What material does a container need to be for organic gardening of food?
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What material does a container need to be for organic gardening of food?
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What material does a container need to be for organic gardening of food?
andrew
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, organic gardening promotes natural growth without using additives or chemicals. A primary goal of organic gardening is to optimize the health of both the plants and the people consuming them, but it also encourages the use of renewable resources that conserve soil, water and energy to enhance the quality of the environment. While it isn’t always possible to remove inorganic compounds and pesticides from the landscape, organic gardeners can prevent these toxins from contaminating plants when using containers. Safe container gardening means doing whatever you can to avoid using containers that may contain chemicals that could leach into your plants through the soil.
John Wick
Whilst not wanting to dampen your enthusiasm for using repurposed planters or getting started, I encourage you to do your due diligence when choosing that perfect container. Even raised beds are big containers. So it’s worth considering the materials you use so you are not accidentally introducing chemicals that leach.
The majority of pre-loved or second-hand goods may well be safe to use. However, before you reuse a container for planting in, there are some considerations, other than whether it can hold some dirt and leafy greens!
Andrew Pel
While things like fertilizer and pesticides need to be taken into consideration with organic gardening, there’s really no need to worry about the containers you grow your food in, as most commercial containers, even plastic ones, do not leach into the soil on a timeframe that’s going to affect your plants. If you’re concerned, opt for untreated lumber or stone. One material you should avoid is treated lumber, as this contains chemicals that will leach out into the soil quickly.
aron
Natural Clay or Terracotta Pots – Stone containers, such as terracotta or clay are good options for food grade vegetable gardening. Take care to choose pots that are NOT glazed and previously used. At least know where they came from, if you are thinking about recycling any pots