Selfsufficientish.com

THought I'd share this one with you. A few weeks ago I went down to our local garden centre to get some big plant pots, these are for my tomatoes which I've got too many of. I don't like those grow bags, don't have enough root run, and in my tiny greenhouse they take up too much space, I like to get a vertical volume of soil. I wasn't after the ornimental ones, just the big black plastic ones, that I thought they might have so I can pack them in. They only sold ornimental ones, so I was about to leave when the manager said he could sell me the buckets that flowers come in (they had a florist as well there), these are the big 10L black "long tom" type bucket...perfect if you drill some holes into the bottom.

Price 50p each....bargin. Toms are lovin them.

I use buckets, too - we have a lot from the farm that are broken or cracked, so they have automatic drainage...

50p!!

Try the supermarkets and florists - I have picked up loads of simple black buckets sometimes 10p each sometimes a whole stack of them for 10p, also at markets and car boot sales - where I have had some cracked buckets for free.

If you are anywhere rural, try livestock farmers, too. They usually have buckets and large tubs with "licks" in them (minerals, molasses etc); I know we have quite a lot knocking about the farm, and I've already passed some of them on to friends. Especially if it's OK that they are cracked, they should be pleased to give them away. Unless, of course, they are gardeners themselves.

Yep, I got some of the florists buckets (from Morrisons supermarket) 8 for 99p. Best look underneath where they sell the flowers, or maybe ask at customer service desk if you can buy some.
The toms seem to be happy in them.

Also, try buying the cheapo 99p buckets from DIY places or £1 shops - drill holes in them and use them for toms or peppers, etc.

Yup, restaurant buckets that come with veg oil in them, molasses buckets if you have a lot of critters, I've even used old cooking pots that I knocked drainage holes in with a nail.

In my flower garden I have 3 bathroom basins, a BBQ, and a toilet. Plus an old wheelbarrow that had a rusty bottom and split tyre.

I also have some camper sinks I want to put plants in yet as well and some veg drawers from fridges that I have to put drainage holes in. And I have a camper fridge that I'm going to put small pots of flowers on the shelves of.

Let your imagination go and you'll find all kinds of things, I even have the tub from an automatic washer with crocuses planted in it!

Lois

I have some wonderful square containers from my time in catering; they came with soup (the awful powdered stuff) or gravy powder in them. Ideal for windowsills! (And, as long as you still have the tops, for food containers, of course.)

What an ace post, the 'proper' ones are ridiculously expensive aren't they! Anyway, I've plenty of ideas now!

I've found that I have lots of slightly rusted large chocolate tins (you know, those Celebrations ones people seem to only buy at Xmas!), which used to be used for guinea pig feed but were left outside over winter. I'm wondering if they will be OK to use as planters for herbs? Should I spend precious time trying to wire brush the rust off or will it be harmless to my herbs? Many TIA

Ratty

Got to share this with you!
An allotment neighbour came and asked whether I'd like any big pots. Her son had found the mother lode on a skip and rescued them all - apparently, they were from a cannabis farm!

Haha! What a stash!

Ratty

Christine wrote:Got to share this with you!
An allotment neighbour came and asked whether I'd like any big pots. Her son had found the mother lode on a skip and rescued them all - apparently, they were from a cannabis farm!

I suppose no plants left in them?

What a fabulous haul! Both for you and whoever discovered the cannabis farm!

freecycle found me a load of assorted larger tubs when I asked - someone clearing up his garden before going on holiday dropped them off at the front door on way to dentist down street.

Sometimes charity shops get a stash of pots and tubs which go at low prices.

ina wrote:

Christine wrote:Got to share this with you!
An allotment neighbour came and asked whether I'd like any big pots. Her son had found the mother lode on a skip and rescued them all - apparently, they were from a cannabis farm!

I suppose no plants left in them?

Sadly, no! She thought we should sterilise them before use - but, hey! they're just plants. now housing some tomato plants - may look similar (or so I'm told) but, despite their traditional name (love apple) the effects are not the same