet or local garden stores that are very good.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>        Do not over fertilize or you will burn your plants, more can be  added later as needed!</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>  Step # 5 - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Slide each unit over the post and fill with about 1/2 cu ft. of the medium that you    </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>         intend to use, then </B> <B>stack the units to the height that you desire. </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>   Step # 6 - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Soak the medium for a few hours or over night, this will allow the medium to settle </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>         in the pots and, (more can be added while planting if needed).</B> </div> <bR> <div> <B>  Step # 8 - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>You are now ready to plant. Sooo... begin planting!</B></FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000800000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">       </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B> One customer buried the first pot in the ground for a stable base.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B><U>Irrigate from the top down...</U></B></div> <div> <B>        Water by hand or simply connect to </B> <B>your existing irrigation system using a 1/4 inch </B></div> <div> <B>        distribution hose connected to a circle of 1/4 inch  soaker tubing, drip hose or sprinkler, </B></div> <div> <B>        installed on the top unit of the Tower. Add another circle about half way down if needed. The </B></div> <div> <B>        circles of drip tubing should reach out just inside of the planting ports and the towers should </B></div> <div> <B>        be level to get a good even flow down through the system.</B></div> <div> <B>"A double circle of drip tubing, tied together gives added water and works best in most cases."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B><U>Growing Mediums: </U></B></div> <div> <B>        Each </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Grow Pot Unit</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>holds about 1/2 cubic ft. of growing  materials. There are a variety of  </B></div> <div> <B>        mediums to choose from depending on the crop that you intend to grow. As a  rule of thumb </B></div> <div> <B>        70% to 80% of perlite & 20 - 30% of peat moss or core is used for the</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B> hydroponics method. </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>(One of my customers likes a 50-50 mix)</B></div> <div> <B>See your Hydroponics dealer for more information.</B></div> <div> <B>        Your local garden stores offer a variety of  mediums that contain enough fertilizer  to last up to </B></div> <div> <B>        90 days, e.g., Super Soil and Miracle Grow that is sold at most Wall-Mart and Home Depot </B></div> <div> <B>        stores.</B></div> <div> <B> My favorite is Fox Farm: </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.foxfarmfertilizer.com/index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.foxfarmfertilizer.com/index.h"><U><U>http://www.foxfarmfertilizer.com/index.html</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B><U>Special local needs:</U></B><B>   </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Consult your local nursery or County Agriculture Extension Agent or </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>        local garden store for specialized growing information.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> </B><B><U>Consultation:</U></B><B>   </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>For more installation ideas such as spacing, rotating or hanging the </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Towers.</B></FONT></div> <div> <B> Please Call: Lee Blevins, Inventor.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> Phone/Fax (805) 461-1761  -  Toll Free within the Continent of USA -  1-(888) 269-5343</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f0bf000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">"Tell A Friend About This Great Product"</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f0ff000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">See The Home Gardner Page:</B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U><B>Ckick Here</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f0bf000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">See Instruction Suggestions For One Acre Page:</B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grow Pots For One Acre"><U><B>Click Here</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>     </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>                                                    </B></FONT><B>  </B><B> </B><A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Title 81"><U><B>Next Page: News & Events</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>               </B></div> <div> <B>      </B></div> <bR> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> </td> </tr></table></body>