raised planters, shelf? need to lift pots off floor - ideas?

Chimera

Hi everyobne.. I am having a slight problem with puppy and pots, he managed to break into cold frame this morning. Have a small garden and would like everything along one wall in pots - thinking of a thin raised bed but not feasible this growing season I don't think - unless anyone has any ideas?

Was thinking of raised planters or potting benches or even strong shelf, looking to cover a 4m ish wall - doesn't want to be too far out from wall either - maybe 0.5m at most.
Needs to be at least 1m high.
Needs to be strong enough to hold pots - some big, some large (toms etc)
Needs to not look a mess as well

Have had a look at some wooden potting benches but at £22 each plus delivery would not be affordable

Also thinking a shelf, made from metal brackets and boards??

I'm struggling to know what to do for best.. any ideas/advice would be gratefully received!

balloo_2

What about something like this?
£10.00 in Wilkinsons You can fix it to the wall with these things they hold copper pipe

tanith

Why not buy some bricks and wood that is treated and make a book shelf type arrangement with the bigger pots at the bottom and getting smaller as you go up . Just stack the bricks as for a post 2bricks wide then put the shelves in at whatever height you need for the pots.. bit hard to explain

midnightraven3

they wont hold tomatoes
and i think you will struggle to get anything that high that will

why not hang your toms
i get clean paint kettles, 10l ones
cut a hole in the bottom, about 4" dia
put the lid over the hole, fill with compost, place another lid on it
flip over, when plants are roughly 5-6" in height, plant in the hole
leave to take root for approx 2 weeks, watering in the hole
then take your kettle, tip up the right way and hang by the handle

cheap tomato hangers that need no support
and just leave the lid off to water

Chimera

Thanks for the replies guys..

midnightraven3 - does this work with all tomatoes? I have tumbling toms that I'm gonna put in hanging baskets, had never thought about hanging the regular ones?

midnightraven3

works a treat






just remember to leave your plants growing, with the bucket upside down for roughly 10 days - 2 weeks, for the roots to take, after thet, hang, and take the lid off

midnightraven3

:oshould have said, i grow 6 or 7 varieties this way
never had any problems wth any
and i cany say some are better than others either
they just grow!:T

Chimera

Can I just ask.. I'm not quite sure what to do about the hole, you say cut a hole but then put a lid over it and fill with compost, so hole is covered, how do you then plant in the hole - sorry I'm probably just being really thick!

midnightraven3

nooooooooo, i am really rubbish at explaining:D

take the bucket, upside down
cut a hole
cover the hole (i use another lid)
turn correct way up
fill with compost, & put on lid, tightly
hand under the bottom, and tip the bucket up
so it is now technically upside down, hole facing the top
the first lid is just to stop the compost coming out as you fill it

take that lid away, and plant your plant
leave to root
voila

Chimera

ahhh.. I get you now.. many thanks - may well try this

Chimera

OOhh.. sorry, another quick question, how many plants to this size container?
I've seen strawberrys planted in a simlar way in pop bottles - would pop bottles be too small for toms?