Norm, This type of raised bed planting is great and it gives you much better soil options than if you use the ground. BUT.... I hate to tell you this, but the rabbits will jump up into these containers to chow down. The birds will fly in and do the same and the squirrels and mice will climb up .... I'm sorry to tell you but the desert critters are pretty voracious and hard to keep out of planters. The best defense I know is to use a lot of chicken wire to surround everything. It's ugly and frankly, I've given it up for the most part. Now I just pick things that are not on the critter menu in order to get things growing. Here are things that haven't been eaten at my critter haven/desert garden: purple trailing lantana aloes & yuccas salvia greggi salvia clevelandii cassia bushes Mexican bird of paradise (yellow) cat claw vine Hall's Honeysuckle Rosemary False Penstemon Brittle Bush Ruellia Texas Ranger Sage Many cacti (but some are tender and tasty too!) Here are some things that are on the critter menu and so they don't grow here anymore unless drastic protection measures are taken and we're worn out doing those: Philodendron Ice Plant Elephant Food (only in a tall hanging basket) Hearts and Flowers (OK in basket) Daffodils Narcissus Tulips Roses Alyssum Pansies Sweet Peas All vegetables Mints Zinnias Sunflowers Cosmos Poppies Several milky sap Euphorbia varieties (pencil, Milk tree, etc.)

Trancegemini & Squeeze- Thanks for your opinions. The reason I haven't responded earlier is that I've been doing a LOT of thinking & research into some of your ideas. 1. For one, I'm really considering getting the vermiculite out of the equation primarily because I see it breaking down in my existing raised beds. Cost is also another consideration, thus sand as a possible substitute albeit very little water holding capacity. 2. Weeds. Still concerned about weed seed... in a big way. I hear your recommendations on mulching etc and certainly intend to incorporate it in some manner (maybe plastic sheet or maybe just straw/hay/leaves etc... remember this is a commercial application that needs to be able to be repeated). That being said, if I could "eliminate" or at a minimum reduce mulching & weeding requirements it will save labor in the end, ultimately I believe reducing cost. This is an intensive farming operation with most crops grown on 6, 9, or 12" centers, so I'm thinking that once all the annuals get up and running the shade itself will reduce my weed potential problems. The sand I have access to (my sand) is going to have all kinds of grass seed (bermuda +) and roots in it that will be a major problem. I've already experienced that in my 1st beds done with sand. That being said, part of that problem could have been not using the landscape fabric under the beds. This stuff will actually shoot up through 16" plus. So, bottom line is I don't have what I consider to be a very good option that I can get for free. 3. Topsoil. I looked hot and heavy for topsoil sources. Bagged stuff listed as topsoil probably isn't top soil anyway and the bags I broke open (various types)don't seem like they could be any better than anything I could mix myself. The one benefit to them is that they PROBABLY don't have any viable weed seed in them. Another downside is that there is no telling what kind of pesticides may be incorporated into it. 4. Bulk topsoil. So, I started looking into bulk topsoil. There's actually a sand mine about 30 minutes away and I called them to inquire about topsoil and they do sell it. It's reasonable to assume that it is "true" top soil and I got excited when they gave me pricing. After I slept on it I started thinking weed seed again, and there is nothing that they do to sterilize the product to eliminate the weed seed, so, I'm back to square one with the top soil. Even looked at trying to find possible sources of kilns to heat it up to kill the seed to no avail. 4. Worm Castings. Contacted a company that sells bulk worm castings, and yes, there is a HUGE ouch factor to try to replace regular compost with the worm castings. Doesn't seem feasible to me monetarily. So, in discussing with him he mentioned that he had done some work with a relatively local municipality on composting (not worm) and suggested I contact them and see if they are still selling compost. I did, and they are. He said it should be good stuff and mentioned a sovita test that they should have the numbers on for their product. He said weed seeds should NOT be a problem with their compost. He recommended possibly using ONLY compost for my base medium (forget peat and vermiculite and I suppose sand) then incorporating the vermicompost at a 20% rate on top of that. Sounds possible but still very expensive on the vermicasting side of things. But all in all possibilities. Waiting on a call from the municipality to get the sovita test score and to find out additional info regarding the ingredients of the compost etc. My biggest concern about it right now is chemicals/pesticides that could be contained in it, assuming they use things like grass clippings and leaves etc. We'll see. If that doesn't turn out to be an option, I'm at a loss on the whole compost thing until I can get something relative large scale going myself. 5. Blend. So, now I'm thinking I'll use a Peat moss, coarse sand, and compost blend with the vermicompost in lesser quantities than a full replacement for the compost. Not sure of quantites yet. Not sure of a good source for coarse sharp sand in bulk quantities that has no salt content. Bottom line is this "mix" should be much better than anything I could purchase of the shelf and I know what I'm putting in it. It gives me a starting point that I can continue to build on organically with manure/compost/greensand/dolomitic lime/blood meal (probably/maybe/still a little scarey)/rock phosphate etc. Anyway, I know this is not quite where you were trying to get me to, but your help is certainly appreciated and has been incorporated into my thought process. I thought long and hard about using my existing soil, but just can't rationalize it for what I'm attempting to accomplish. Thanks! Eddie

Prepare to gasp... I am dragging hoses so this is all 2nd hand information. Here in Arlington they have new "laws" in recent years to help "save" water or something. If you are going to install a drip system the city requres it be inspected. Doesn't sound too bad does it? If you have beds, they must have drip....sounds great too doesn't it? A neighbor bought her home since these green laws went in. She got estimates for her modest 50's home on a city lot. Nothing fancy or exotic. A couple of french drains. Here's the gasp part. Don't look down in this post... Take a minute to think what you'd consider exhorbitant... I mean extreme! Got it? $15,000.0 yes that's what she said. Got the estimate from 2 different reputable companies. She asked if she could just have the above ground sprinklers that could hit the beds, that would be MUCH cheaper. Sorry, if you have beds you must have drip and the city must approve it. She's dragging hoses too. errrgh...that HD system sounds like a real deal if you are allowed to have one. still shaking my head and hoping that some how city hall comes to its senses. c

Although most of my citrus is in the ground I am using 20 inch pots from Costco for my kiwis, raspberry, blueberries and blackberry. My wife likes the look of them so they work well. I wouldn't want to move them inside for the winter though. They are reasonably tough but get heavy with lots of dirt and a plant. https://m.costco.com/Resin-Wine-Barrel-Planters-2-pack.product.100363452.html?catalogId=10701&langId=-1&storeId=10301&krypto=atTlYWSZB1Qw%2BglwWyknrgFdhEu3pUQJE4VkeAj%2FOytn6pPrnYDg12WmzrCRZLsjKbM8uZUbJz%2BC%0AZXubzkkCABL%2FfKUarUmQU8U0nT%2Be90WFpOI07aLRE6m339cNnpHI