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Question!

Nicole

Nicole

My dad is letting me use a portion of his property for my garden (that sits and does nothing anyway) however he is making it difficult :crazy: because he has an underground sprinkler systems and doesn't have the blueprints of the wires underground. I think the landscaper can figure it out, or he knows but my dad has yet to ask him.

So heres my problem; I wanted to do a raised bed that would fit about 50 plants with rows of two. Now that my dad is being difficult I am thinking of just getting some big plastic containers instead but I feel like the containers would cost more and stunt the growth (not completely, but a little bit) because the roots are restricted to just the container. On top of that, doesn't soil dry out quicker in pots rather than in the ground?


Which is more cost effective; pots or raised bed? Which is easier to care for at a location I am not at all the time? Which is best for the plants?


Let me know your experience and thoughts, thanks!!!! :dance:


xo nicole
 
I can tell you containers do dry out quicker. If they are 5g I haven't noticed their growth being stunted. Either way you have to buy some soil. I guess it depends on whether or not you are buying your buckets or getting them for free.
 
Difficult to answer since there is no one way to grow that is better than another, its what works for you in your location and how avaible and affordable your medium and nurtients are. A raised bed will likely us as much (or more) "soil" as containers, and in New York the containers should have the advantage of warming up quicker especially if black. They will dry out faster but that can be very good since you will be replenishing water, oxygen and nutrients more often which usually leads to faster growth. If the plants get rootbound you can always pot them up into a bigger container
 
If you figure out the in ground sprinkler system locations, they could be very advantageous if you replace the spray heads with drip manifolds and use 1/4" tubing and emitters, then drip irrigate clusters of pots around the emitter locations.
 
I seem to like pots much more than beds or even soil. it gives me the most control and I can go at different directions with each plant. BTW, there is always a bigger pot.
 
Nicole,
In 2010 I finally realized I could no longer stoop and kneel to manage my raised beds.
So I converted to container gardening using mostly 5 gallon and 3.5 gallon buckets.(22 plants total)
For the larger pod varieties in 5 gal, smaller pods in 3.5.
The only pod size issue I had was with my Poblano plants, but I think they may have been crosses anyway.
I consider last season my most bountiful,weed free harvest ever, and will be expanding to about 60 containers this season.
After last seasons success, I researched the principals/techniques behind "Global buckets" and "Earth Box", because of the "self watering" design.
Currently I've got close to 120 "food grade" buckets, all free for the asking from local eateries.
I estimate my "Pot Garden" expenses this season at $300 total: potting mix around $250,other odds and ends another $50.00.
(approximately the cost of 3 visits to the Chiropractor and/or knee specialist)


Here is a list of the links/sites/blogs I compiled.I hope you find them helpful.
(Many from the NY/NJ area)


http://www.globalbuckets.org/
http://www.insideurbangreen.org/corrugated-drain-pipe-cdp-sip/

attractive kits
http://rooftopgardens.ca/en/kits

http://www.insideurbangreen.org/2009/09/universal-subirrigation-planter-construction-.html

http://www.insideurbangreen.org/2010/03/simpletomake-green-tote-box-sip.html

http://www.insideurbangreen.org/earthbox/
tomato pots
http://www.insideurbangreen.org/tomato-success-kit/

http://www.insideurbangreen.org/garden-patch-grow-box/

recycled water bottle fill tubes
http://www.insideurbangreen.org/2009/09/sip-green-fill-pipes.html

http://www.insideurbangreen.org/2009/10/page/2/

sub irrigation history
http://www.insideurbangreen.org/2009/10/page/2/
ditto
http://books.google.com/books?pg=PA834&dq=sub-irrigation&ei=uBXlSd6sDY6WkQTvvbCyDQ&id=KLArAAAAYAAJ&output=text

………………greenscaper
http://www.insideurbangreen.org/corrugated-drain-pipe-cdp-sip/

http://www.insideurbangreen.org/2010/03/simpletomake-green-tote-box-sip.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/Greenscaper/


WICKING BED/WORM FARMS

http://scarecrowsgarden.blogspot.com/search/label/wicking-water%20beds

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bXSCgaszVeU/TVOuRGrjlgI/AAAAAAAAMus/HtH0SMgu2qI/s1600/wickingbed_diagram1.jpg

http://outbackharvest.blogspot.com/2008/09/wicking-worm-beds.html
 
Nicole, for the money and effort of a raised bed of that size you might consider used (#5) pots from a local nursery/ landscaper. Preferably an established oldschool type usually has lots of used pots at a fraction of the new cost. The effort is to clean them; scrub brush and a very weak bleach solution with good rinse. This avenue does not tend to be the most asthetic. Also grow bags might be an affordable option. If they are listed in the links above please excuse. I'll post a link for the bags after I get off work if needed.

I hope your seeds are doing well.

Mike
 
My experience with containers is only from last year but I can tell you what I wont be doing again this year. I will not use small pots and will not hand water 70 plus pepper plants with a 5gal bucket again. By the end of summer, I had lost over half of my pepper plants.

Pots will be on drip irrigation timed to water in the morning. In the heat of summer, there may be two waterings or a drink scheduled for lunchtime or so. Nothing smaller than 3.5 gallons for anything. All larger plants will have to have some type of support to keep from blowing over.

The Bhut Jolokias I grew last year were in 3.5gal pots, maybe bigger, but those plants dried out every single day by early afternoon. The canopy on them also reached 6 feet across and were 4.5 feet tall and when loaded with peppers were very top heavy. I eventually had to build a base of cinder blocks around the bottom to keep them upright. The smaller, more compact plants like jalapeno, cascabel, cayenne, etc never fell over.

Another issue I had was constanlty battling fireants that liked to make homes in the pots.

That's about all I can recall at the moment. Good luck. And if you can use that sprinkler systen, do it. Sprinkler heads can be retrofitted for drip irrigation.
 
Thank you everyone for all the info!!!

Sounds like I will be leaning towards the pots after all this info... Especially the main point of what a b#tch it is to weed, trim, and pick peppers when they are so low to the ground.

Mike- Sounds like trial and error which is never a loss! Also, we have no fire ants in NY so atleast that wont be a problem for me!!

I was thinking I could just put my dads sprinklers on to water..hopefully that will work
 
I like pots. But if you are looking to save a little $$, look into grow bags. You can get about 25 5gal bags for under 10$.
 
Here is one place. There are more, I have yet to find the one I remember. I have not tried these. I know some members here have.

Mike


http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/grow-bags/growing-pouches-and-bags
 
Check out your local nurseries for second hand pots that are free or cheap. Most nurseries (at least around here) will now take back any pots for recycling, but re-using is even better for everyone.
 
try to contact a local metal detecting club, maybe somebody
there will help a "damsel in distress" and locate the sprinklers wirings

if you damage the sprinkler pipe with your backhoe (or other large excavator),
the operator likely will be able to help repair the pvc pipes just like "new"
how deep will you dig? 20- 25 foot down?

edited to add extra

maybe the containers are the best way to go, as you will have to got to
the grow area at least every three to four days
(unless you can train him to water them and stuff)
it will be a real good deal for dad to get "visits from Nicky" at least twice a week
instead of just weekly for in the ground growing!
 
edited to add extra

maybe the containers are the best way to go, as you will have to got to
the grow area at least every three to four days
(unless you can train him to water them and stuff)
it will be a real good deal for dad to get "visits from Nicky" at least twice a week
instead of just weekly for in the ground growing!
[/quote]

haha that is funny for two reasons; 1) Im 99% sure my dad is only agreeing to this because it just means that he will see me and Johnny more and 2) because my dad calls me Nikki (and mainly just my family calls me that) - how'd you know that!?
 
Louiethe8th said:
I get my bags at a local hydroponics /grow shop. I think I paid 4$ for 25 3gal bags.
Click to expand...


Just stopped at the local hydroponics place on my way home from class and they wanted to rip me off for bags! So not interested in that!! I will have to look online I think! Does Lowes or Home Depot carry bags?
 
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