In ground, above ground, fabric pot or without?

[The Great Gonzo]

Some of the best soil in the USA is found around where I live. Unfortunately, I do not have such soil, my soil is mostly clay.

This brings me to my question. I have three choices I can think of right now to grow my marajuana next year. A 200 gallon or so fabric pot in the ground, out of the ground, or planting in the ground without a fabric pot. I grew last year in the ground with a fabric pot, but I grew in the woods on the side of a cliff and the water had no chance to puddle and stagnate since it trickled off the cliff. Next year I am planting in the middle of a field.

I was thinking that if I plant in the ground I can run drainage tile to prevent water buildup after a heavy rain. I am also leaning toward planting in the ground, in a fabric pot, since there are a lot of moles around where I live. The fabric pot would serve as protection while letting the roots expand outside of the pot.

I am thinking I would get larger plants if I plant on the ground rather than above the ground in a fabric pot but I have seen a lot of YouTube videos of commercial growers out West planting in a large above the ground fabric pots.

Does anyone have some input? What do you do? What would you do if you were me?

 

[McLovinVT]

I guess it comes down to whether or not it's legal in your neck of the woods. If it is, and you plan on growing every year, I would build raised beds. That's what I am planning on next year. Grow bags are nice, in that they drain excess water, and they are somewhat moveable, although 200 gallon bags, not so much!

The larger the pot, the bigger the plant potential.

 

[CanadianJim]

Sounds like my area, lol. Clay 5cm down, orchards and vinyards just a few km away. I've got my girl right in the ground, and she's doing pretty well. Clay has a lot of nutrients, it's just harder for the plant to get them. You'd want to get mycorrhizal spores. Mycorrhizae put out a lot of really fine root like hyphae which grow faster than plant roots, and can penetrate and loosen up really dense clay allowing the roots to grow into it. They also extract nutrients from it and transfer them to the plant in exchange for the sugars the plant produces. I start my seeds in promix herb & vegetabe mix as it has spores added to it. That way the plant has been colonized from the start. The pic is from Aug 17th, she's even bigger now. I like the idea of raised beds, allows you to put some better soil on top, better drainage, easier to amend in the fall or spring.

 

[BostonBuds]

I think the easiest is to grow in bags above the ground, less work.

 

[FresnoFarmer]

Above ground if you have burrowing rodents or bugs. In ground if you dont.

 

[Herb & Suds]

Raised beds out of 200 gallon fabric pot is perfect

 

[The Great Gonzo]

I guess it comes down to whether or not it's legal in your neck of the woods. If it is, and you plan on growing every year, I would build raised beds. That's what I am planning on next year. Grow bags are nice, in that they drain excess water, and they are somewhat moveable, although 200 gallon bags, not so much!

The larger the pot, the bigger the plant potential.

I can grow 5 plants with unlimited yield.

 

[codster25]

I’d get jollies off with 200 gallons for sure, i was thinking of splurging and doing 65 gallon bags. The one thing that’s nice about fabric/grow bags is that it breathes well and has fast growth potential. In ground gets huge too so I guess it’s what works best for you. Good luck man

 

[The Great Gonzo]

Above ground if you have burrowing rodents or bugs. In ground if you dont.

If it's in a fabric pot wont the fabric keep pests out?

 

[FresnoFarmer]

If it's in a fabric pot wont the fabric keep pests out?

Not rodents

 

[ganga gurl420]

I have clay here myself... just slimy red fricken clay. I tried growing in ground for yrs but always had issues due to the high amount of rain we can get here.
I am above ground all the way and will stay that way. Roots love oxygen and they just do better above ground.

 

[FresnoFarmer]

I have clay here myself... just slimy red fricken clay. I tried growing in ground for yrs but always had issues due to the high amount of rain we can get here.
I am above ground all the way and will stay that way. Roots love oxygen and they just do better above ground.

True. In my experience in my gardens everything grows better in ground here. I think it has to do with the roots staying cooler. Not much rain to worry about lol.

 

[ganga gurl420]

True. In my experience in my gardens everything grows better in ground here. I think it has to do with the roots staying cooler. Not much rain to worry about lol.

See and we have a short grow season so I need my roots warm. I guess it really depends on native soil and rainfall.

 

[hanimmal]

I am a fan of Straw Bales, drop a bag of pro-mix or whatnot in the middle of 4, mix in the nutrients you want to cook up a month or so before you need to plant. The straw keeps moisture in, while any excess will run out.

 

[MidwestGorilla219]

I had moles eat right through a 65g smart pot so you might want to surround the pot with chicken wire.

 

[Sawzall77]

View attachment 4393078
I am a fan of Straw Bales, drop a bag of pro-mix or whatnot in the middle of 4, mix in the nutrients you want to cook up a month or so before you need to plant. The straw keeps moisture in, while any excess will run out.

Beautiful dog you have there! ....I’m not sure which your trying to show off.... your dog or those trees!!! Both impressive man!

 

[codster25]

View attachment 4393078
I am a fan of Straw Bales, drop a bag of pro-mix or whatnot in the middle of 4, mix in the nutrients you want to cook up a month or so before you need to plant. The straw keeps moisture in, while any excess will run out.

That’s awesome

 

[hanimmal]

Thank you, yeah it works pretty nicely with clay too, the plant roots will fill into the staw bales and into the clay so they really have all the room they need.

Beautiful dog you have there! ....I’m not sure which your trying to show off.... your dog or those trees!!! Both impressive man!

Defiantly the dog!

 

[Thedillestpickle]

I like my raised bed. Last year it was just for veggies, I added a few things into the soil this year and the plants love it.

 

[valjack]

Some of the best soil in the USA is found around where I live. Unfortunately, I do not have such soil, my soil is mostly clay.

This brings me to my question. I have three choices I can think of right now to grow my marajuana next year. A 200 gallon or so fabric pot in the ground, out of the ground, or planting in the ground without a fabric pot. I grew last year in the ground with a fabric pot, but I grew in the woods on the side of a cliff and the water had no chance to puddle and stagnate since it trickled off the cliff. Next year I am planting in the middle of a field.

I was thinking that if I plant in the ground I can run drainage tile to prevent water buildup after a heavy rain. I am also leaning toward planting in the ground, in a fabric pot, since there are a lot of moles around where I live. The fabric pot would serve as protection while letting the roots expand outside of the pot.

I am thinking I would get larger plants if I plant on the ground rather than above the ground in a fabric pot but I have seen a lot of YouTube videos of commercial growers out West planting in a large above the ground fabric pots.

Does anyone have some input? What do you do? What would you do if you were me?

Im in Northern CA and grow outdoor in fabric pots above ground. They cannot be moved because the roots grow through the bottom of the pot into the ground and are secured as if crazy glued to the ground. We have a lot of gophers and in past years lost a few plants to gophers eating the roots. The gophers will eat a hole through the fabric pots and get inside the roots and feast away, effectively killing the plant. Now what I do is buy gopher wire, cut into squares and place under each pot.