Container for growing peas against a fence?

April 8, 2018 12:37 PM

I have a section of chain-link fence in my yard that I'd like to use as a trellis for growing peas. The soil is likely lead-contaminated, so I'd need to grow them in containers. What sort of containers should I buy? I figured something smallish and long, like window boxes. I'd need some amount of drainage (was going to line with burlap) and of course I don't want to spend $200 on these.
posted by serathen to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

These are pretty great, and don't cost a fortune.
posted by sarcasticah at 1:03 PM on April 8, 2018

I did this on a roof in nyc once. I used those wooden fruit and vegetable crates from behind the grocery store (free!), lined them with garbage bags and filled with dirt. Poked a few holes in the bottom with a screwdriver. You want plastic for the bottom if you're avoiding lead, otherwise the plants will grow right through.
posted by sexyrobot at 1:07 PM on April 8, 2018

I used very inexpensive window box shaped planters to grow morning glories up strings on my porch. They have drainage holes and snap on bottom trays which you can remove. They probably came from Ocean State Job Lot which won't help unless you live in southern New England but gives you the idea for the type of store to check for inexpensive seasonal items like this.
posted by Botanizer at 2:02 PM on April 8, 2018

You say "likely" lead contaminated -- have you had it tested? Call your local agricultural extension office and ask about testing. Mine lent me a metal tubey thingamajig for taking soil samples and then I sent it off to my state's tech university for testing. The whole process was relatively cheap and easy.
posted by Jacqueline at 5:56 PM on April 8, 2018

I've used contractors' trash bags as growing containers - the 42 gallon big black 3mil plastic ones. I stab knife holes in the bottom for drainage, and fill with compost. They're not as pretty as a box but comparatively very inexpensive.
posted by anadem at 9:19 PM on April 8, 2018

I bought a bigger version of a plastic garbage pail in a fantastic turquoise colour as peas like deep roots, just drilled a few holes in the base. Each cost me £9.
posted by Wilder at 6:58 AM on April 9, 2018