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Non-plastic containers for growing potatoes

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  • #1

    Non-plastic containers for growing potatoes

    Hi,
    I have just joined and this is my first post. I am trying to be a organic as I can. I would like to use containers to grow extra fruit and veg, but I am having a hard time finding anything that is not plastic, (tyres come into this category as well), this is because I am thinking the chemicals from the plastics leach into the soil/compost and then in to the veg/fruit growing in them... can anyone suggest anything that is as natural as possible to grow my extra's in?
    Thanks
    Sandra
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  • #2
    Welcome to the Vine! My first thoughts are terracotta pots or wooden half barrels. Hessian sacks, perhaps one inside each other might work but obviously will have a limited life expectancy.

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    • #3
      Hi,I bought some hessian sacks from p0undland this year for spuds
      Location : Essex

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      • #4
        £land do potato grow bags - £1 I believe. I've used them for the last 3 years and find them perfect for my needs.
        What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter?
        Pumpkin pi.

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        • #5
          The hessian sacks are for storing the spuds not growing them.

          I've got a mix of 35L bags (3 spuds), 17L bags (1 or 2 spuds) and 10L Flower pots (1 spud)this year.

          All have had equal does for there capacity of spuds galore and I will see how they all perform.

          Varieties are:
          Lady Christl, Vivaldi and Charlotte

          So quite an experiment.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Jonnyt View Post
            The hessian sacks are for storing the spuds not growing them.
            The hessian sacks from p0undland are for growing in,they have a thin type of waterproof lining inside,water doesnt really come through,they also stand like a normal potato bag. I use hessian sacks for storage too,they're different...
            Location : Essex

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            • #7
              The question asked in this resurrected thread was for non plastic growing containers. I suspect em waterproof lining is plastic.

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              • #8
                Hello Topsy and welcome to the forum.
                I've moved your question to a new thread as more people will see it here.

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                • #9
                  Well I suppose it depends how much you want to spend. You could use wooden boxes or barrels, stack bricks up to make a box shaped container, recycle the metal drums that vegetable oil comes in, if you have eg a friendly fish 'n chip shop.

                  Or if you already have a large terracotta pot or big tub, how about making your own from papier mache? Totally bio-degradeable, and recycling paper too

                  or how about trawling second hand shops, freegle etc for wicker or rush laundry baskets?
                  Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
                  Endless wonder.

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                  • #10
                    I would prefer not to use plastic for the same reason, though when I looked into it, I decided that there was unlikely to be that much chemical leakage, and I considered that my milk comes in plastic bottles, as do loads of other things I ingest, even though I cook most everything from scratch. Nevertheless, I prefer to go natural if possible. But I couldnt think of anything affordable. I think wooden barrels are the best option but they aren't cheap. A cheaper alternative can be terracota but they often cost a lot too!

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                    • #11
                      If you don't need the container to be portable you can make mud walls or make a stone wall/ slab edging.
                      If you are crafty you can weave twigs/sticks for the outside line the inner with paper then fill.

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                      • #12
                        First welcome.

                        A decent plastic container will not leech anything into the growing medium so there really is nothing to worry about. Also most plastic containers including dustbins are now made from recycled plastic usually the stuff that cannot be used for other purposes. Morrison's BFB's work very well at one seed per bucket whilst dustbins are great for four main crop seeds. Another useful container is the plastic domestic cold water storage tank, like the ones we had in the roof space before combination boilers.
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                        Potty by name Potty by nature.

                        By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


                        We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

                        Aesop 620BC-560BC

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                        • #13
                          I don't think plastic tubs are worth the paranoia but I would be concerned about growing in old tyres. They stink when in full sun and that to me indicates a good possibility of leeching chemicals into the soil.

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                          • #14
                            Well if you ever had a hot water cylinder in your house then there is a 99% chance your water was stored in a plastic tank.
                            Potty by name Potty by nature.

                            By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


                            We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

                            Aesop 620BC-560BC

                            sigpic

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Potstubsdustbins View Post
                              Well if you ever had a hot water cylinder in your house then there is a 99% chance your water was stored in a plastic tank.
                              I am not concerned about plastic containers, only concerned about old tyres.

                              The water gets to my home via plastic pipes and the majority of my food comes in plastic containers.

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