Cheap idea for Strawberry Planters

Mummy_Jo

Thanks they do look cool. Are they really only 99p at B & M? I would buy a few. I can not believe people are selling them fo £9.99 though

Thanks for that. I really had no idea what you were talking about. This would definitely be the cheapest option for me so far:j

Jo

JupObs

I suspect it was me who posted about the stackable ones, both on here and hukd
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1555475&highlight= (shame it didn't even get voted hot )

The deal was at Poundland and they were selling 3 for £2, haven't seen them in my local branch for a while though.

stilernin

christon1 wrote: »

Just been looking on ebay someone is selling them!!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Stackable-Strawberry-Planter-Herb-Flower-Bulb-NEW_W0QQitemZ290310891047QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090418?IMSfp=TL090418117003r16516

I am not convinced that these would be worth the outlay. Quoting from the ebay ad ............ 'a stack of 3 which is what the auction is for is Approx 35cm tall and 35cm wide.'

This is only 14inchs tall (and wide), for three tiers. Each of those compartments, 4x4inch (?) won't be enough to grow and support a strawberry plant to it's full potential surely? On a hot day they would need watering at least twice if not three times. The large surface area of the shaped pots would also get very hot and the roots could almost cook.

Sorry to be so critical, but at even 99p per tier, it would not be money well spent.

Mummy_Jo

stilernin wrote: »

I am not convinced that these would be worth the outlay. Quoting from the ebay ad ............ 'a stack of 3 which is what the auction is for is Approx 35cm tall and 35cm wide.'

This is only 14inchs tall (and wide), for three tiers. Each of those compartments, 4x4inch (?) won't be enough to grow and support a strawberry plant to it's full potential surely? On a hot day they would need watering at least twice if not three times. The large surface area of the shaped pots would also get very hot and the roots could almost cook.

Sorry to be so critical, but at even 99p per tier, it would not be money well spent.

Ok - so given that how much space do you think that an individual plant needs? When these are stacked would they not be similar to the other ones - in that water would trickle down from the top one?

sb44

How about buying some hanging baskets and brackets for them from Poundland?

I bought 3 of each, have planted some loose leaf lettuce in one and strawberry plants in another one.

I mixed some vermaculite in with the compost to help retain water and they are doing fine especially the lettuce.

Mummy_Jo

Good idea - I already have a load of hanging baskets in the shed from my previous house. What did you line your baskets with?

onetomany

ive got starwberry and tomatos in hanging baskets x

stilernin

Mummy_Jo wrote: »

Ok - so given that how much space do you think that an individual plant needs? When these are stacked would they not be similar to the other ones - in that water would trickle down from the top one?

If you punched holes in these tiers (there are none to begin with) water would drip out of the bottom of them, agreed. But where to? On a hot day, it would drip onto the foliage below, (not good for the plant) and evaporate before reaching the compost (not good for the roots). It is the cell-like construction of this that is a poor design, particularly the depth of them.

The 3 pot system retains the water more efficiently due to the mass of compost and the bottoms of the pots creating barriers. This keeps the compost cooler too which the roots like.

How much space per plant? In open ground, "13-15in (35-40cm) apart within the row and rows 30in (75cm) apart" is recommended. So if we are confining them to a prison sentence in a container, the more space the better. To put them in these tiers is rather like solitary confinement in the sweat box though.

The point of strawberry pots, towers etc is to get as many plants as you can into a small 'footprint' of ground.

Try some lateral thinking... have you an old plastic storage box? Fill with compost (if it is very deep, fill the bottom half with plasic milk bottles before you top up with compost). Find two (or three) 8" ish plant pots, fill with compost and put on top of the box equally spaced. Put plants in pots and in the box. If you have a few boxes of different sizes, use those.

You'll begin to look at all sorts of containers in a whole new light.:D

Mummy_Jo

Absolutely Brilliant!!

Can you move next door to me so that I can ask your advice every day!

I do have old plastic containers - and an old belfast sink in the garden too - it has an old Hebe in it but I can put that somewhere else. Given the above should I create one extra layer with pots or two.


Thanks

Jo

stilernin

Mummy_Jo wrote: »

Absolutely Brilliant!!

Can you move next door to me so that I can ask your advice every day!

I do have old plastic containers - and an old belfast sink in the garden too - it has an old Hebe in it but I can put that somewhere else. Given the above should I create one extra layer with pots or two.


Thanks

Jo

Aaaw, thanks I was afraid I was 'going on' a bit.

Where do you live? I could already be around the corner, you never know.

Any other queries, just shout. There are loads of peeps on here who will always give you some help.