Inground containers.....

[David from Dothan]

A friend gave me some plastic nursery pots to use in the greenhouse. While "constipating" on their use, I decided to cut the bottoms out, sink them in the ground and eliminate having to dig up large portions of the yard making beds. Not sure if it'll work......but it sure does in my brain.

 

[alp]

while "constipating" on their use, I decided to cut the bottoms out, sink them in the ground and eliminate having to dig up large portions of the yard making beds.

What a good idea! I should have thought of that. Instead, I sank the pot to the ground and the heat from the wall killed the plants. Wish I had thought of that. I have been using aquatic pots to cultivate my snowdrops and I am running out of them. So I might consider your method.

 

[MaryMary]

I remember reading somewhere that if you like an invasive plant, that was one way to put it in your garden without it taking over. Deadhead it to prevent seeding, and contain the roots in a container.

Let us know how they work for you!!

 

[David from Dothan]

Well, the first "run" turned out good.....and with the added convenience that my hole diggers make a hole that is exactly the same size as the pots.....

 

[David from Dothan]

UPDATE....containers are working REALLY well.....even for watermelons.

 

[David from Dothan]

FINAL EVALUATION........Turns out this, in theory, is a good idea, but left much to be desired in practice. The okra stalled in growth at about 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall. The watermelons got to softball size then stalled and/or cracked open. The squash......well, we won't even go there. The thought that the tops of the containers being a little above ground would help keep grass out turned out to be, just, a brain fart. IF I were to try this experiment, again......I would cut the containers off at 6 inches, putting 3 inches in ground, 3 inches above, giving the plant roots room to expand horizontally as well as vertically.

 

[DirtMechanic]

FINAL EVALUATION........Turns out this, in theory, is a good idea, but left much to be desired in practice. The okra stalled in growth at about 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall. The watermelons got to softball size then stalled and/or cracked open. The squash......well, we won't even go there. The thought that the tops of the containers being a little above ground would help keep grass out turned out to be, just, a brain fart. IF I were to try this experiment, again......I would cut the containers off at 6 inches, putting 3 inches in ground, 3 inches above, giving the plant roots room to expand horizontally as well as vertically.

I arrived at this thought but the material was past me because I use a weedeater at least sometimes, and that would lead to digging everything back up at some point when they finally got damaged. I want to have a go at cement, or the hypertufa type if I think they can hold up to maintainance with the various yard tools I use.