I've grown tomatoes in large pots on the deck. The only problem I found is that they can easily dry out so need watering often, sometimes 3x a day. I've used those polymer crystals which keep the soil moist longer.

I think if the containers are deep enough and you have time to tend them it's worth a try. The treated wood is a health hazard so line that one very well if you use it.

Hey momma s!!!!! Welcome.

I would not trust plastic to protect vegetables from treated wood. There is "arsenic" in treated wood. You dont want to risk it leaching into the food items. Plastic can slip, rot, and it has to have drain holes that could allow ground water to come back into the planter box. Even old antque bathtubs leach out "lead". Baskets are a fine idea, plastic buckets and clothes baskets, ceramic, untreated wood (logs even) would be great. Wire baskets (old deep freeze or bicycle baskets). Enamel ware turkey roaster or chamber pots. Brick or concrete blocks.

Someone else may address these materials that I do not know about: galvanized buckets, rusty containers, wooden skids to build container garden (I doubt this is treated wood and they are always being given away), tin (old fishing boat)...

It would be smart to google your questions about each of the materials that you have on hand. I would go to Google search engine and type in: CAN I PLANT VEGETABLES IN A ... and just keep going down your list. Or "dangerous containers that effect vegetable plants". Or "vegetable safe container gardening".

Bless you and let us know what you decide on.

Thanks for the tips & advice, luckygal & susie.

I hadn't thought of the chemicals coming back up into the soil if I lined treated wood... We have an old small dresser that got busted when we moved & has been sitting in our garage, so I was sort of hoping to use a drawer or two from that--but I'll lay that idea to rest. :(

I don't know what I'll come up with, but since I have seeds & soil, I want to use them!

Yes use the drawers....they use drawers to make wee gardens all the time....

On this GardenWeb there is a listing of different kinds of plants and gardens and such. Go to 'frugal garden' and see all the things they use for plants. You can make a sack out of material and hang it and plant in it. Just expect one season unless you use outside material. You can use an old back pack or purse or shoes to plant in. Use kids toys or hardhats. Just make sure anything you use can drain water and not stand. Also 'patio gardens' has a lot of good containers listed that are used for plants. Hey if it has a hole, plant in it. You could probably line a cardboard box with plastic and use it to plant in.

I use a lot of concrete blocks to border my rose beds. I have succulents planted in them. Now if you use anything that does not hold water well, try putting a disposable diaper (baby or adult)or sanitary napkins in the bottom of the pot (ones that has the polymers inside that soak up the water) You can cut them up and just use a part of it in the bottom of containers. Hmm, wonder if anyone has tried old sponges?

Some of the pots we buy have bad stuff in them but we do not hesitate to plant veggies. If we paint them ourselves and plant veggies, do we make sure there is no lead in the old paint. Probably not tho we should.

I think in relationship to the size of the plant and container, try to remember what the root size was on the last one you pulled up...if it will hold that, it should be the right size.

twomonths - do you happen to have a picture of the concrete blocks planted with the succulents? I have wanted to do that, need some inspiration. thanks!

I'm using pallets that I got for free to define my veggie and herb gardens. I'm using one pallet high so it isn't raised very high- but you could stack them and make higher raised beds.

For free containers, think a plastic kitty litter container with the top cut off/drainage holes and etc., well washed bleach or laundry containers (top cut off etc). Watch Craigslist in the free category, sometimes you will find listings for things that you can use as containers/trellis's.

This is the only pic I have on this computer. I will take more tomorrow for you.
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Very old pic and it was a loebella in this corner that was so pretty, had several across the front by the sidewalk. Also you can see the hen and chicks are in bloom (they bloom when they get a bit root bound and the hummers love them). I leave them for the winter and then pull them out and replant just two in each on...placing the others in other places.

here are some I took today in the bright sun and it makes the grass look worse than it does. First shows some succulents that are green except parts of the year. The hummer love the flower that come up off of them...I have already removed the trailers from the flowers to root and replant.

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This is front right corner and I have donkey tail,a fire lily, paperwhites, freesias and other bulbs come up, and other bulbs.

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the front left corner is where I am working, weeding, thinning out plants. In this side I have same flowers but also red kaloche and other succulents.
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geeze I need to get out and weed and take care of grass. See lots of new 'pots' for my flowers
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Those big pet food bags that have a fabric-y texture to them seem really strong. I am thinking of making a hanging planter out of one. The type that you cut holes all over kind of like a hanging strawberry pot. They would be good to line planters with too. Just cut some holes in the bottom and everywhere else would be well protected.
Here is a link to that kind of bag made into a tote bag.
kathy

Here is a link that might be useful: Pet food bag uses

Take old panthose, fill them with soil and make a little slit to plant in. I have heard of people making "bricks" out of them for planting. Below is a link to a site that explains how to do it.

Even though the newer treated woods aren't as dangerous as the old kind with a lot of arsenic, I still wouldn't use them. A dresser drawer should be fine. I'd line it with something like a pond liner just to help preserve the wood a little. Just a warning, if the dresser is made of pressed wood (not solid wood) it will absorb water like a sponge and quickly rot away.

Check out your local freecycle (http://www.freecycle.org/) for people giving away pots, kitty litter pails or 5 gallon buckets (they make great tomato planters). Twomonths suggestion of using a diaper to retain moisture in the pot is a great one too. One that I am going to try this summer. Just make sure you don't block the drainage hole with it.

Otherwise, you can use anything as long as it has a drainage hole in it. If it doesn't come with a hole, just poke or drill one in it. You can also use the tough plastic bags that planting soil comes in as a planter. I have heard of people poking a hole big enough to plant something in the bag and hanging it up on a fence or post so the plant can cascade down the side and hide the bag. I'd think the pet food bags would be just as good too.

Buy some cement, perlite, peat moss, and sand and go visit the Hypertufa forum here. You can make some great containers using bowls, buckets, balls, pots ... well just about anything ... to make hypertufa (a lighter mixture of cement) planters that will last just about forever and are very cheap to make.

Make sure you post pictures of what you come up with!

Here is a link that might be useful: Pantyhose Planters

One hint I would like to add here---
I never drill a hole in the bottom of anything.
I drill about a half inch to one inch up the side.
The reason I do that is to keep from having to
water things more than once a day. That little
bit of water in the bottom keeps the plant moist
just a little longer with no danger of too much
standing water. I have done that for YEARS!

Good tip Nona, I too drill a drainage hole on the side. My main reason is so I don't have to set the pot up on something for it to drain. You can also sort of aim the draining water either to or away an area. I have one pot that drains down through a space in the deck.

Well, that panty hose will work on the ground....wonder if it will work as a hanger...we should try. Hey lindasewandsew, got enough panty hose for your hill? LOL.