‘I Always Save Old Storage Bins To Use In My Garden’ – 3 Clever Ways Plastic Totes Can Help You Cut Costs & Grow More

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Gardening Know How has described three ways to reuse plastic storage totes in home gardens: as a mini greenhouse, a seed-starting tray or a small raised bed. The ideas can make use of containers gardeners already own, but each has practical limits, including ventilation, drainage and, for outdoor beds, a shorter lifespan than wood or metal.

Gardening Know How has outlined three ways to reuse old plastic storage totes in home gardens: cover tender plants with a clear tote, adapt a smaller bin into a seed-starting tray, or turn a large one into a compact raised bed. The suggestions offer gardeners a way to put unwanted containers to use instead of buying separate equipment, though the report’s examples are practical tips rather than independently tested product comparisons.

For the mini greenhouse, the report recommends turning a clear tote upside down over seedlings or other tender plants. A brick or rock under one edge can provide airflow, and the tote can be closed at night for protection from cold and opened during the day. A lid can serve as a base for plants or as a water-catching tray; without one, the tote can sit directly on the ground. The report cautions that a colored bin will not let light through in the same way.

A smaller tote can become a seed-starting tray after drainage holes are made in its bottom. The article suggests drilling the holes or using a heated metal skewer, and cautions against making them with a knife or scissors because of injury and cracking risks. A lid placed underneath can catch excess water or be used for bottom watering. A second tote placed over the top can provide a cover for seedlings in a drafty spot, but plants still need suitable airflow and light.

For a small raised bed, the report says to use a large tote of any color, add drainage holes, fill it with a suitable growing mix and plant into it. It names potatoes as one crop that can grow well in containers and says the tote should be deep enough to support root growth. The supplied article gives a depth recommendation of about 15 inches, but its accompanying conversion to centimeters is inconsistent; gardeners should check the container’s dimensions and the needs of the crop. The author says outdoor plastic totes are less durable than metal or wooden beds and may last only a few years in the sun.

Low-Cost Uses for Old Totes

The ideas matter most to gardeners looking for ways to reuse materials already at home and avoid buying purpose-made trays, covers or planters. A tote can also suit people with limited outdoor space: the report describes using a container bed on a porch, patio or balcony, where a conventional raised bed may not fit.

These are low-cost alternatives, not identical substitutes for commercial equipment. A storage tote’s size, drainage, transparency and condition affect how useful it will be. Plastic exposed to outdoor sun can degrade, and the report does not provide comparative cost figures or a tested lifespan. The practical takeaway is to match each container to the job and monitor plants rather than assume every tote will work in every setting.

Three Reuses From One Series

The report appears in Gardening Know How’s Dirt Cheap Gardening series, which presents ways to use inexpensive or repurposed items in gardening. Its author says they save totes no longer used for household storage, including bins that have lost their lids or developed cracks, and describes the projects as requiring little modification.

The three ideas call for different containers. A mini greenhouse needs a clear tote so light can reach plants; the seed tray and raised bed do not. The tray and bed need holes for drainage, while the greenhouse project does not require cutting the tote. Those distinctions matter: modifying a bin can make it unsuitable for later household storage, and a damaged container may not be appropriate for every use.

““One of my favorite low-cost swaps is a plastic storage tote.””

— Gardening Know How report author

Limits of the Tote Method

The supplied report does not give test results, cost comparisons or a precise publication date. It also does not establish how long a particular tote will last, since durability can depend on its material, condition and exposure to sun and weather. The advice should be treated as the author’s gardening guidance, not a guarantee of results.

Container dimensions and crop requirements vary. Although the report recommends a tote about 15 inches deep for root growth, its metric conversion is incorrect, so readers should rely on the stated inch measurement and check what their chosen plants need. The article also does not specify how many drainage holes are right for every bin or how often covered plants should be checked; temperature, sunlight and moisture conditions will differ by location.

Check Conditions Before Planting

The report does not announce a follow-up project or future milestone. For gardeners trying the ideas, the next steps are to choose a tote suited to the purpose, make drainage holes carefully where needed, and monitor covered plants for heat and airflow. The greenhouse should be opened during the day and closed at night only when conditions call for protection.

Before planting a tote bed, gardeners can confirm that it is deep enough for their crop and can drain freely. They should also expect an outdoor plastic container to wear faster than a wooden or metal bed, as the report warns. Results will depend on the container, plant and growing conditions; no performance guarantee is provided.

Key Questions

What are the three garden uses for plastic storage totes?

Gardening Know How describes using a clear tote as a mini greenhouse, a smaller bin with drainage holes as a seed-starting tray, and a large bin with drainage holes as a compact raised bed.

Does the mini greenhouse tote need to be clear?

The report recommends a clear tote so light can reach the plants. It also advises raising one edge to allow airflow and opening the cover during the day to limit heat buildup.

How do you turn a tote into a seed tray?

Make several drainage holes in the bottom, fill the tote with seed-starting mix, and plant the seeds. The article suggests using a drill or heated metal skewer carefully and says a lid can catch water underneath.

Can vegetables grow in a plastic tote?

The report says a large, well-drained tote can serve as a small growing bed and specifically mentions potatoes. Check the container’s depth and drainage against the needs of the crop you plan to grow.

How long will a tote raised bed last outdoors?

The report gives no exact lifespan. Its author says plastic totes are less durable than metal or wooden raised beds and may last only a few years in the sun; actual durability will vary.

Source: rss