Um...I had to re-read wiz's opening post a couple of times to be sure I understood. So not literally "square inch" but certainly not square foot! Must cast my vote with mandolls. Super nutrient availabilty aside, the issue is more that the pots described are nowhere close to allowing enough room for roots, except possibly for the romaine, even the basil. Doubtful about the quinoa. I have serious doubts about the other crops. Who has not had plants that have been potted on out of seeding flats that we did not get around to transplanting properly (either into properly-sized containers or open ground)? Within a few weeks or so they exhibit their displeasure with life. But there's always the compost pile, happy to receive the fruits of my folly and procrastination! I am not saying not to go ahead with your project of course and wish you all the best. Will hope for a summary of results in the fall. You will get plants, maybe even a squash and cucumber flower or two, perhaps a stunted fruit. But I would not get my hopes up for much. I once seeded sweet corn in 24"-deep window boxes on the SE-facing 7th floor balcony of an apartment building. The stunted plants provided some shade to our picture windows, greenery, and a topic of conversation for visitors but I did not get any ears. The adjacent cherry tomatoes did well, though. I also once planted a flower & veggie garden in the window of the bookstore in which I worked (tie-in with gardening, and then later, canning & preserving books). Used BIG containers, though (measured in gallons), and ran strings for vines up to the ceiling... It was fairly successful, actually; main drawback was insufficient light. It was inside a mall, beneath a big skylight so it got a lot of indirect light, but not enough actual sun. It did draw a steady clientele all summer who would come to check the progress. :-)

There is one more item to be aware of. Many landscape trees are grafted onto a rootstock. Where this graft was done, there is typically a swollen portion of the trunk which can be mistaken for the root flare. If this mistake is made, the root flare will still be buried too deep. We've had B&B trees come in that had as much as twelve inches of soil piled up on top of the root flare. Some times, roots have grown into this soil and need to be removed when planting, again so that correct depth is achieved. Truth is, I'm really tired of B&B trees. All you're really buying is some dirt from the nursery. There aren't more roots retained when trees are handled this way. Usually fewer, actually. One advantage though, is the ability to plant B&B stock throughout the growing season rather than just when the tree is dormant, as is the case with bare root stock. In all other respects though, I believe bare root to be a better choice when available. And yes, tis true that most of our beloved conifers are only available in B&B or potted, with the exception of seedlings. +oM

yep, the roots are all over the garden. kind of amazing. i personally went 12in high and set mine down in the earth about 4in(more for temperature, at least in my mind) that said the only time ive really used the full depth is for potatoes and maybe the carrots. also, it helps for trellis/tomato stake. i bury a bunch of stuff in the fall (last of the summers compost, and leaves/old plants from the garden).maybe it helps out every spring when i turn the soil over, seems the stuff on the bottom is in better shape, that may be in my head though something else i notice about it being a little higher, the dog stays out of it, and it forces people to be mindful of it as well. and again probably in my mind, but ive never had rabbits wreaking havoc in the garden either. i doubt if one has anything to do with the other.

Miele or Bosch both have 17 levels of adjustment. 24" Both have good 18" dishwashers. AEG is a good induction choice if it's available to you.