Black Containers to avoid going "Bill Murray"

Ive had problems each year with gophers tried smoke bombs and traps been able to catch/kill quit a bit however "My Biggest Fear" like last year when I was in my garden and looked at what was turning out to be a beautiful pineapple express plant was just wilted over looking so sad. First thought damn did I miss the water on this?...

Nope upon a simple tug on one of the fan leaves, my girl just came straight up out the ground, soooo disappointed I went on a straight "Caddy Shack Attack"...

Water hose down the hole, smoke bombs and traps, but I still see burrowing holes around the yard which is why I have had to result to 15 gallon containers but since they are black I wanted to see if anyone here had any ideas as far as controlling the temp in the root zone I am sure when we hit triple digits in my area those pots will be cooking and so will my roots...

I was considering burying the pots in the ground cover the top with wire but wanted to maintain mobility.

Thought about pvc paint but no experience with it to know how well it can cover up black and if the paint may be toxic when exposed to the sun to my ladies.
I was also considering surrounding the pots with something like bails of hay to block the containers from the sun but concerned with the bugs that the hay may attract.

Any Advice?

Looks like a raised bed is in order. I would avoid going into the ground unless you can cage those roots off. You could let them grow in the buckets and when they start to get rootbound you can cut the bottom of the bucket and fill a kiddie pool up with soil and let her go in there. Just a thought

angryblackman said:

You could let them grow in the buckets and when they start to get rootbound you can cut the bottom of the bucket and fill a kiddie pool up with soil and let her go in there. Just a thought

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Was considering a raised bed and the kiddie pool idea is tight now building from that I am wondering if I can use Petsmart doggie pools as a raised flower bed just drill holes in the bottom?
I was getting some food for my dog when i saw them for 9.99 each at Petsmart. Wood and wire will cost atleast $60-$75 I might get off cheaper by getting 4-5 pools instead but hope i dont f' my ladies up Hmm?
I appreciate your insight angryblackman

wrap the pots in mylar or tin foil works great

Master Gardener said:

Was considering a raised bed and the kiddie pool idea is tight now building from that I am wondering if I can use Petsmart doggie pools as a raised flower bed just drill holes in the bottom?
I was getting some food for my dog when i saw them for 9.99 each at Petsmart. Wood and wire will cost atleast $60-$75 I might get off cheaper by getting 4-5 pools instead but hope i dont f' my ladies up Hmm?
I appreciate your insight angryblackman

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I am positive that it would work out for you.. If you do it take pics and post them up as I was having a hard time finding an example for you online. LOL

Many thanks for the ideas. I'll try n put together a I journal but deffinatly, I will post some pics. As 4 now I shall contemplate my next move...

these seem to work pretty good for me to keep the gophers away from the roots...
http://gopherbasket.com/

Those will work too.. I just think that the kiddie pool would be more fun to use. LOL

get a ferret. gotta be something to get ride of gouphers. how about hot pepper dust. thats what i us for deer. i grow my own every yr i grow alot. dry them up put them in a bag and step on them tell there dust aniamlas hate them.

davehenry said:

these seem to work pretty good for me to keep the gophers away from the roots...View attachment 1651489
http://gopherbasket.com/

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love this just wish I could find them at my local home improvement store.
I know I can make them myself from hardware clothe for about $60 in material but prefabricated is so so very nice... I will not pout about it this year, at least now I have an alternative options/ideas to consider going forward good lookin out davehenry.
Additionally, I will be placing pepper dust throughout my entire garden then take pics and post my work after this weekends yard chores.
Thanks for the pepper dust advice shizz

Buy a pellet gun and get your aim on

im growing in 35 gallon rubbermaid containers ($8-$10)
i havent had a problem yet
if they do get to hot mybe ill wrap them with insulation or something
i would go in the ground but we paved most of the yard with concrete a while back :/

I made 2' DIA cages out of 1" chickenwire to prevent gophers from getting at my stuff and just planted in ground.

this is what i do for gophers, 1/2 inch square mesh. works great

Why not smart pots in black? I spoke to 3 people and the smart pot rep was in town and he said the tan smart pots are only perhaps a few degrees less hot.
The store owner said its .5 less hot and its for gorilla growers and she wont sell them and the smart pot rep said its kind of not going to make it cooler.

Last year I put hay on the sides, it sucked and now I have wheat growing in my grow.

This year I put my pots on pallets to keep them cooler and better draining.

I called smart pot tech support in what, Alabama?? Hotter then hell there and they said you dont need to worry.

Just adding what I have learned.

Its 110 for a month where I live!!
http://www.smartpots.com/tan-smart-pots

I got 25 black pots today, I have to believe the rep when he said its not for temps but for blending in the hills. He said ~ANYTHING~ laying in the sun will collect heat no matter what.

This is my first ever grow. Doing it in my backyard and I can basically give these 100% attention. I planned on simply hosing the outside of my pots down every 2 hours or so when were in the middle of triple digits. I'll basically be outside looking at them the whole day anyways was also told mylar works well.

i put broken glass at the bottom of my holes that will kill the gophers if they goafter your roots