Outdoor: in pots vs in the ground?

New to outdoor, just wondering how many of you stick them right into the ground, how many prefer pots, or something in between... and why?

If you do use pots, what size seems to be big enough?

Also, if your choice of with or without pots has to do with using green- or hoop- houses, that'd be interesting to know too.

Thanks!

minimum 5 gallons minimum if something bad happens it easier to move them around

I'll be looking forward to see what people say. In the mountains where I grow its too rocky to plant in the ground so I will be planting in 5 gal containers. Not just out in the open but inside rock crevices then packed with leaves all round the pots. This helps with dry spells and keeps the container really cool.

when i know what the soil is and what they need to survive, ya i keep them in pots, no guess work about the soil.

Based on bits and pieced of info I've picked up, I'm trying a few things. I've lived on a couple of organic farms with 5+ years of soil amending, and they just put them in the ground along with their other crops. On the other end of the spectrum, I've spoken with some folks at a hydroponics store, who were recommending 300 gallon smart pots left on the surface (and then tried to sell me a few hundred dollars worth of nutrients, but their M.O. is 100% optimized plants, and that's beyond my needs).

Being that high yields are not an issue for me (I only have one patient), I'm trying a couple of things. I have two 100 gallon smart pots that I'm going to sink about halfway into the ground. I know this undermines some of the benefits of cloth pots in terms of aeration and drainage, but I have sandy/loamy soil beneath them, and I have plant height restrictions, so I can't start the plants 2 feet off the ground.

Two others are going directly into the ground. I dug a hole approximately 5' x 3' x 2' deep, and I will fill it with a mix of potting soil, mushroom compost, steer manure, chicken manure, perlite... pretty much one of everything I could find at a local feed and grain store that sounded interesting (mostly organic, btw). The final mix is about 50% potting soil, and 50% everything else.

I've seen all kinds of methods work, but it would be great to know the risks and benefits of each, as well as see what's being done.

I use pots cause I don't have the room to put them on the ground, but I'd like to have some raised beds.

I would say if you plan to grow a full season where ever your from I would not use less than a 45 gal pot due to watering schedules.

TWS said:

I would say if you plan to grow a full season where ever your from I would not use less than a 45 gal pot due to watering schedules.

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Hes correct...i used a 15 gallon as an experiment this season and once the plant was approximately a foot high i had to water daily otherwise the leaves would droop and tell me it was thirsty

Heck you don't even need a pot… just make a nice pile of dirt/compost/ w.e else u want in there and till it up… even 12 inches of raised patty will crush it. That way you can keep adding soil to the width and walk your plants out as big as you feel necessary. Keeps you always on the positive side of pot restriction. Add some sort of mulch to the top for water retention ( alfalfa, straw, hay) and call it a day. Not a volcano effect just a nice even 12-18 inch tall 3-5 feet in diameter to start then keep adding to the diameter as she grows… cuts work down and keeps you moving on up.

ruby fruit said:

Hes correct...i used a 15 gallon as an experiment this season and once the plant was approximately a foot high i had to water daily otherwise the leaves would droop and tell me it was thirsty

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What about digging a hole five feet wide and three feet deep? Almost a yard in volume. I would think that would hold water a little better than above ground. Why dont people just dig it up and replace the soil? At 70 bucks a pot id think it would be like money in the bank. Do you know what the reasoning is?

Alienwidow said:

What about digging a hole five feet wide and three feet deep? Almost a yard in volume. I would think that would hold water a little better than above ground. Why dont people just dig it up and replace the soil? At 70 bucks a pot id think it would be like money in the bank. Do you know what the reasoning is?

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I did dig a hole.. 1mx1mx1m ......but i also done a 15 gallon smart pot as well just to have a small amount of a second strain...

ruby fruit said:

I did dig a hole.. 1mx1mx1m ......but i also done a 15 gallon smart pot as well just to have a small amount of a second strain...

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ruby fruit said:

Hes correct...i used a 15 gallon as an experiment this season and once the plant was approximately a foot high i had to water daily otherwise the leaves would droop and tell me it was thirsty

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i agree ruby. when i hit 40 degrees C for a week i was watering my 15 gal pots twice a day otherwise they drooped. didnt bother me much as im home every day but some arnt

Alienwidow said:

What about digging a hole five feet wide and three feet deep? Almost a yard in volume. I would think that would hold water a little better than above ground. Why dont people just dig it up and replace the soil? At 70 bucks a pot id think it would be like money in the bank. Do you know what the reasoning is?

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i use pots for security. if i need to, I can move my potted plants up the back and hide them. cant do that when its planted in the ground.

I'm sure it depends on your situation, but I won't use pots for the simple reason...if you have to water more you are making a trail much more visible...kinda negates the security issue for me.

brimck325 said:

I'm sure it depends on your situation, but I won't use pots for the simple reason...if you have to water more you are making a trail much more visible...kinda negates the security issue for me.

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if i was growing up bush id defiantly grow in the ground. lugging waters a bitch dont wanna do that more than necessary. i grow in my backyard so a trail isn't really a problem

reza92 said:

if i was growing up bush id defiantly grow in the ground. lugging waters a bitch dont wanna do that more than necessary. i grow in my backyard so a trail isn't really a problem

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Same here one in ground one in a pot....missus waters when im away.

ruby fruit said:

Same here one in ground one in a pot....missus waters when im away.

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Im a suburban grower for personal so it is easier to water if there is one in a pot.
I have a 3000 litre water tank and also 50 potted assorted chilli plants to care for