Outdoor Organic Grow - Pots or Into the Ground?

[thetreeman]

If plants grow well in your soil, you are better off growing in the ground IMO. If plants dont grow for PH reasons typically, pots might be your only option.

 

[GreensKeeper]

Similar situation and choices for me, Banana. Here in the states, I'm growing stealth at the edge of an agricultural field which meets a wooded area. Faces the southeast so I'll get 6-7 hours of unfiltered morning sun. I'll only be able to tend to the plants every other week. This led me to decide to amend the soil with grow medium and plant in the soil as I believe it will allow the plants to better survive any hot/dry spells between waterings.


My plants are now putting on their third nodes so I'm thinking I'll do the transplant in a week or so. My biggest concern is not detection but critters; specifically rabbits or possibly the stray deer. I'm thinking about getting some repellant to spray on the plants until they are large enough to survive any nibbling.

Powderfinger

Hey Powderfinger,

In my area I have a few predators around (jackals, wild cats etc), so I collect some of their fecal matter and spread it around my Grow area. That’s an idea you could use! Good luck to the both of you!

Good vibraaaations[emoji51][emoji51][emoji51]


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[GreensKeeper]

Hello there Powderfinger,

i fortunately have have no deer or rabbit issues, so have no good/meaningful advice I can give. But you might be interested to check out the posts of a new member called Reap. He is in South Africa somewhere and his outdoor plants are the healthiest outdoor monsters I ever saw. He is also pretty chilled and humble and answered my 2 rather amateur type questions pretty comprehensively.

I have seen seen a few YouTube videos showing people sinking homemade chicken wire cages round their grow in the us cos of critters that you mentioned. Be careful what you spray on your plants remember its going to be ingested eventually.

I wish you all the best with your grow and will check in from time to time to see how you are getting on.

Hey man. I wish you the best in your grow. I’m going to put 3 in fabric pots and 3 in the ground and then compare the two... I’ll let you know if you’re interested!

But as far as I’m aware in the ground is usually the best option if the soil is fertile. I dig huge holes and amend the soil slightly, also helps to loosen the ground and air rate.

Please can you tag this South African? I am a fellow South African and wouldn’t mind chatting.

Best of luck and best of vibrations to you good Sir!



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[thetreeman]

If you dont have to move them, you can do the best of both worlds and do fabric pots 1/3 to 1/2 buried in the soil, roots will grow right through eventually...

 

[KIS]

In general, in-ground will outperform containers. It's my preference 90% of the time with the following exceptions:

1. If your soil is very poor in quality (too high in clay or sand, poor fertility, etc...). It is worth getting a soil test and amending the soil. It will still be cheaper than buying potting soil and should yield better results.
2. If your location had been a used for storing hazardous material or heavy metals like an old gas station, etc...
3. If you're in a flood plane.
4. If you are dealing with burrowing animals like gophers or moles and can't keep them under control.

Or just plant a plant in the soil this season and do a side by side. In my experience, the in-ground one will beat your container unless you go with massive containers relative to the size of the plant.