yep, and you spend an hr washing out the dirt, bugs and snails, drying and sorting... , 5 days later the giant orange slugs are back - with their relatives, the worms, piling up their excrement
That's what I did. Talked myself into decluttering almost all the pots I'd hoarded for years, then 3 months later, got bit by the gardening bug and had to buy new ones!
I have hundreds. Different sizes. Neatly arranged. I never throw any of them away till they crack or break. I don’t wash mine till I’m going to use them. I use old mini blinds as plant labels. I take them apart and cut them down.
You can also use old pots to sift your compost. Choose a pot with appropriate drainage holes. Half fill it with compost. Then shake it up and down. It holds back the bigger pieces and lets through the finer stuff. Ideal for creating a layer of fine material for seed sowing on top of a pot partly filled with unsifted compost.
I can't believe I never thought of using the larger pots for storage! Next season, I'm definitely attaching some to my fence because I have that horrible habit of leaving tools, tags and string in my beds. Great video!
i start my parsnips in bottomless pots in the green house and then sink the pot into the ground....great results every time 3 seedlings keep the strongest
Great Tips! My favorite is the one about using moist straw in an upside-down pot to catch earwigs and relocate them! Earwigs love munching on our young lettuce, so I'm eggciting to try this next spring!
I’m a member of several garden clubs and hoard used pots of all sorts. We use extra pots for plants, cuttings and seedlings to share/swap at local events. Our library holds a free swap event in both the spring and the fall. On average there is as many as 600-700 plants to share with our community and the event is well attended.
I get free pots at yard sales. Sometimes I spray paint them to make them look new. I also keep any food container that would work for seedlings. And I tried milk jug/juice jug mini-greenhouses for seed starting and it was well worth it!
Yes! I use the much larger containers as plant collars for tree saplings as well because they protect the trunk from weed whackers. I also save the cut off bottoms also for saplings. I cut to the centre hole and enlarge it to fit around the trunk. The bottom keeps weeds away.
Even when the plant is too large to put bottomless pot over top, just cut the pot side, open up & place around the plant ‘trunk’, push into soil to anchor et voilà!😊
As well as having sacks of old pots of different sizes, I buy the largest yoghurts from my local supermarket so I can turn the pots into extra pots or those handy tool holders. I have used old margarine tubs (or similar) for making plant labels. I live near a river and not so far from a beach, and I have rescued a number of plastic buckets and drums for conversion into potato pots.
I really liked all your ideas, Thanks for your video. My favorite was putting a smaller pot in a larger pot to save on expensive soil, when the plant is not a heavy rooter.
I use old Wooden sticks from Magnum icepops,etc as labels when sowing seeds. Theyre also handy when transferring seedlngs to pots. The ice cream tastes great too!!
I find the sticks get dark quite quickly. So I rewrite in white or silver. The sticks break-down well in my compost-bin; although my worms ignore them in my worm-bin. Regards from a Tom :)
Super Tipps!!! Vielen Dank dafür. Habe auch Unmengen dieser Pflanztöpfchen und wusste nicht, was ich damit anfangen soll. Jetzt weiß ich es. Besonders die Isektenhotels und die Idee , die Tomatenpflanzen in einen offenen Topf zu setzen, fand ich klasse. Hab nach jedem Gießen meine Tomatenpflanzen immer wieder angehäufelt. Freue mich schon auf die Umsetzung!!!👍👍👍👍👍
Brilliant video !! Here in Germany we have a free bulk refuse collection once a year, for some reason it’s not accepted in with our plastic rubbish. I got rid of soooo many plastic pots earlier this year it was embarrassing how many had accumulated 🙈 And they’re starting to accumulate again. Only difference is your ideas for recycling them. I like the idea for labels and reducing the amount of earth used in larger containers. The trick with tomatoes is especially good. Thank you! I really enjoy your tips and videos , you’re always so cheerful and positive so even if I’m not going to plant that particular vegetable the video has given a positive lift to the day. Looking forward to catching you again 🙋♀️
That’s what I thought since they grew around a large container I tried planting them in one year. It was several inches deep. Big enough for a small fruit tree. But the mint found its way out into the yard in no time. Lol
@@MayaHiortPetersen Would you rather they end up in a land fill or worse yet the oceans? He's giving us helpful, practical ways of using pots and keeping them contained in our gardens.
I've just acquired a bunch of plastic pots of different sizes which is great. Her comment was "you want them all?!" Little does she know I follow GroVeg! It's late spring here in New Zealand and I'm excited about the season now I've found your channel.
Morning Ben, I also have stacks of plastic pots, quite a variety I might add :). They get washed and stacked without a cover and then I have to re-wash again. This is a great saving idea, the only problem is to keep all tidy perhaps in a box, well worth it. Happy gardening have a beautiful day. Kind regards.
If you do want to keep your pots, put them in a shed that isnt hot or exposed to sunlight. The plastics can break down causing micro plastic into your soil. This can be taken up through the stoma of plants. If they are just for ornamental plants or do not plan on using for food plants that may not be an issue for you. Check the recycling number. Some pots break down very easily like styrofoam which should not be used for growing in. As always Mr. GrowVeg has wonderful ideas!
I like to learn how to use nature's own resources to manage 'pests', who like weeds, are just in the wrong place! I hate to destroy any living creature as I believe they are here for a reason.Love all the other ideas on how to use all the plastic pots I've been saving! Thank you for sharing all your knowledge. Blessings!
I painted all my larger black pots white before I reused them because our growing season here in Perth, Western Australia is way too hot & sunny and black pots dehydrate EVERYTHING, even the sun loving types of plants. I also use old pots as fillers in bigger pots & you can also use any other plastic food containers such as bottles or old yoghurt tubs etc. It’s what I do to create succulent displays in big pots. Makes it easier on your back too. I like the idea about chopping the coloured ones up for plant labels. Thank you!
I make palant labels from1kg yoghurt pots. I also use small yoghurt pots to transplant excess seedlings in to to give to friends and fellow allotmenteers. I also paint the large 1 kg pots to plant up ornamental plants to also give as presents. This year i decorated pots for coleus and pelargoniums I'd grown from seed. Thanks for all the tips. happy gardening 🙂
Those large yoghurt pots are also brilliant to pot up the tomatoes / chillies, just drill a few small holes in the bottom. And any plant 'leftovers' after actual planting (always too many sown) are ready to give away 😊
I tried to reuse my pots where I can. I fill my large planters with them before filling with compost and it really does make a difference to the amount used. I also always clean mine before storing them. I rinse, wash in soapy water with a cap of dettol and then rinse off before letting them dry. I do take a lot of cuttings and also self seeding plants I like to give a way so always in need of pots. I like the idea of using to protect from the frost so I think I will be doing that if needed this winter.
the best thing for plastic labels is to get an old venetian blind with plastic slats, and break the slats into convenient lengths. People are always throwing old blinds out, so if you don't have one, just look around the neighborhood dumpsters.
I'm going to spend fall cleaning my collection of old pots, and bury my herbs in them! I've been wishing for a way to keep my herbs from spreading and did put some in pots, but never thought to bury the pot! AND fantastic idea of supporting plants with a bottomless pot!
I like to use smaller plastic pots to grow new seedlings. Also, I try to keep a plastic pot tray (the thing that keeps lots of plants together at a store) those are a great way to transport many smaller potted plants home. If it is good enough for the store to transport and store them, it works well for you as well.
I have already reused pots, but I recently thought about recycling a lot of what I have. After watching your video, I think I will hang on to them a little longer!
Thank you. Wanted to say, you are one of my favourite youtubers. Your videos are well thought out. Good content. Good advice and they get to the point. I've been a keen gardener for about 26yrs but still learn from you, or get reminded. Please keep doing it!
It makes me so happy watching you! Such a sunny personality. I am a keen gardener my self, but I suspect I would be watching you anyway. Thanks from rather wet and cold Norway.
@@GrowVeg yes, I saw that on the news. I’m sure you know How to handle it, thoug. If you would be interrested, I would love a video about plants that do well in occational mild frost, say over - 10 C. Perhaps using vegetables as decorative elements during winter, together with evergreens? Anyway, have a lovely day 🙂
Thanks Ben for those ideas, i didn't think of using the pots as a cover for your young plants, considering i use juice bottles with the bottoms cut off and the screw lid left off, to cover my Onions and Garlic. The one were you wash the pots out in soapy water and a bendy bucket as i call them, i do the exact same thing using an old toothbrush for those areas not reachable with the bigger brush, onced washed i then put them in another bendy bucket of cold water just to rinse off the soap suds, then i just leave to air dry. Apart from sifting every compost bag that i buy, this washing of pots is another therapeutic thing for me to do. TC. Barry (Wirral)
I agree Barry. It's a sort of mindful exercise, washing pots. Love the idea of using the toothbrush to get at those slightly harder to reach parts. :-)
Dohh, I've been cutting the tops off to make funnels then struggling to make the bottoms airy enough. Also left with too many funnels. Regards from a Tom :)
OMGARSH! I have so many of these, but I've actually bought things to solve the problems you're solving for me right now. Thank you SOOOOOOOOOO much. This is so very useful. YaY!
I often recycle old pot poodle pots etc to use for seedlings.i still have the obligatory pile of old plant pots mind, I don’t think you’re a real gardener without the pot pile.
Some great tips there, thanks for showing us, I see so many plastic pots getting thrown away or left in the corner of gardens providing Slug habitat. I've been using old pots to store some of my Scouse Farm homemade compost so it saves some effort next Spring. There's always a good way to recycle pots 👍
Thank you so much for your very valuable advice on using garden pots. Very helpful and useful information and advice. Please stay safe and well too xxxx Mags ❤❤❤❤❤
Amaaazing work Ben! So Thanks A Million for these plastic pots tips. Am one of the guilty hoarders when it comes to plastic pots so these tips will come in very handy indeed for gardening come Spring!
I loved the bug hotel...good activity for the little ones to do...they will love it! Thank you, your videos are great. I only have a balcony but i have gained so many ideas from you. 👏👏👏👍👍👍💐💐
Love all the tips! Thank you! I keep all my plastic pots, only throwing them away when cracked beyond use. Keeping different sizes is great for potting on plants, not ready to go out. The best containers I've found for mint are metal tubs and buckets. I've had a chocolate mint growing in a tub for 4 years now without any spreading.
I love your ideas. May I add another? I use the various size pots as a low tech non electric alarm system. This is how it works. As the wall thickness differs so does the sound that is made when the pot is rustled, crushed underfoot, or whatever. I place the various empty containers such as 6 packs, 21/2” rounds, 4” square where the trespass occurs whether it involves rabbits, mice, opossum,etc. each kind of wildlife seems to have its favorite route. Our dog, having exceptional hearing know exactly where to go in order to eliminate any unwelcome guests before they have an opportunity to do real damage. This works in the brush, under snow cover or out in the open beds and the pots last for several seasons before needing replacement. The dog loves patrolling and it costs me only one slim doggie treat every now and then.
Magnificent video, perfect now that I am clearing up in the garden for winter. There were a lot of uses that I hadn't thought of here! I will absolutely make some bug hotels with my kids!
Some great ideas! I have tons of them and I do re-use them for seedlings and other plants. I keep mine neatly arranged in my greenhouse. Thank you so much for the ideas!
Thank you for a number of excellent ideas for reusing pots! I find I hang onto them to a degree, but with all these fabulous ideas I’ll be holding onto even more. 😁
Excellent bunch of great ideas for us gardeners! 😉 My pearl 💚 I sprinkle wood ash on my compost layers, I never have to turn it, just water. 🤗 When it gets done it's like coffee grounds, black gold for plants. 😋
Thanks for another great vid! I live in an arid climate and municipal water is very expensive. So I do all my washing with potassium based soap such as Oasis or Dr. Bronner (rather that sodium based soap or detergent). I use the minimum amount to do the job - usually 1-5 drops per gallon. That way I can use the wash water on trees and shrubs.
Many thanks, Ben. Love this episode and the many creative ideas and solutions you're sharing with us and me. I'm a truly terrible gardener, even the word is far from close to describe how I unenthusiastic and unmotivated I am tending my lawns; the weeds are fast taking over and before long, they are taller than me. I'm only good at watering, the simplest of simple task. That makes me just a "waterer". But your show give me some hope. And what a lovely garden you have. Cheers!
Thank you very much for gifting us a free copy of the abridged version of your book. Having had a quick 'flick' through the easy to grow veg section, it is inspiring. Thank you, I am grateful.
Our town has a garden club, and every year they have a plant sale (plants from their own gardens and indoor plants). They can always use pots of all kinds and sizes. I phone a member, she comes out to assess what they can use, and inevitably my shed is cleaned out by volunteers. I later see some of my donated pots at the sale, and I know the pots are going to good use and not being thrown away.
Did download the book, will probably buy it as well as I like to have physical copies of things. I already do most of the things in the video, but always interesting seeing if there's new things I don't know about.
I've been growing seedlings in a makeshift mini-greenhouse that used to be a takeaway salad container. Then I transplant them into individual plastic pots until they are ready for the great outdoors.
I’ve never needed a spare pot until the day after I’ve thrown out the hundreds of pots I’d been hoarding for decades
yep, and you spend an hr washing out the dirt, bugs and snails, drying and sorting... ,
5 days later the giant orange slugs are back - with their relatives, the worms, piling up their excrement
That's what I did. Talked myself into decluttering almost all the pots I'd hoarded for years, then 3 months later, got bit by the gardening bug and had to buy new ones!
I have hundreds. Different sizes. Neatly arranged. I never throw any of them away till they crack or break. I don’t wash mine till I’m going to use them. I use old mini blinds as plant labels. I take them apart and cut them down.
love it to see like-minded people also with hundreds of pots at home😻always felt a bit bad for this hoarding habit
Very good idea for mini-blinds!
I too have HUNDREDS of pots in various sizes. I’m planning on giving some away because I have too many and will not use/reuse them all…😅.
Excellent idea! (the mini-blinds). There are so many of them in thrift shops.
@@sbomwollenmine are in my potting shed neatly arranged 🥹
I never fail to learn or gain something from your charming and tidy videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
You can also use old pots to sift your compost. Choose a pot with appropriate drainage holes. Half fill it with compost. Then shake it up and down. It holds back the bigger pieces and lets through the finer stuff. Ideal for creating a layer of fine material for seed sowing on top of a pot partly filled with unsifted compost.
Great suggestion, thanks David! :-)
Love this!!!
No No No to Plastic!!
What a great idea, thank you!
Terrific suggestion
I can't believe I never thought of using the larger pots for storage! Next season, I'm definitely attaching some to my fence because I have that horrible habit of leaving tools, tags and string in my beds. Great video!
Likewise
Regards from a Tom :)
@@cassandraqcassandraq5510 is that Home Depot in the US or just the UK ?
Yes! I am a plastic pot hoarder 😃 small, big, medium and large and extra large. Once again another useful eco friendly video .
no!! 😢 microplastics are a great problem to our soil and our health
you dont need so much transform them also platform pinterest is good on giving ideas
Thank you for being kind to garden creatures 😸❤️
Great idea।
i start my parsnips in bottomless pots in the green house and then sink the pot into the ground....great results every time 3 seedlings keep the strongest
Brilliant idea!
Fab suggestion! :-)
This would work well for many different crops especially ones like carrots which don’t like their roots disturbed
Great Tips! My favorite is the one about using moist straw in an upside-down pot to catch earwigs and relocate them! Earwigs love munching on our young lettuce, so I'm eggciting to try this next spring!
Ben, congrats for your enjoyable way of making things clear, doable, thoughtful and... short! Thank you!
I’m a member of several garden clubs and hoard used pots of all sorts. We use extra pots for plants, cuttings and seedlings to share/swap at local events. Our library holds a free swap event in both the spring and the fall. On average there is as many as 600-700 plants to share with our community and the event is well attended.
I get free pots at yard sales. Sometimes I spray paint them to make them look new. I also keep any food container that would work for seedlings. And I tried milk jug/juice jug mini-greenhouses for seed starting and it was well worth it!
Yes! I use the much larger containers as plant collars for tree saplings as well because they protect the trunk from weed whackers. I also save the cut off bottoms also for saplings. I cut to the centre hole and enlarge it to fit around the trunk. The bottom keeps weeds away.
Even when the plant is too large to put bottomless pot over top, just cut the pot side, open up & place around the plant ‘trunk’, push into soil to anchor et voilà!😊
Smart move! :-)
As well as having sacks of old pots of different sizes, I buy the largest yoghurts from my local supermarket so I can turn the pots into extra pots or those handy tool holders. I have used old margarine tubs (or similar) for making plant labels. I live near a river and not so far from a beach, and I have rescued a number of plastic buckets and drums for conversion into potato pots.
Thank you for reminding me of reusing my old food containers. I’m at a place where I ran out of pots. ❤
I use the Temptation cat treat containers for growing tap rooted plants in, for labels I recycle window mini blinds.
Gosh Debbie .... you are a life saver.... very clever.
I really liked all your ideas, Thanks for your video. My favorite was putting a smaller pot in a larger pot to save on expensive soil, when the plant is not a heavy rooter.
❤🎉
You can also use sealed plastic pop bottles
@@chickadeeacres3864 thanks good idea! ❤️
I use old Wooden sticks from Magnum icepops,etc as labels when sowing seeds. Theyre also handy when transferring seedlngs to pots. The ice cream tastes great too!!
I find the sticks get dark quite quickly. So I rewrite in white or silver.
The sticks break-down well in my compost-bin; although my worms ignore them in my worm-bin.
Regards from a Tom :)
Guilty ... pot hoarder deluxe here. My husband thinks I am mad. Lord you must have read my mind. just downloaded your free book. Thanks
Super Tipps!!! Vielen Dank dafür. Habe auch Unmengen dieser Pflanztöpfchen und wusste nicht, was ich damit anfangen soll. Jetzt weiß ich es. Besonders die Isektenhotels und die Idee , die Tomatenpflanzen in einen offenen Topf zu setzen, fand ich klasse. Hab nach jedem Gießen meine Tomatenpflanzen immer wieder angehäufelt. Freue mich schon auf die Umsetzung!!!👍👍👍👍👍
Brilliant video !! Here in Germany we have a free bulk refuse collection once a year, for some reason it’s not accepted in with our plastic rubbish. I got rid of soooo many plastic pots earlier this year it was embarrassing how many had accumulated 🙈 And they’re starting to accumulate again. Only difference is your ideas for recycling them. I like the idea for labels and reducing the amount of earth used in larger containers. The trick with tomatoes is especially good. Thank you! I really enjoy your tips and videos , you’re always so cheerful and positive so even if I’m not going to plant that particular vegetable the video has given a positive lift to the day. Looking forward to catching you again 🙋♀️
Thanks so much for your kind comments. Happy gardening! :-)
if clean… perhaps some nurseries would accept them?
I agree, his approach to everything is so positive....
imagine working with him in the garden...
Your videos and a cup of coffee get my day started so nicely!
I'm honoured to be helping you start your day. :-)
This is a great video - love reusing things and even more, actually USING things rather then them just being “stored” for years and years!
Thank you, I could not agree more!
Old pot, old buckets, and even old baths 😅 If you can put soil in, i will use it. Nice video, Ben 👏🐟
Mint will laugh at the idea of being contained by a pot and grow merrily through the holes at the bottom! I know this from experience... :)
That’s what I thought since they grew around a large container I tried planting them in one year. It was several inches deep. Big enough for a small fruit tree. But the mint found its way out into the yard in no time. Lol
Me too. Also putting plastics in the earth is a terrible idea. We have enough microplastics in the earth thank you very much
Earwigs will just walk up the side of the pot…
@@MayaHiortPetersen Would you rather they end up in a land fill or worse yet the oceans? He's giving us helpful, practical ways of using pots and keeping them contained in our gardens.
@@aprilkoning4501but it’s hard for them to get out before me or some predator finds them
You’re so enthusiastic and fun to watch. Thank you!
I've just acquired a bunch of plastic pots of different sizes which is great. Her comment was "you want them all?!" Little does she know I follow GroVeg! It's late spring here in New Zealand and I'm excited about the season now I've found your channel.
You are a breath of fresh air! Thank you for your enthusiasm, kindness and wonderful ideas. Keep it growing! 💚
And you. Happy gardening! :-)
Morning Ben, I also have stacks of plastic pots, quite a variety I might add :). They get washed and stacked without a cover and then I have to re-wash again. This is a great saving idea, the only problem is to keep all tidy perhaps in a box, well worth it. Happy gardening have a beautiful day. Kind regards.
Yes, worth keeping pots tidied away, out of the sun, somewhere dry. :-)
If you do want to keep your pots, put them in a shed that isnt hot or exposed to sunlight. The plastics can break down causing micro plastic into your soil. This can be taken up through the stoma of plants. If they are just for ornamental plants or do not plan on using for food plants that may not be an issue for you. Check the recycling number. Some pots break down very easily like styrofoam which should not be used for growing in. As always Mr. GrowVeg has wonderful ideas!
Really fantastic tips there, thanks so much! :-)
yes…and thus food grade containers for your edibles 👍🏻
Thank you for saying this. Plastic is so toxic.
Thank you Ben you are a tonic! So full of life and enthusiasm! Not to mention good ideas!!
So clever! Not only can you grow plants, you can invent useful and cheap ways to handle situations as they arise. I envy you!
I like to learn how to use nature's own resources to manage 'pests', who like weeds, are just in the wrong place! I hate to destroy any living creature as I believe they are here for a reason.Love all the other ideas on how to use all the plastic pots I've been saving! Thank you for sharing all your knowledge. Blessings!
I painted all my larger black pots white before I reused them because our growing season here in Perth, Western Australia is way too hot & sunny and black pots dehydrate EVERYTHING, even the sun loving types of plants. I also use old pots as fillers in bigger pots & you can also use any other plastic food containers such as bottles or old yoghurt tubs etc. It’s what I do to create succulent displays in big pots. Makes it easier on your back too. I like the idea about chopping the coloured ones up for plant labels. Thank you!
Are you breeding redbacks?
I make palant labels from1kg yoghurt pots. I also use small yoghurt pots to transplant excess seedlings in to to give to friends and fellow allotmenteers. I also paint the large 1 kg pots to plant up ornamental plants to also give as presents. This year i decorated pots for coleus and pelargoniums I'd grown from seed. Thanks for all the tips. happy gardening 🙂
Those large yoghurt pots are also brilliant to pot up the tomatoes / chillies, just drill a few small holes in the bottom. And any plant 'leftovers' after actual planting (always too many sown) are ready to give away 😊
I tried to reuse my pots where I can. I fill my large planters with them before filling with compost and it really does make a difference to the amount used. I also always clean mine before storing them. I rinse, wash in soapy water with a cap of dettol and then rinse off before letting them dry. I do take a lot of cuttings and also self seeding plants I like to give a way so always in need of pots. I like the idea of using to protect from the frost so I think I will be doing that if needed this winter.
Fabulous - well done!
the best thing for plastic labels is to get an old venetian blind with plastic slats, and break the slats into convenient lengths. People are always throwing old blinds out, so if you don't have one, just look around the neighborhood dumpsters.
I'm going to spend fall cleaning my collection of old pots, and bury my herbs in them! I've been wishing for a way to keep my herbs from spreading and did put some in pots, but never thought to bury the pot! AND fantastic idea of supporting plants with a bottomless pot!
I like to use smaller plastic pots to grow new seedlings. Also, I try to keep a plastic pot tray (the thing that keeps lots of plants together at a store) those are a great way to transport many smaller potted plants home. If it is good enough for the store to transport and store them, it works well for you as well.
I have already reused pots, but I recently thought about recycling a lot of what I have. After watching your video, I think I will hang on to them a little longer!
Great video. I love the idea of plant labels because I am running low on them and I’m on a tight budget.
Margarine tubs and plastic milk bottles are also useful to cut up as plant labels.
Loving this video. It's definitely me looking at a pile of pots and not knowing all I can do with them. Thank you!
I love your creative ideas. I have dozens of pots in my garage, which I refused to get rid of. I like reporposing things in such useful ways.
You can do it better with Terracotta Pots! Microplastics are not good for Environment
Thank you Ben, your encouragement and practical advice have kept me sane during my Slug-Fest!!
Happy Growing Everyone!!
This year has been a total slug fest!
Finally I know now why I'm always reluctant at throwing them away! 😅 Thank you!
Great to have all of these ideas in one place Ben - thank you.
Thank you. Wanted to say, you are one of my favourite youtubers. Your videos are well thought out. Good content. Good advice and they get to the point. I've been a keen gardener for about 26yrs but still learn from you, or get reminded. Please keep doing it!
Thank you so much for these kind words Sarah. I'll definitely keep doing what I'm doing. Happy gardening! :-)
It makes me so happy watching you! Such a sunny personality. I am a keen gardener my self, but I suspect I would be watching you anyway. Thanks from rather wet and cold Norway.
Thanks for watching Ann. It's been rather wet here too - two months' worth of rain in one week!
@@GrowVeg yes, I saw that on the news. I’m sure you know How to handle it, thoug. If you would be interrested, I would love a video about plants that do well in occational mild frost, say over - 10 C. Perhaps using vegetables as decorative elements during winter, together with evergreens? Anyway, have a lovely day 🙂
What a friendly neighbour. 😊
Thanks Ben for those ideas, i didn't think of using the pots as a cover for your young plants, considering i use juice bottles with the bottoms cut off and the screw lid left off, to cover my Onions and Garlic.
The one were you wash the pots out in soapy water and a bendy bucket as i call them, i do the exact same thing using an old toothbrush for those areas not reachable with the bigger brush, onced washed i then put them in another bendy bucket of cold water just to rinse off the soap suds, then i just leave to air dry. Apart from sifting every compost bag that i buy, this washing of pots is another therapeutic thing for me to do. TC.
Barry (Wirral)
I agree Barry. It's a sort of mindful exercise, washing pots. Love the idea of using the toothbrush to get at those slightly harder to reach parts. :-)
It makes the toothpaste taste odder < shrugs />
Regards from a Tom :)
Dohh, I've been cutting the tops off to make funnels then struggling to make the bottoms airy enough.
Also left with too many funnels.
Regards from a Tom :)
OMGARSH! I have so many of these, but I've actually bought things to solve the problems you're solving for me right now. Thank you SOOOOOOOOOO much. This is so very useful. YaY!
Happy to help! :-)
Very creative and useful ideas.
Not good, creating and Release microplastics in the soil 😢
I dont want to eat Microplastics in my food 😩
I often recycle old pot poodle pots etc to use for seedlings.i still have the obligatory pile of old plant pots mind, I don’t think you’re a real gardener without the pot pile.
Very true! :-)
Likewise with yogurt pots but flimsier. Humous tubs seem good as saucers.
Regards from a Tom: )
As a long retired nursery manager, I enjoyed your show. Good entertainment.
This video was amazing! You have lots of great ideas which I had never thought of before. Thanks Ben.
You are so welcome!
You are the Greatest Person on the Whole Plant-it !...
Cheers so much! :-)
That is the cutest comment I’ve ever heard❤!
so many great tips and ideas! thanks so much 💙💙
Book looks fabulous. You are my personal garden encyclopedia person. ❤
Thanks so much! :-)
Some great tips there, thanks for showing us, I see so many plastic pots getting thrown away or left in the corner of gardens providing Slug habitat. I've been using old pots to store some of my Scouse Farm homemade compost so it saves some effort next Spring. There's always a good way to recycle pots 👍
Thank you so much for your very valuable advice on using garden pots. Very helpful and useful information and advice. Please stay safe and well too xxxx Mags ❤❤❤❤❤
Great tips as usual. I will definitely be using them for tomato collars next year. I have already purchased your book.
Thanks so much for buying the book - hope you enjoyed it. :-)
@@GrowVeg Haven’t finished it yet but so far excellent advice as I expected.
Brilliant! Formerly the botanical garden here would take them for recycling, but they stopped due to the market
Cheers mate for sound advice that's always got the 'green' edge it.
Have a great Crimbles and good New Year
Really enjoy watching this video. You are truly a "Potman". Your ideas will be put to use next Spring.
Amaaazing work Ben! So Thanks A Million for these plastic pots tips. Am one of the guilty hoarders when it comes to plastic pots so these tips will come in very handy indeed for gardening come Spring!
Thanks for such useful and original content . It's always a pleasure to watch your videos Ben!
I loved the bug hotel...good activity for the little ones to do...they will love it! Thank you, your videos are great. I only have a balcony but i have gained so many ideas from you. 👏👏👏👍👍👍💐💐
Love all the tips! Thank you! I keep all my plastic pots, only throwing them away when cracked beyond use. Keeping different sizes is great for potting on plants, not ready to go out. The best containers I've found for mint are metal tubs and buckets. I've had a chocolate mint growing in a tub for 4 years now without any spreading.
Great idea!
At least they've started making more colours. The tall grey-green ones actually look nice with houseplants or herbs in them.
I love your ideas. May I add another? I use the various size pots as a low tech non electric alarm system. This is how it works. As the wall thickness differs so does the sound that is made when the pot is rustled, crushed underfoot, or whatever. I place the various empty containers such as 6 packs, 21/2” rounds, 4” square where the trespass occurs whether it involves rabbits, mice, opossum,etc. each kind of wildlife seems to have its favorite route.
Our dog, having exceptional hearing know exactly where to go in order to eliminate any unwelcome guests before they have an opportunity to do real damage. This works in the brush, under snow cover or out in the open beds and the pots last for several seasons before needing replacement. The dog loves patrolling and it costs me only one slim doggie treat every now and then.
What a fantastic use for them! :-)
Hi Ben, ordered your book on Amazon, it came today.
I think it's going to be very handy, thankyou!
Delighted you opted to buy it - I hope you enjoy it. Thanks so much. :-)
You are so much better than “Gardeners World” so much more information to help us gardeners.. Thank you.
Wow - very high praise indeed, thank you so much! :-)
@@GrowVeg it’s true
Magnificent video, perfect now that I am clearing up in the garden for winter. There were a lot of uses that I hadn't thought of here! I will absolutely make some bug hotels with my kids!
Great hints - thank you ! And thanks for the free download - very kind :) Looking forward to learning more from you in the future 😀
Glad you're enjoying the download. Happy gardening! :-)
Thank you for this super practical ideas! Greetings from Switzerland
As always, thank you for the tips! just added some more to-dos to my fall gardening list!
Your garden is so beautiful!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and trucks of the trade. God bless!
A very smart and useful idea !
Thanks so much !
Köszönöm szépen :) Ezek nagyon hasznos ötletek voltak. Sok cserepet gyüjtöttem már össze, de sajnáltam kidobni őket :)
It is pointless to pot mint into a pot without lining the pot with landscape fabric first.
Once lined then sunk into the garden, this works very well.
I would argue even fabric is inadequate
Thank you for your great ideas and your enthusiasm for gardening is infectious cheers from Australia 🇦🇺 😊
Cheers so much Wendy, thanks for watching. :-)
Yes, just opposite seasons.
Some great ideas! I have tons of them and I do re-use them for seedlings and other plants. I keep mine neatly arranged in my greenhouse. Thank you so much for the ideas!
The upside-down pot is genius. I never thought of doing that! My strawberries are getting a new home hahah
And THANKS for the book download, looks beautiful and colourful! Congrats!
Thanks for the kind words - enjoy! :-)
Thank you for a number of excellent ideas for reusing pots! I find I hang onto them to a degree, but with all these fabulous ideas I’ll be holding onto even more. 😁
Thanks Ben! Love your videos and looking forward to the book!
Excellent bunch of great ideas for us gardeners! 😉 My pearl 💚 I sprinkle wood ash on my compost layers, I never have to turn it, just water. 🤗 When it gets done it's like coffee grounds, black gold for plants. 😋
Tolle Ideen! Verstehe zwar nur wenig, aber die Bilder zeigen es gut. Werde ein paar Tipps ausprobieren, danke!
Hi Ben, always learn a lot ftom your videos eveyrime I watch them. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊
Brilliant ideas, especially the tomato collars! Have a fab weekend all🕊
Thanks for another great vid! I live in an arid climate and municipal water is very expensive. So I do all my washing with potassium based soap such as Oasis or Dr. Bronner (rather that sodium based soap or detergent). I use the minimum amount to do the job - usually 1-5 drops per gallon. That way I can use the wash water on trees and shrubs.
Many thanks, Ben. Love this episode and the many creative ideas and solutions you're sharing with us and me.
I'm a truly terrible gardener, even the word is far from close to describe how I unenthusiastic and unmotivated I am tending my lawns; the weeds are fast taking over and before long, they are taller than me. I'm only good at watering, the simplest of simple task. That makes me just a "waterer".
But your show give me some hope. And what a lovely garden you have. Cheers!
I'm sure you're a better gardener than you give yourself credit for! :-)
Thank you very much for gifting us a free copy of the abridged version of your book. Having had a quick 'flick' through the easy to grow veg section, it is inspiring. Thank you, I am grateful.
I'm so pleased you've got value from it. You're most welcome! :-)
Our town has a garden club, and every year they have a plant sale (plants from their own gardens and indoor plants). They can always use pots of all kinds and sizes. I phone a member, she comes out to assess what they can use, and inevitably my shed is cleaned out by volunteers. I later see some of my donated pots at the sale, and I know the pots are going to good use and not being thrown away.
Fabulous video, different and very useful 👏👏👏
Did download the book, will probably buy it as well as I like to have physical copies of things. I already do most of the things in the video, but always interesting seeing if there's new things I don't know about.
Great ideas, I knew they’d come in handy sometime…😊
Fantastic ! Must say I find you great and good ideas there
I appreciate your videos Ben!! God Bless you and yours and happy gardening 🦆
And you! :-)
I've been growing seedlings in a makeshift mini-greenhouse that used to be a takeaway salad container. Then I transplant them into individual plastic pots until they are ready for the great outdoors.