Couple of container questions

durable_now · January 29, 2010

I'm going to all containers (5gal) this year (mostly non swc) & need to know about how many holes+hole size also is it better to put them a couple of inches up the side or directly on the bottom and can they be set directly on the ground or should they set up on 2x4 or 4x4's or something ?
Thanks

ContainerTed · January 29, 2010

All of the ones I have used have holes only on the bottom. Approx. 8 holes about the size of a Nickel (5 cent piece - 3/4") is perfect. I also don't let anything set directly on the ground. Place a "stepping stone", a paver, a couple of bricks, or a couple pieces of pressure treated wood for the bucket to sit on. This guarantees the bucket can drain, but doesn't let other things (critters, etc) have an easy path into the bottom of the bucket.

Ted

amideutch · January 30, 2010

I've done it both ways and both work fine. Due to your location in Texas I would put them on the side about 2" up from the bottom so as to create a small reservoir. In your heat you need all the moisture you can get for the plants. How are you going to water your plants? Ami

Zana · January 30, 2010

I've gone both routes as far as holes in the pots/containers. Since mine usually sit on a concrete slab/patio surrounding the pool, with a due south exposure, it can heat up quite a bit around here. For the ones that holes in the bottom, I tend to use a deeper saucer in the stinking hot weather. If the holes are about 1"(1 1/2 - 2"on the huge containers) up on the sides, then I don't tend to use the saucer and let the bottom of the container act as the reservoir/saucer.

As far as sitting them on the ground or not, in my case most of mine sit on the concrete, so very little chance of critters coming up through. However I've been known to raise them up too. My "portable" (knock-down)raised beds/containers (about 3.5' x 8 or 10' long) basically sit on the ground. However, they're lined with wire screening and then a double layer of landscape fabric (to hold in the soil mix), which is then covered by about 4" of gravel before the soil mix. Didn't use them last year so am not sure how well they'll do in the extremely wet, cold conditions we had last year. If I do, I think I"m going to set up a reservoir with a self soaking hose....and use more mulch than I did 2 years ago.

I'd have to dig out my notes as to what percentage of the pots/containers had holes. on the bottom or the sides on the 120-150 pot/containers I had growing.

January 29, 2010	#1
durable_now Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seagoville Tx Zone 8A Posts: 35	Couple of container questions I'm going to all containers (5gal) this year (mostly non swc) & need to know about how many holes+hole size also is it better to put them a couple of inches up the side or directly on the bottom and can they be set directly on the ground or should they set up on 2x4 or 4x4's or something ? Thanks

January 29, 2010	#2
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	All of the ones I have used have holes only on the bottom. Approx. 8 holes about the size of a Nickel (5 cent piece - 3/4") is perfect. I also don't let anything set directly on the ground. Place a "stepping stone", a paver, a couple of bricks, or a couple pieces of pressure treated wood for the bucket to sit on. This guarantees the bucket can drain, but doesn't let other things (critters, etc) have an easy path into the bottom of the bucket. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

January 30, 2010	#3
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	I've done it both ways and both work fine. Due to your location in Texas I would put them on the side about 2" up from the bottom so as to create a small reservoir. In your heat you need all the moisture you can get for the plants. How are you going to water your plants? Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

January 30, 2010	#4
Zana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,521	I've gone both routes as far as holes in the pots/containers. Since mine usually sit on a concrete slab/patio surrounding the pool, with a due south exposure, it can heat up quite a bit around here. For the ones that holes in the bottom, I tend to use a deeper saucer in the stinking hot weather. If the holes are about 1"(1 1/2 - 2"on the huge containers) up on the sides, then I don't tend to use the saucer and let the bottom of the container act as the reservoir/saucer. As far as sitting them on the ground or not, in my case most of mine sit on the concrete, so very little chance of critters coming up through. However I've been known to raise them up too. My "portable" (knock-down)raised beds/containers (about 3.5' x 8 or 10' long) basically sit on the ground. However, they're lined with wire screening and then a double layer of landscape fabric (to hold in the soil mix), which is then covered by about 4" of gravel before the soil mix. Didn't use them last year so am not sure how well they'll do in the extremely wet, cold conditions we had last year. If I do, I think I"m going to set up a reservoir with a self soaking hose....and use more mulch than I did 2 years ago. I'd have to dig out my notes as to what percentage of the pots/containers had holes. on the bottom or the sides on the 120-150 pot/containers I had growing.