container "Raised" container growing

MeatHead1313 · Dec 24, 2014

Hi all. After a hell of a couple of storms today due to the incoming cold front, we received a lot of rain very quickly. Due to our "soil" being comprised of heavy clay, heavy or consistent rain tends to leave standing water for at least a few days. This is what I was greeted with in our backyard when I came home from work-

Obviously this much standing water is no good for growing peppers, and as can be seen to the left of the pic my experimental raised bed is surrounded by standing water that will be draining into it. While out driving around so my better half could see the Christmas lights tonight I was voicing my concerns about it and she asked me what if I stuck with containers and just raised them off the ground using cinder blocks and wood pallets? Sounds like a good idea to me, and was wondering if anyone else has any experience growing this way and if it was successful, or a complete failure.

pepperguy1 · Dec 24, 2014

I am doing a lot of 5 gallons buckets.With containers you can somewhat control water issues.Pests can also be kept at bay,plus you can overwinter them in the buckets. My buckets are food grade and cost almost nothing.Some place will give them to you. :think:

Rainman · Dec 24, 2014

Last year I grew using pots on top of wooden pallets - it worked well and I'm a semi-novice with growing stuff.

For me it was a heat issue as the area I was given by the wife was covered with pavers and they heated up to the point it was painful to stand there bare foot due to the heat (we regularly get days 35-40C in summer here).

Given you have water issues rather than heat, I would go for a blocks as the wooden pallets will rot eventually if submerged.

More importantly, you'll need a small boat to paddle out to tend to the plants during heavy rain!

Good luck with whatever you try though dude.

Ps. We have the same greenhouse - how are you finding it? I'm quite pleased with it so far... just wish I got a bigger one!

Scorched · Dec 24, 2014

This year I put all of my containers onto a little 2 wheeled trailer that's used for transporting a riding lawnmower. Fit 30 plants in a combo of Wally bags and 5 gallon buckets I got for free from the Donut Connection down the road. Worked beautifully. When a bad storm was headed my way I could just lift up the end of the trailer and push it into the garage. Before the trailer I had to carry all of them by hand. I also used to put my containers onto a raised brick border separating the lawn behind the house from the driveway. Had success with this as well and it kept the plants up out of water that would sometimes flood the dirt driveway during storms.

geeme · Dec 24, 2014

I agree with Scorched - something with wheels is best. I grow in pots that are not raised above a cement deck, as it doesn't tend to get hot often here. However, we do have periods of heavy or persistent rain, at which I haul them into my garage. I have a dolly to help move groups at a time, but it would be more convenient to be able to move more at a time without having to pick them up and set them down one by one.

Geonerd · Dec 25, 2014

Raised containers can work great. With rabbits and javelina running amok around here, tables did the trick.

IMO, maintaining moderate soil temperature is the most difficult aspect. Straight sun on the containers can damage your plants in a hurry, particularly early in the year before the foliage grows tall enough to provide shade.

Renais1 · Dec 25, 2014

I use cinder block frames to support wire shelving above the ground. The space under the shelves, and between the blocks is used for storage, and some small worm composting buckets. When I have plant waste I just throw it down there for the worms. Home Depot sells some very sturdy, pretty cheap wire shelves, about 6' long. Mine have lasted 11 years already.
Renais

Rainman · Dec 26, 2014

Geonerd said:
Raised containers can work great. With rabbits and javelina running amok around here, tables did the trick.

IMO, maintaining moderate soil temperature is the most difficult aspect. Straight sun on the containers can damage your plants in a hurry, particularly early in the year before the foliage grows tall enough to provide shade.

+1 This. I can testify to the pain in the ass of roots overheating in pots. I've tried all sorts and found not much seems to work particularly effectively. If anyone has a magic method I'd be very keen to know it.

Geonerd · Dec 26, 2014

Rainman said:
+1 This. I can testify to the pain in the ass of roots overheating in pots. I've tried all sorts and found not much seems to work particularly effectively. If anyone has a magic method I'd be very keen to know it.

Have you tried porous 'grow bags?' I had decent success with the reusable shopping bags made of woven recycled plastic - the dreaded 'wallybag,' found at 'Merica's Greatest Store.' :rolleyes:

They hold a little over 6 gallons/24 liters, cost half a dollar, and are just barely durable enough to last one season. Evaporative cooling keeps the root ball at a survivable temperature in 40C+ weather. Of course you do have to water, and water, and water some more, all of which tends to flush nutes from the soil. Even with all the water, I had to keep the plants in mid-day shade during the hottest, driest months of the year. The plants do a pretty good job of self-shading as they grow larger later in the season.