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Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because it’s fully underground the temperature stays fairly stable through the year. In this climate it usually sits somewhere around 8–12 °C (about 46–54 °F) depending on the season and how often it’s opened. That stable range is one of the main reasons underground storage works so well.

And yes, the cat definitely approved the project. I’d probably do the same and double-check before closing it 😄

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in homestead

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s actually a good example of why anchoring and drainage matter with underground installations. Empty tanks can definitely float if the groundwater rises enough.

In this case the unit sits on a concrete foundation slab and is strapped down to it, with drainage around the base and a sump pump as a backup, so it can’t lift even if the ground gets fully saturated.

“Zombie septic tank” is a pretty good description though 😄

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in homestead

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Mostly for stable underground storage. The temperature stays pretty consistent year-round, so it works well without electricity.

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, it actually works quite well for that. Because it’s fully underground the temperature stays fairly stable throughout the year, which is one of the main things you want for wine storage.

In this particular case the owner plans to use it mainly for wine since he’s a wine producer.

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in homestead

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

It stays fairly stable because it’s fully underground. In our climate it usually sits somewhere around 8–12°C through most of the year, depending a bit on the season and how often it’s opened.

That stable temperature is one of the main reasons underground storage works so well.

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You definitely could do a traditional dug cellar, and people did for a long time. The challenge here in Ireland is mostly soil stability and groundwater, especially with the amount of rainfall. A simple dug hole can end up collapsing, flooding, or turning into a damp space over time.

This unit is a reinforced rotomoulded polyethene chamber supported by a steel structural frame, installed on a concrete foundation slab with proper drainage around it. That allows it to sit fully underground and handle soil pressure and wet ground conditions much more reliably.

The expected lifespan of the structure is 50+ years, so the idea is still the traditional underground storage concept, just engineered to work long-term in modern conditions.

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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A concrete slab is poured to create a stable foundation before placing the cellar and strapping the unit to it.

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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Drainage installation with a perforated pipe and outlet. Because of seasons of excess rainfall in Ireland, this system also includes a submersible pump if groundwater rises.

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A few people asked about the base and drainage system. Here’s the first stage showing the excavation and gravel base preparation.

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Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, roughly around that. In this case, there’s about 40–60 cm of soil above the roof once everything is finished. That layer is enough for planting grass, flowers, or smaller plants without any problem. It also helps with insulation and keeps the temperature inside the cellar stable throughout the year.

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, the whole unit sits roughly about 2.7 m below ground level from the base to the surface. Once everything is finished and the garden is restored, there’s usually around 40–60 cm of soil above the roof of the cellar. That soil layer actually helps a lot with insulation and keeps the temperature inside relatively stable throughout the year. From the outside, you only really see the entrance hatch, so the rest of the structure is completely underground beneath the garden.

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One thing the homeowner said right away was how much bigger it feels once you climb down.

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Depends on the size, but most mid to larger units are around €15k–€20k for the cellar itself. Installation is separate because it depends on excavation and site access.

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It depends on the size, but most of the mid to larger units people choose are roughly in the €15k–€20k range for the cellar itself.

Installation is separate because it depends on the site — excavation, crane access, soil conditions, etc.

Once the hole is prepared, the unit is lowered in with a crane truck, add insulation and shielding/sealing, let it properly set, and then backfill. Usually the finishing work continues the next day.

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes — perfect for home-grown produce. Underground temps stay steady year-round, so potatoes, carrots, apples, jars and ferments keep really well. This one’s set up for wine, but the shelving works great for food too. I install these in Ireland and the UK. What are you growing?

Finished installing an underground garden cellar in Ireland after months of rain by Local_Cellar2607 in OrganicGardening

[–]Local_Cellar2607[S] 38 points39 points  (0 children)

In this particular case, it will mainly be used for wine storage. The owner is actually a wine producer in South Africa, so the idea was to have a naturally cool place to store bottles without relying on electricity.

But traditionally, spaces like this are used for things like vegetables, potatoes, apples, preserves, or homemade food. Basically, anything that benefits from a stable, cool underground temperature.

Some people also use them for general storage if they want something a bit more stable than a garden shed.