Im sure there is a reason people always use the big 65 gallon containers etc and not just use the ground? till the soil and amend it then plant? can even do it in big circles the size of small pools...im ignorant to outdoor at this point but trying to learn...thanks!!!
why not just grow in the ground?
- Thread starter BRANDON77
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sandhill larry
Well-Known Member
If you have good soil to begin with, and add some animal manure composts and other amendments to it, it will do fine. I'm using a few pots for the first time this year. I have always been an in the ground guy, and will have a few patches like that this year too. Like everything in life, each has it's pros and cons.
Many who grow in pots have poor, rocky, too wet or too dry soil. Pots do help to keep other plants from sending their roots to steal your ferts and water. But above ground especially, they are not good at water retention. Above ground pots are higher, so they would catch more sun when they are young, so maybe grow a little faster.
Planting in the ground will be better for water retention and stealth. But you can run into all sorts of plant killing varmints. I lost a few plants last year to termites. Folks further up north have to deal with gophers. Slugs can get you no matter where you grow.
When digging holes, wider is more important than deeper. Last year I did one kiddie pool sized hole. I put the plant into it when it was still real young, and it turned out to be a male, {this was Big & Stinky, one of my best studs last year}, but when I chopped him, he was 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide. The wider the root ball, the bigger the plant will be.
Many who grow in pots have poor, rocky, too wet or too dry soil. Pots do help to keep other plants from sending their roots to steal your ferts and water. But above ground especially, they are not good at water retention. Above ground pots are higher, so they would catch more sun when they are young, so maybe grow a little faster.
Planting in the ground will be better for water retention and stealth. But you can run into all sorts of plant killing varmints. I lost a few plants last year to termites. Folks further up north have to deal with gophers. Slugs can get you no matter where you grow.
When digging holes, wider is more important than deeper. Last year I did one kiddie pool sized hole. I put the plant into it when it was still real young, and it turned out to be a male, {this was Big & Stinky, one of my best studs last year}, but when I chopped him, he was 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide. The wider the root ball, the bigger the plant will be.
sandhill larry
Well-Known Member
I have also used the actual kiddie pools to grow tomatoes in. 45-50 gallons of soil mix will make a big tomato plant.
Lucky Luke
Well-Known Member
in ground is fine..just dig a nice big hole and amend and grow...
IamJoe1220
Member
In ground is fine. You just have to do the prep work to have success. Guerrilla growing is trickier, that's why guys pack their gear, find a spot and drop.
oldtimer54
Well-Known Member
I grew outside for decades. I used 5 gallon buckets and store bought soil in the beginning just to keep myself in weed for the year until the next growing season. Then came the year someone discovered my spot and unfortunately claimed all my hard work for themselves. I decided to become more stealthy and plant directly into mother earth out in the country on some state gameland. After multiple hikes I found a few great sites with water very near and the soil was ok. I worked on these sites for several months prior to the upcoming grow season. I hauled dozens of bags of soil and dug holes for the plants and incorporated the store bought soil with the native soil. I grew in that area for years with no problems. Then I was able to purchase 10 acres of my own in a very rural area and just started using my own land instead of the States . I enjoyed growing outside and only my age and physical endurance convinced me it was time to start growing inside ! I think your choice of where or how you decide to grow depends on your own personal situation there are pro's & cons to both choices......but the end results sure are nice !
GroErr
Well-Known Member
Both work, I used to grow in the ground when I had my own country property but the soil was very sandy so I'd dig holes and throw my own soil mix in. Now I grow in pots because I'm in a sub-division and have to be able to move them from time to time for stealth reasons. Either way produces dank, just a situational thing with me giving the pots some preference due to flexibility of moving them, otherwise I'd be in the ground. Hoping to be legal next year in which case I'd dig into a useless hill in my back yard (but gets a lot of sun) and plant them there.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
I prefer the ground for several reasons. Stealth is a big one.
Mainly though the ground provides better protection for the root zone. Keeps it cool in the summer and warm in the fall.
Mainly though the ground provides better protection for the root zone. Keeps it cool in the summer and warm in the fall.
Sir Napsalot
Well-Known Member
It hailed here yesterday, and pretty dang hard too. That's why I'm in pots.
BarnBuster
Virtually Unknown Member
this for me, last 15 years
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
Some of us are not legal and don't have the luxury of being able to move plants around.
I will say that if I were able to grow legal some would be in pots. Well not pots, raised beds. Maybe a few in those fabric grow bags.
sandhill larry
Well-Known Member
If it was legal, there would be one of these setups in my garden for something other than my tomatoes.
Sir Napsalot
Well-Known Member
Living in a legal state I sometimes forget that others don't, sorry.
natureboygrower
Well-Known Member
one thing to consider about growing in the ground is how much water it will hold after rain.i recently started a new garden and was going to go directly in the ground.clay soil 86'd that idea so i decided to do 3' high planters sunk 18" into the ground.after i dug my holes we got rain and it was quite evident i was going to need drainage under my planters.so now i have roughly 6-10" of gravel that my planters sit on.the planters are still buried about a foot into soil so as not to be too top heavy.i guess that water would be perfect for a covert operation but im legal.i like to be able to regulate my watering.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
No biggie.
A must have in clay soil.
I like planting on south facing hills. If I can I cut a trench from my hole and lay corrugated pipe covered in gravel running from a bed of gravel in the bottom of the hole.
Lucky Luke
Well-Known Member
or Country....rec legal will be years and years away (if at all ) Downunder.
BarnBuster
Virtually Unknown Member
i would so have a JJ esque set up if it were legal here
sandhill larry
Well-Known Member
I grow more than I can smoke now with my half assed Darwin Dope patches. One of JJ's plants would last me several years. While that would be nice, I like a variety.i would so have a JJ esque set up if it were legal here