I use a small raised beds that are open on the bottom. No complaints so far, and it is more forgiving of watering errors than containers would be.

I considered a drip system but realized the greenhouse is very small and easy to water so it didn't seem like it would save me any time. I also like to be able to water each plant as an individual and several times per year the GH plants get pulled and new crops go in. So you might think about whether you really need a drip system or not.

Congrats on your new greenhouse - it's an exciting project for sure!

Karin

Greenhouse container growing is a lot easier in the cooler season than in the hot summer sun. It's in the summer that an automated watering system will really help. You might look to see if soil-borne diseases are prevalent in your area. They are worse the farther south you go. Container growing solves that problem.

Grow bags are very commonly used containers. I put a link below to an irrigation product I would like to try, but have not yet. You want big bags for tomatoes and peppers. Choose your tomato varieties carefully. Compact determinates do better in containers, as do dwarf varieties. Terrenzo is my favorite container cherry variety; it will produce in a pot as small as one gallon.

Good luck with everything.

Here is a link that might be useful: dribble rings

Wow, 100 is the minimum order......

For things I grow in pots (outside the greenhouse) I use a spiral of the drip tubing I use in the vegetable garden. This has 1 gph emitters in-line and comes with either 6" or 12" spacing so you have a number of avenues for controlling the amount of water going to different containers on the same main line.

I like the spiral idea because it truly does help spread out the water instead of relying solely on efficient diffusion.

The only time I have used a drip system in the greenhouse is when I was gone for two weeks. Otherwise, like Karen said, I prefer to water each plant as needed. But I can see the advantages in a well-designed automated system.

You may want to take a look at Earthboxes and GrowBoxes. Both have a lower chamber which serves as a water reservoir and relies on the wicking action of soil towers to keep the planting chamber moist but not over watered. I bought grow boxes and have had them on my deck while I was building my greenhouse, but the plan was to eventually move them in the greenhouse. If I were to do it again, I think I would go with the Earthboxes. Their website is more technical and I think the design of their watering chamber is less suited for mosquito production. They also offer an automatic watering system though it is a bit pricey. If you live in a warm climate in the peak of summer you will probably find that you have to fill the watering chamber every day. I believe both hold about 3 gallons of water.

I am newbie with all of this stuff so I am hoping that some more experienced greenhouse folks will offer some other comments.

a lower chamber which serves as a water reservoir and relies on the wicking action of soil towers to keep the planting chamber moist but not over watered.

You're on to something there. Moisture consistency is very important to tomatoes to peppers; a lack of it causes blossom end rot.

My favorite cheap container is a 5-gallon bucket with the drain holes drilled about 2-3 inches from the bottom, on the sides. And in the late spring when the greenhouse can get over a hundred degrees inside, I will put plants in 1-gallon pots into a shallow kiddie pool and just keep a few inches of water in the pool. I wish they made grow bags where the bottom inch or two would hold water.