I am planning on doing some vegetable plants in containers and I was wondering what type of containers I can use. I would like to recycle things I have around the house instead of buying new containers. I am doing tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. What types of containers can be used for planting?

I always thought the containers for growing vegetables had to be pretty deep (which would limit what you would have lying around the house). When we grew veggies on our patio, we used plastic planters from Walmart that were about 18" deep, and about 24" in diameter (about the size of a laundry basket). We tried to grow bell peppers in a smaller planter, and the plants didn't grow very high and only produced about 4 peppers.

We're going to be moving into an apartment with a patio again, and I'd like to container garden again this summer, but I'm hearing that you've got to be very careful about plastic containers, because some will leach plastics (some particular plastics are known and some are thought to be health risks) into the soil and the vegetation, so this year I'm going to ask on Craig's list or freecycle (or buy if I can find them or get them made for me affordably) untreated wood or terra cotta containers (I'd prefer untreated wood).

Drainage is also an issue, as you've got to put holes in the bottom of any container. You may lso want a drainage tray to place under the container if you don't want riverlets of mud running from the bottom holes onto your patio or deck, if that's a concern.

Deep rubbermaid containers might work (if you drill holes in the bottom), but again I don't know if those are made out of the "safe" plastics or not. Large wooden boxes or chests would work (if they're not treated with hazardous chemicals - such as those in varnishes and such).

I've read conflicting advice as to the safety of plastic containers. Some websites will say "even plastic garbage bags," but I know that plastic garbage bags are not safe for food storage and leach unhealthy plastic compounds into the food, so I'm wondering if it would leach into the growing plant. Other sources say to avoid any non-natural material. I'm not sure what the "common wisdom" is. I'm planning on checking out more books from the library.

I container garden also. I built mine with lumber and it goes down the side of my fence. I stacked two 2x4's atop each other. Yes, mine are deep.


I think I would be tempted to hit the thrift shops for clay pots before using the plastic. Kaplods, great idea on the freecycle too. They are prettier for certain.

Crap, didn't think about what might leech into the plants, I guess my brainstorm of a minute ago is probably not a good idea (old tires, stacked up by 2s). I was just on Craigslist, nothing there today.

Mine will be sitting on cement pad I have outside my backdoor, so not worried about mud or anything leaking.

If you put a coffee filter over the drain hole when you're setting it up, the water will drain w/o the dirt flowing out.

I have found tires to be fine for gardening. The biggest heavy metal in rubber tires is zinc and to get that to leach you have to chop the tire up such as mulch. So plant in them just don't mulch with them. I find them great for tomato and pepper plants .Just put straw in the bottom to keep your soil from washing right out.