TL;DR
Get garden gear delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
Gardening Know How has published a guide showing three ways to repurpose plastic storage totes in the garden: as a mini greenhouse, a seed starting tray, and a small raised bed. The methods require minimal or no modification and substitute for costlier gardening products.
Gardening Know How has published a new guide in its Dirt Cheap Gardening series showing how ordinary plastic storage totes can replace more expensive gardening equipment, detailing three uses: a mini greenhouse, a seed starting tray, and a small raised bed. The author, writing in the first person, describes the totes as a free alternative that most households already have on hand, including bins with cracked walls or missing lids.
The first method, which the author calls a favorite, requires a clear plastic tote and no modifications. The tote is flipped upside down over seedlings or tender plants to function as a mini greenhouse. Venting is done by propping one side up with a brick or rock during the day, then closing the tote at night to protect plants from freezing temperatures. The lid, if available, can serve as a base tray for bottom watering seedlings. The author warns that the tote must be opened each morning, recounting an occasion when plants overheated after the lid was left closed into the late morning.
The second use converts a smaller tote into a seed starting tray. The author recommends drilling drainage holes, or using a hot metal skewer, aiming for at least a handful of holes per square foot of bin area. The guide advises against using a knife or scissors, noting the brittle plastic is prone to cracking and the method carries a higher risk of injury. Once drilled, the tote is filled with seed starting mix and planted; the lid can be placed underneath to catch drainage water.
The third project turns a large tote into a mini raised bed suitable for a porch, patio, or balcony. Drainage holes are drilled in the bottom, the tote is filled with potting mix — the author uses potting soil blended with organic compost — and planted directly. Any color tote works, and no lid is needed. The guide says potatoes grow well in these containers and recommends a tote at least 15 inches (28 cm) deep for adequate root growth. The author notes plastic totes are less durable than metal or wooden raised beds and will likely last only a few years in full sun.
Why Tote Repurposing Appeals to Budget Gardeners
The guide speaks to readers looking to cut costs in a hobby where specialized equipment — greenhouses, seed trays, and raised bed kits — can add up quickly. The methods described require materials most households already own, including bins that would otherwise be discarded because of cracks or missing lids. The raised bed option also addresses space constraints, offering container growing to gardeners with only a balcony or small patio.
The piece also reflects a broader practice of reusing plastics in the garden to divert waste. By the author’s account, even damaged totes remain functional for these three purposes, extending the useful life of the plastic.
The Dirt Cheap Gardening Series
The article is part of Gardening Know How’s Dirt Cheap Gardening series, which the author describes as focused on free or low-cost alternatives to expensive gardening tools and gadgets. In this installment, the author writes from personal experience of saving totes no longer used for storing clothes, bedding, or holiday decorations, and states that the three repurposing methods take only minutes to set up with minimal modifications.
The timing aligns with the late winter to early spring seed starting season, when gardeners begin germinating seedlings indoors or in protected outdoor spots before transplanting.
“One of my favorite low-cost swaps is a plastic storage tote. You probably have a few extras lying around your basement or garage.”
— Gardening Know How author, Dirt Cheap Gardening series
Limits of the Guide’s Claims
The guide is written as a first-person account rather than a controlled comparison, so claims such as the plastic-bin greenhouse contributing to the author’s best vegetable harvest are anecdotal and not independently verified. The expected lifespan of a few years for outdoor totes is the author’s estimate, not a tested figure, and durability will vary with plastic quality, sun exposure, and climate.
The guide does not address how long plants can safely stay covered in different temperatures, appropriate tote sizes beyond the 15-inch depth noted for potatoes, or food-safety considerations some gardeners raise about growing vegetables in non-food-grade plastic. Readers with specific concerns may want to consult additional sources.
Putting Totes to Work This Season
Gardeners interested in trying the methods can start with the mini greenhouse, which requires no modification, while the seed tray and raised bed projects need a drill or hot skewer for drainage holes. The guide suggests the seed starting tray and greenhouse are most useful in late winter through early spring, before seedlings move outdoors. Readers looking for more low-cost swaps can follow subsequent installments of the Dirt Cheap Gardening series, which continues to publish budget-focused project guides on Gardening Know How.
Key Questions
Do I need a clear plastic tote for all three uses?
No. Only the mini greenhouse requires a clear tote so light can reach the plants. The seed starting tray and raised bed work with any color bin, according to the guide.
Can I use a cracked tote or one with a missing lid?
Yes. The author states that totes with cracks or lost lids can still be used across the projects. The mini greenhouse can be placed directly on the ground without its lid, and lids that are available can double as watering or drainage trays.
How many drainage holes should I drill?
The guide recommends at least a handful of holes per square foot of bin area, made with a drill or hot metal skewer. It advises against knives or scissors, which risk injury and can crack the plastic.
How deep should a tote be for growing vegetables like potatoes?
The author recommends a tote of at least 15 inches (28 cm) deep to allow adequate root growth for potatoes and other larger vegetables.
How long will a plastic tote raised bed last outdoors?
According to the guide, likely only a few years in full sun, since plastic is less durable than metal or wooden raised beds. Actual lifespan will vary with material quality and weather exposure.
Source: rss
Fall yard work Picks
leaf blowers
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
