yes you can but the problem with fiberglass anything is that it doesn't last outdoors. To me it's wasted money. I just use my old terracottas which I turn over during winter.

I have terracotta pots. Had them for a long time. The thing is I can't find good quality terracotta pots. I bought mine at the store that has closed. Sheridan sells some, not good quality. They are selling glazed pots, I don't know if they are ceramic. I just want large terracotta pots to plant in for the summer. I had some pots from Sheridan and found the bottoms were so thin they would eventually crack while the rest of the pot was still good.

I bought my terracottas from Loblaws so long ago and i was surprised they have lasted as long as they did outdoors. I just keep them upside down during winter.

My fiberglass pots never lasted. It started to peel from within and eventually tore off.

I do find Sheridan prices too high for these things. I found cheaper and better glazed terracottas from Loblaws. Even Ikea carries nice pots.

So if you are near Sheridan then you must be nearby Unionville or maybe Midtown Toronto. If midtown, have you checked out Fiesta Farms? If near Unionville, I suggest you check out Angelo's garden in Vaughan. Angelos carries a number of cement planters on top of regular terracotta types. (plus fiberglass types).

I've gone to Sheridan on Yonge, south of Lawrence, and the one on Ellesmere. I'll take a look at Loblaws. Fiesta Farms have a pretty good selection of plants, I haven't been there this spring yet. As for Ikea I never thought of looking for pots there. The large pots have been used for 15 or 16 years. While I am careful in handling them I found pieces coming off top edges. In the fall I empty the pots and turn them upside down. I guess simply through regular use they gradually lose their strength. Just like me. When I got them I would lift them and empty in the fall, without much effort, now takes more effort.

I used to go there too. Yeah I agree, It gets harder as we age.. A suggestion perhaps to elevate the pots and to over them with tarp in winter. Its ice that breaks the pot apart. I find the Italian types much more stronger than ones made in Asia. however perhaps covering them with a tarp would help. for as long as the pots are relatively dry and protected from the snow, it wonèt chip off.

This is what I plan to do. Cover them up but first make sure soil is dry and save myself from lifting. I think you hit the nail on the head. It's Asian pottery that is of poor quality. We used to see German and Italian pottery at one time in Canadian stores. Long time ago there was White Rose nursery and I used to see good quality plants and clay pots. I started writing about lack of good clay pots, now I see it's a lament. I guess I'll just have to accept change.

asian terracottas are cheaply made, very porous and often baked in an open fire pit. I know because i grew up in Asia and I recall visitng the sidestreet vendors buying their products. Thereès really no need to go the extra mile to create a fine product because it wonèt snow there. pots are cheap to produce and cheap to replace.

Italian terracotta comes from a rocklike material thatès pounded and pounded until its fine and when it goes through filters and when finally wetted down, it turns out a product that does not have much air pockets. Its very dense almost cement like. and its kiln baked. For this reason, its very expensive. If you do want to get such a product then it has to be well protected from ice and snow. Italy does not have as much icy experiences as we do..

I recall White Rose too. Ièm lamenting the loss of many good nurseries.. Sheridan is great but it lacks a certain something... like its not as exciting a store anymore. I do miss the good old Weal and Cullen stores..

Weal and Cullen was great. Sheridan is a pale imitation of what it used to be. There was also Reeves. They are in the west end, on Eglinton near Royal York. Not taken by them. On the weekend a friend and I went to Plant World on Kennedy north of Finch. Their annuals were the lowest priced I've seen thus far. Didn't have time to look at perennial selection. Another time.

I don't think I had been to Reeves. I was on the east end for a while before moving centrally.

I forgot about Plant World. Oh you should also check out Toronto Botanical Gardens - they would know where to source out quality containers. Wasn't that Paul Zammit's speciality, container gardening?

Paul Zammit worked at Plant World before coming to Toronto Botanical Gardens! They had a plant sale last week and they out priced many others.