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For a bed that waters itself from below

Vego Foodcube Self-Watering Raised Beds

A plastic self-watering bed on the ground with 13.7 inches of soil over a water reservoir: 29 gallons in the Foodcube, 19.5 in the Slim.

2 sizes and layouts

Each size drawn from above at the same scale, with the maker’s listed capacity.

Listed capacity
11.7 ft³
Soil to fill it
8 bags of 1.5 ft³
Planting depth
13.7 in
Water reservoir
29 gallons
Outside footprint
45.3 × 45.3 in
Drawn to scale from the maker’s figures: 45.3 in by 45.3 in, 19.7 in overall height, 13.7 in planting depth.12243619.7 in13.7 in soil45.3 in × 45.3 in
Drawn from the maker’s published figures: the footprint from above on the left, the height on the right, in inches. Every bed on this site uses the same two scales.
Side view: 19.7 in overall, beside a 5 ft 6 in adult. It comes to about knee height.19.7 in overall45.3 in long · comes to about knee height
Side view beside an adult 5 ft 6 in tall, at one scale.

For a bed that waters itself from below

Vego states 11.7 cubic feet of soil for the Foodcube and 5.3 for the Slim: 8 and 4 bags of 1.5 ft³. The reservoir fills through a hole in the top.

Style
Self-watering planter
Material
UV-stabilized food-grade plastic
Warranty
None stated on the maker’s page
Bottom
Contained planter

Planning a balcony, deck or roof garden? Have the surface assessed for the filled weight before buying the planter. Its own load rating does not establish what the surface can carry. Work out the filled weight for whoever checks it.

Choose the size or layout

Use the widest outside footprint to plan paths. For a soil order, measure between the inside walls after assembly and choose your filled depth; advertised dimensions can be rounded. Rectangular sizes below read length × width × height.

Vego Garden doesn’t publish inside measurements for these beds, so the soil figure below is the maker’s own stated capacity. If you’ll fill it less deep, measure between the inside walls once it’s built.

Size or layoutAdvertised sizeListed capacityBags of 1.5 ft³ for that capacityPlanting depthWater reservoirOutside footprint
Foodcube, 45.3 × 45.3 in45.3 × 45.3 × 19.7 in11.7 ft³8 bags13.7 in29 gallons45.3 × 45.3 inMaker’s size chartPlan
Foodcube Slim, 45.3 × 26.4 in45.3 × 26.4 × 19.7 in5.3 ft³4 bags13.7 in19.5 gallons45.3 × 26.4 inMaker’s size chartPlan

Notes on these sizes

  • Foodcube, 45.3 × 45.3 in: Vego’s page also lists a 37.8 in height without saying which version it is.
  • Foodcube, 45.3 × 45.3 in: Height pads, which Vego’s manual lists among the optional accessories, lift the tub 200 mm, about 8 in. The manual gives a total weight of 400 kg, about 880 lb, against 28 kg for the tub alone.
  • Foodcube Slim, 45.3 × 26.4 in: Vego’s page also lists a 29.1 in height without saying which version it is.
  • Foodcube Slim, 45.3 × 26.4 in: Slim legs, which Vego’s manual lists among the optional accessories, lift the tub 200 mm, about 8 in. The manual gives a total weight of 170 kg, about 375 lb, against 19 kg for the tub alone.

Questions about this bed

Does the ground need to be level?

Yes: Vego says a Foodcube wicks water best on level ground.

Anything to check before filling it?

Fill it with water first to find any leak. Vego names the usual causes: a backnut not tight enough, the large O-ring left out, the small O-rings pinched as the level setter goes in, the level-setting tube not screwed tight or without plumbing tape, and a loose clamp on the joining tube.

How often does the soil need changing?

Vego doesn’t say to change it: after each growing season, feed the potting mix with compost, worm castings or a slow-release fertilizer, and top it up to the fill line.

Can I join Foodcubes into an L or a U?

Yes, with Vego’s Corner Connector, which sets two Foodcubes at right angles and joins their water reservoirs, so the set keeps one watering point.

Vego Garden’s answers, from its questions page.

Prepare and assemble this bed

Compare the material, bottom and care choices if you are still deciding between families. Follow the site preparation and liner checklist for the supporting surface.

  1. Choose the exact configuration and lay out its parts. Check the required tools in the selected kit instructions.
  2. Prepare a stable, level position and confirm the outside footprint with working paths.
  3. Check the floor, the reservoir and its fill point before adding soil. Confirm the support beneath the planter for the filled load, water included.
  4. Measure the finished inside and outside separately, then update your plan. Preserve the maker’s fill restrictions.

Mark the outside footprint on the ground before assembly, including any legs or protruding corners. Leave a route for carrying bags, reaching the plants and maintaining nearby beds.

This planter has a floor, with its water reservoir under the soil. Use the soil depth the maker gives, not the full height, to estimate fill. Account for the filled weight, water included, when choosing a level location.

Choose a reachable widthMeasure for a soil order

Product specifications