For those of you growing primarily (or solely) in pots, how do you progress your plants from one pot size to the next?  Typically I start at ~1 gallon, then progress to a 3 or 5 gallon, but that's where I'm stuck.  Usually my plants go into the ground at that point.  However, I'd like to keep some figs and pots and ideally minimize up-potting.

So I'm looking for a just one or two up-pots until the fig reaches its final container.  This is what I'm thinking (question marks next to items I'm not sure about):

1 gallon -> 3/5 gallon -> 10 gallon(???) -> 25 gallon final size(???)

I'm thinking 25 gallon as the final size because 50 is just getting too heavy to manage.  Thoughts from the crowd?  Do I need the intermediate 10 gallon step?  What do you use for your final 25 gallon (or whatever size) pots?  I'm thinking of switching to Root Pouches (the long-lasting ones) as they seem to be economical and I like the idea of non-circling roots.

I've read a bit of Al's (tapla's) post on up potting and found it interesting.  I started using the 5-1-1 mix this year and really like it.  I haven't done the calculations, but I'm thinking the 5-1-1 recipe I use will only fill about one 25 gallon pot.

Hi Tim:

I've been growing in containers since 2007.  Most of my trees go from a 5-gallon bucket right into a 18-gallon rectangular, storage-tub.  I buy these lidded, storage-tubs at Home Depot, and they cost less than $10.00.  I convert them by drilling a series of drainage holes where the sides of the tub start to blend with the bottom.  I never drill holes into the bottom surface of the tubs.

I fill the tubs with a modified 5:1:1:1 mix and plant the trees.  Every 4-5 years, the trees get root pruned and re-planted back into the same tub charged with a new batch of quick-draining medium.  If the trees are extra large, I go to approx. 25-gallon tub.  I use dollies to roll the trees around.  Most of my figs are trained into single-stem, standard tree form.  I trim all the trees to approx 5 ft. height, for easy pickin'.

I use the tubs because they are cheap and always available.  You can also use watering troughs made for livestock, and plastic fermentation vats, for extra large containers, and hernias.


Frank

Frank, what is the longevity of those containers you use?

Mike....

Good question.  I honestly don't know how long they will last.  The 18-gallon Home Depot tubs are so cheap ( $7.89 ) that if they last from root-pruning to root-pruning (4 -5 years), I'll be a happy man.  I'm into my 3rd year, and the tubs still look OK.

One drawback with plastic tubs, buckets, etc..... as the temp's. plunge to the freezing-cold range, the more brittle and prone to cracking the plastic becomes.  Just take precautions to avoid cracks and splits.

This coming Winter will make three years in tubs for some of my figs.


Frank

I have been going from 1 gallon to 7 gallon, or 1 gallon to 18-35-40 gallon, or 3 gallon to 18-40 gallon or 7 gallon to 18-40 gallon no problems.  My goal is only to have 5-8 trees in pots and my end size will be between 25-40 gallons, with my favorites being in 40 gallons if not all of them in 40 gallons.  Makes for a pain in the ass come spring and winter but big trees will yield bigger yields.  Much easier to move 18-25 gallon vs 40 gallon though.

Just to add to Frank's comments- I have not used tubs for figs yet but I use them for my containers for most of my vegetable gardening and I have found that certain containers hold up better than others and are less prone to cracking. I have found the ones that are colored or opaque plastic seem to hold up the best after multiple seasons. I have had lots of problems with the clear plastic types cracking and often when I am trying to move them. 

Tam:

Thanks for that UV Protection spray tip.  I will do it.

**********************************************************************************

The Home Depot storage tubs come in colors, like steel-grey, dark-green, brown, etc.  I buy the cheapos, not "Rubbermaid" products which are pricier.  I figure if I can get 5 years out of a 18-gallon tub, it's less than $2.00 p/year.  That ain't bad.


Frank

I grow most of my figs in containers. either home depot or tractor supply has 17 gal. buckets that work just fine, oldest ones (6 yrs) are still in use, no problems with uv damage. still they get pretty heavy and a hand truck does the trick.

Tim,

It's been my experience that you can go right to a very large pot even from 1 gallon, especially since you are using a porous mix. Best to do that in spring though. When I've done that, I get a real flush of growth and fruit by the following year.

and there you have it .