Guttering as a planter - pvc issues?

Sally_A

The attached link should let you know what your flower pots, flower buckets, troughs and planters are made from:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resin_identification_code

valk_scot

I think, given the amount of pollutants in other sources like pesticides in the veg peelings in your compost bin, air pollutants in rain water, general crap in tap water and artificial fertilizers food...well, given all of that a few days of soil contact with plastic guttering is going to be pretty negligable. Anyway, think about it...if you collect water in a downpipe fed water butt all that water will have already been in contact with that same plastic guttering, no?

Having said that I've never used a piece of plastic guttering for seedings in my life. Awkward and unwieldy. What's wrong with recycled yoghurt pots or similar? And at least they're food safe!

savemoney

I seem to recall on Gardens world last year they use upvc guttering to grow crops

found a link

http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to...-in-guttering/

http://www.gardenworldimages.com/Sea...ic%20Guttering

Sally_A

Agree with valk_scot, who knows what's been sprayed on our imported veg, I might be wary of using PVC once it's gone weathered with a rough powdery surface.

If you consider all the crop sprays that have been banned over the years because they are dangerous, it's surprising that we are still here.

When the offspring was going though her "organic" stage, she'd ask me what I'd sprayed on the veg in the garden "Nothing" I'd reply "But I can't speak for the dog"

adouglasmhor

I would say once it's gone weathered the dangerous additives (which are are the risk factor and are not used so much in rigid PVC anyway) will be long gone from it.

misskool

If we're talking about spraying chemicals, be careful of dihyrogen monoxide.

Sally_A

Hey Ho, I don't use it anyway, so unsure what I'm doing here :rotfl:.

Did pop out to check watering can and flower pots though - they seem to be polyethylene or polypropylene.

Will check out the Morrisons flower buckets when I go up the garden.

Did notice on that wiki link I posted above that PVC is not used for food containers.

aliasojo

I think my concern with the guttering is the fact that if leaching occurs, it will be more concentrated as there would be such a small amount of soil in place compared to other situations.

Thanks for the links, will read shortly.

poly1

misskool wrote: »

If we're talking about spraying chemicals, be careful of dihyrogen monoxide.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: assuming you meant THIS:exclamati

Sally_A

Flip me!! had some in my cuppa today!! :eek::eek:

What should I do??