Yes, each jar is supplied with its terracotta lid.

Product image no. 99 from the Univers-Aquaponie catalogue for terracotta ollas and eco-friendly watering

Product image no. 100 from the Univers-Aquaponie catalogue for terracotta ollas and self-sufficient kitchen gardens

Irrigation olla with its key features: lid, frost resistance, Alsace clay, no energy needed

How to plant an olla irrigation jar diagram – step by step installation in vegetable garden bed

Buried irrigation jar

29,90 €

Liter	Price	Price per L	vs 1 L
1 L	29,90 €	29,90 €	—
2 L	33,90 €	16,95 €	−43 %
6 L	49,90 €	8,32 €	−72 %

This Alsatian terracotta pot is buried up to its rim, lid included, and stays in place over winter since its clay is frost-resistant. It comes in 1, 2 or 6 litres, from 18 to 32 cm tall, and the size is chosen according to the depth of soil available.

Olla irrigation

Liter : 1 l

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The summary

The three sizes: 1, 2, or 6 litres, from 18 to 32 cm tall and from 1.5 to 4 kg.
How to choose: based on soil depth, before even considering the plant.
Release rate: approximately 2 days for the 1-litre, considerably longer for the 6-litre.
Winter: a frost-resistant clay — the jar stays in the ground.
What you receive: the jar and its terracotta lid.
Installation: dig a hole to the dimensions of the jar, with the neck above ground.

Terracotta olla to bury in the ground, made in Alsace, from 1 to 6 litres, frost-resistant

The buried irrigation jar, an Alsace terracotta olla, comes in 1, 2 or 6 litres, from 18 to 32 cm high. It is buried up to the neck and is supplied with its lid. Its clay is frost-resistant, so it can stay in the ground over winter. The size is chosen according to the depth of soil available.

A 6-litre jar measures 32 cm tall, and since it is buried up to its neck, its height determines the depth of soil you need. This Alsatian terracotta jar is available in 1, 2, and 6 litres, supplied with its lid, and its clay is frost-resistant.

🪣 Three sizes, three depths

The 1 litre jar measures 18 cm high by 12 cm in diameter and weighs 1.5 kg; it suits a deep planter or a raised bed. The 2 litre one measures 22 cm by 16 cm and weighs 2 kg, for a raised bed or open ground. The 6 litre one reaches 32 cm by 22 cm and 4 kg, and it needs deep soil. Before choosing, measure the depth of soil you have available, leaving a few centimetres below the base. For a smaller pot, a planting olla of 15 to 50 cl is the right scale.

1 litre

A deep planter or raised bed, with at least 20 cm of soil.

2 litres

Raised bed or open ground, from approximately 25 cm of soil depth.

6 liters

Open ground or a large raised bed, with at least 35 cm of loose soil.

Several jars

Along a long bench, several jars spread out give better coverage than a single large one.

A 6-litre olla at the base of the courgettes

Courgettes are among the vegetables that benefit most from steady moisture at the base, and a single compact plant suits a jar placed right beside it. If you are sowing the Verte Noire Maraîchère courgette, a non-trailing variety that forms a compact clump, a single 6-litre jar is enough for one plant. Transplant the seedling about ten centimetres from the neck of the jar, and its roots will reach the wall within a few weeks.

The neck should not be covered with soil

A jar buried until its neck disappears completely becomes impossible to find under the summer foliage: you can no longer locate it, you can no longer fill it, and the soil that falls in eventually clogs the reservoir. The top part therefore stays visible above ground, and you put the lid back on after every filling, which limits evaporation and stops mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water.

💧 How it diffuses over time

Water passes through the porous wall under the effect of soil tension: soil that is drying draws water through the clay, while moist soil takes up almost none. On first filling, the 1 litre jar empties in about 2 days and the 2 litre one in 2 to 3 days, whereas the 6 litre one spaces out your visits considerably more. The moistened zone measures, as an order of magnitude, 2 times the diameter of the jar, that is about 24 cm for the 1 litre and 45 cm for the 6 litre: your plants need to be within that circle.

❄️ Overwintering in situ

The clay of these jars is frost-resistant, so you do not need to dig them up in autumn. In a harsh winter, a mulch of dead leaves laid around the neck is enough to protect them. The only maintenance comes with the years, as the minerals in tap water and rainwater gradually close the pores: on the 1-litre jar, the release time goes from about 2 days at the first filling to around ten days after 5 years. When that happens, simply dig it up, pour in white vinegar to dissolve the limescale and rinse it before putting it back in place.

🌱 Seedlings and young plants

A jar waters the roots that reach it, and a seedling or a freshly transplanted plant has none yet. For the first few weeks, and up to a month depending on the species, keep watering from the surface while the roots of your plants reach the wall. To do this, plant as close to the neck as possible, about ten centimetres away, and firm the soil well around the jar when you install it, since it is this contact that lets the water pass from the clay to the soil. Tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, melons, peppers, aubergines and beans particularly benefit from this steady moisture. The article oyas through the season places these reserves within the vegetable garden calendar.

Technical specifications

The essentials

Capacities: 1, 2 and 6 LThe largest one spaces out refills the most.
Heights: 18, 22 and 32 cmThe depth of soil must exceed this height by a few centimetres.
Diameters: 12, 16 and 22 cmThe moistened zone is roughly double that.
Weight: 1.5, 2 and 4 kgEmpty. Full, the 6-litre one weighs around ten kilograms.
Diffusion duration: 2 days for the 1 L2 to 3 days for the 2 L, at the first fill.
Winter: Frost-resistantIt stays in the ground; a mulch is enough in a harsh winter.

To budget for separately

What you need to dig: Spade or transplanterA hole sized to the jar, not a wide hole filled back in afterwards.
White vinegar: For descalingWhen diffusion slows noticeably, after a few seasons.

In the box

1 terracotta irrigation olla, in the chosen capacity
1 terracotta lid

Capacities, dimensions, weights, diffusion times, clay origin and frost resistance: manufacturer's data, recorded on 07/10/2026. Moistened zone: indicative figures from the agricultural extension services of the Universities of Arizona and North Dakota.

Which jar for your soil

Three volumes, three installation depths

1, 2 or 6 litres? The depth of soil determines the largest format possible; your visiting frequency does the rest.

	Capacity (L)	Height (cm)	Diameter (cm)	Empty weight (kg)	Recommended position	Price
1 litreYour choice	1 L	18 cm	12 cm	1,5 kg	Deep planter or raised vegetable bed	29,90 €
Recommended 2 litresYour choice	2 L	22 cm	16 cm	2 kg	Raised bed or open ground	33,90 €
6 litersYour choice	6 L	32 cm	22 cm	4 kg	Large deep raised bed or open ground	49,90 €

1 litre

Capacity (L)1 L

Height (cm)18 cm

Diameter (cm)12 cm

Empty weight (kg)1,5 kg

Recommended positionDeep planter or raised vegetable bed

2 litresRecommended

Capacity (L)2 L

Height (cm)22 cm

Diameter (cm)16 cm

Empty weight (kg)2 kg

Recommended positionRaised bed or open ground

6 liters

Capacity (L)6 L

Height (cm)32 cm

Diameter (cm)22 cm

Empty weight (kg)4 kg

Recommended positionLarge deep raised bed or open ground

Dimensions, weight and positions: manufacturer's data, recorded on 07/10/2026.

Estimate your
delivery time

Terracotta is fragile and heavy: up to 4 kg for the six-litre version, packed accordingly. Unpack with care and check the wall before planting. Exact delivery costs are shown at checkout.

Frequently asked questions

8 questions

6 key questions, 8 in the detailed view

1, 2 or 6 litres – how do I choose?

Jar	Height	Soil needed
1 L	18 cm	At least 20 cm
2 L	22 cm	About 25 cm
6 L	32 cm	At least 35 cm

Is the lid included?

Can it be left in the ground over winter?

How often does it need to be filled?

What area does it water?

How do you install it?

It drains more and more slowly – why?

Is it suitable for a balcony pot?

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Buried irrigation jar

The summary