I wanted to share what I use as planters on my patio. These are 20 gallon totes, Sterilite or whatever brand the big box stores sell. Around $10 each.
I believe they are made of polypropylene which is not food grade like HDPE, but it is one of the safer plastics to use around food (I grow herbs & veggies in them along with flowers). Not perfect, but inexpensive and durable.
I poke holes in the bottom for drainage, as well as add a gravel or a perlite layer at the bottom to help with drainage.
They're filled with a mixture of compost, local sand from the desert, and coco peat to help retain moisture in our hot dry summers. Probably a few amendments and some rock dust as well.
I find that the 20 gallon size is big enough that you can get a nice little thriving microbiome in there. Lots of room for soil and for roots to stretch out. I've got all sorts of soil critters like worms, pill bugs, black soldier flies, earwigs and more 😊 and still small enough that you can drag them around once they're filled with soil. You probably can't lift them as one person, but you can definitely drag them.
You can also put a couple stakes, a tomato cage, or build a little trellis in them because they are heavy enough that they definitely won't tip over.
Anyway these work well for me and are an inexpensive way to set up a little modular garden on a patio, porch, or balcony in a small space.
Curious what you all use to grow in if you're in a small space like me!
