When it comes to patio planters, I’m a total cheapskate — and a total snob. No plastic. No fiberglass. No cutesy designs. I like solid colors and simple shapes, and I also like a deal. My dream garden center would sell 30-inch glazed terracotta pots for $10. They’d be food safe and made in the USA.

I know, I know… Keep dreaming, Greengirl.

Truth be told, I’m a little behind in my planting. I could blame the weather, but I’m super disorganized and distractable this year. My seedlings, unfortunately, have received the brunt of my neglect. Standing in the garage, I suddenly realized that had too many pepper plants, not enough pots, and absolutely no potting soil.

Coupon in hand, I headed to the nearest garden center, the Bachman’s off HWY 169 and 55. I prepared myself for the Memorial Day weekend crowds and the long lines. I was on a stealth mission. Get in, buy six bags of potting soil from the nearest cashier, and then get the heck out.

Bachman’s has a great selection of very expensive and very heavy planters. I took a quick detour past what my bank account couldn’t afford and my back couldn’t afford carry. Then I came face to face with a near perfect solution to my patio pot problem — three pallets of oak wine barrels! They were huge, food safe, made in the USA and recycled from wineries. Ding! Ding! Ding!

I rushed to the register. A clay planter of the same size would’ve set me back at least $300. I got two half-barrels for $100. I was giddy. I felt like I was getting away with something.

Like most of my garden purchases, most of my research happens after my credit card is swiped (Remember my order of fruit trees and shrubs?). I learned that barrel planters are big on the west coast — and big enough for a lime or lemon tree. In our cooler climates, they are perfect for blueberries. Barrel planters make it easy to control the acidity of the soil and protect the berries from birds. Hey! I just bought some blueberry bushes…

In my enthusiasm, I forgot all about my pepper plants. I’ll give you three guesses as to what I am doing tonight.

Are you into patio gardening? What kinds of containers do you like to use? Are you on top of your planting or do you get as distracted as I do?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 at 12:04 pm and is filed under Container gardening. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.