The Little Tikes Sweet Potato Box

[wifezilla]

I got the toy box at a garage sale for $3

I spray painted it black with the type of paint specifically made to bond to plastic. Not only does it make it not look like an old toy box, it will help heat the soil and hopefully keep the plants happy.

The cover is some plastic leftover from the quail pen and the supports are made out of suckers from my Japanese crap apple tree held together with bailing wire.

Total cost, $6. Add another $8 for dirt, peat moss, etc...

The cream containers are there to act as a little extra heat source at night. It got down to 28 last night and these guys were just fine.

 

[vfem]

Way to go! I love those great thrifty finds. I've been sick the last few weeks and have been unable to yard sale like I want to for garden stuff. (Which is just STUFF I can garden in! )

I like the way you painted it black... total heat retention is awesome!

 

[wifezilla]

I so want more of these. I could fit about 5 more on the side of driveway

I do have a wooden box I am going to do the same thing with. It has an open bottom so I am using old plastic feed bags with drainage holes to line it.

 

[Ariel301]

Very nice!

I'm actually doing something similar with the frame from our old waterbed that got a leak. I disassembled it and turned it into two black-painted rectangular wood boxes. I didn't think about doing a plastic cover over it, I will have to borrow your idea. It would be like a mini-greenhouse!

I am filling them with manure and waste hay from the goat pens along with some nice composted soil from last year's manure, and various other compostable items, and planting potatoes and sweet potatoes in there. Then I will put in a load of red worms to let them live and multiply in the box, and they should help break down all the stuff so it can become nice garden soil for next year. After I harvest the potatoes and the worms have done their thing, I'll pull out the composted material to put in the main garden, leave a bunch of worms behind of course, and start all over. A nice, neat raised bed of potatoes sure looks a lot prettier than your average manure heap!

 

[wifezilla]

I didn't think of worms.

Hummmm

LOL


Almost done with the wooden box. I need to find some non-plastic approved paint. I am pretty sure I have some I just don't know what I did with it.

I am sure it will turn up as soon as I buy more