Using old drawers

M0rgana · April 2023

I've got some bamboo stakes and twine. Was thinking I could try growing some sweet peas but I don't have any spare ground that's got reasonable soil, plus I'm trying to be very frugal. Would it work if I put compost in this old set of drawers on it's side? They are woodchip covered with sticky back plastic I think (I'm guessing!)... would I be better with something made of solid wood?

Fairygirl · April 2023

The drawers are too shallow, but the base unit would be ok if you line it with plastic, after putting holes in it of course, and in the plastic as well. It's probably worth putting something more substantial in what would then be the base though - they're usually just hardboard or thin MDF. You could even just put a couple of battens on the outside - left to right in your pic, which would support it. It could fall out quite easily over the season otherwise, especially as you need loads of water for sweet peas.

Take the feet off first - and attach them to the new base or those new battens [;)] to keep the box off the ground and help drainage. Or use them for another container etc.

It probably won't last very long, but if you get a season or two out of it, it's worthwhile

BenCotto · April 2023

Last season I put four spare sweet pea seedlings in a big potato growing sack filled with rich compost and kept well watered. They still went over a full month before the ones planted in the ground.

I would be hesitant Morgana. Seeing the viewer’s garden on GW last night with its emphasis on upcycling, my thought there was there’s a balance between quirky and scrappy and that garden had gone a couple of steps too far.

M0rgana · April 2023

I think you might be right Ben...

As an alternative, would it work to just dig a hole in the ground (the soil isn't good, it's like scrap land) and chuck compost in there, then plant?

Fairygirl · April 2023

While I agree with @BenCotto [I haven't seen the programme] re 'upcycled' stuff, as I personally hate all that 'plants in wellies' etc, the box would be fine with a bit of paint, and/or some other pots around it to hide it a bit. The base of sweet peas needs hidden anyway as they get manky and brown as time goes on.

Just digging a hole isn't any good if there isn't good soil, although if you fill it with soil and manure, that will work. Sweet peas need lots and lots of food and water to do well.
I've been growing them for decades, and it's almost impossible to overfeed or overwater them. Most of mine are grown in containers because of the slugs, but even here- they need regular watering in summer.
I use turf in the base of my pots, then a mix of whatever I have - manure if possible, good quality, moisture retentive, compost - home made or bought, garden soil - you could use bought in soil if yours is light or pretty non existent, and slow release granular food. Later in the summer, tomato food regularly and little top ups of the medium as the level sinks and disappears a bit, especially if it's compost.

JennyJ · April 2023

There's classy upcucling and then there's not-so-nice. I don't think the drawer unit would last long as a planter. They're usually made of coated chipboard stuff which swells and falls apart as soon as it gets wet.

The thread title gave me a giggle though - I thought it meant drawers as in undergarments!

Using old drawers

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