The porous clay vessel is buried up to its neck in a garden bed and filled with water. Moisture slowly seeps through the unglazed walls directly into the surrounding root zone, driven by the soil moisture tension. This highly efficient traditional irrigation method prevents surface evaporation and encourages deep root growth.
Heard on the job
Make sure you top up the ollas in the tomato beds before the heatwave hits tomorrow.
Related terms
Permaculture
A design approach to agriculture that mimics natural ecosystems to create self-sustaining landscapes.
Hügelkultur
A permaculture method of building raised garden beds over a core of decaying woody debris.
Garden soil
A blended growing medium containing topsoil enriched with organic matter and nutrients.