nobody here knows anything about them, but they were probably set up by a local feed store. I am going call to see what material/mix was used. these are substantial volume wise and i can't afford to replace it. should I get the soil tested? i assume they will need some amendments. after the old plants are removed should the soil be turned? there is about three inches to the top right now.

i am really excited to work with these. root veggies and big plants like tomatoes are likely to go in as the containers are large enough to deal with them.

Congrats on having access to the large containers. I'm so happy for you.

When you look at the growing medium in there, does it look like a nice container mix with lots of organic matter like humus, compost, pine bark fines or the like? If so, I think that the plants you want to grow in these containers will be just fine. I don't know if you want to bother getting it tested---any growing medium in containers that were used last season likely would be devoid of nutrients now since rainfall and irrigation leaches out whatever nutrients are not taken up by the plants over time. I think you'd be fine if you just assume you need to add the fertilizer of your choice to the containers before you plant. You can turn over the soil or not, your choice, but if I were doing it, I'd scatter my fertilizer on top of the growing medium and then turn over the soil to mix in the fertilizer at a lower depth so it will be accessible to the roots. You certainly don't have to work the soil very deeply, but at least enough to get the fertilizer a few inches down. I probably would turn it over mainly because all the soil-less container mixes tend to get packed down by rainfall and irrigation water over time, but it also would be helpful to incorporate a fertilizer at the same time so you only have to do all that work of turning over the growing medium one time. Turning over the growing medium will fluff it up and leave it ready for planting and your plants' roots will thank you for it later. It is good that the growing medium is not too close to the top of the container because that leaves you plenty of room to add your plants and then to add mulch as needed before hot weather arrives.

I would like to see a picture of these containers. Congrats!

What a score! They sound just awesome!

here is a side view - pic

Oh I'm so jealous!! I've been wanting one of those!! Lucky you!!

Me, too, Sorie! Big big score, billstickers!!

a lucky break to be sure, and it's listed as an official activity for my physical therapy so I will get some costs taken care of. also I have to submit a garden plan as part of it, something I always said I would do but never got around to. anyone have a good online tool?

nobody on the staff knows anything about them and phone calls were not helpful. I need to dig down to see how it drains and to get an exact volume (I don't think the soil goes down to the bottom). the soil looks like it's some sort of mix.

will keep everyone up to date.

Wow, Bill, beyond my capabilities. I pray someone here knows how to circumnavigate these ridiculous requirements. I tried to do it with medicaid for my seriously injured son--and gave up. No matter. It IS a challenge. And though I can't help, wish you the best of luck.

Nancy.. fortunately the garden plan is only necessary as a condition of using them for rehabbing but it's not tied to any funding. i am sure there is a write off for this for the facility but medicaid isn't directly involved.

p.s. I am planning on a theme for each one. first is a salad garden and two others as tomatoes and peppers. not sure for the last one. what would y'all grow if you had a little extra room?

I might do one as tomatoes, one as peppers, and plant bush green beans around the outside edges.

Grow what you like to eat! I'd probably grow some root crops like carrots, onions or potatoes in the final one, or perhaps bush beans or bush southern peas. It depends on what you like and on what y'all have the ability to prepare/cook there. Or, if you love flowers and herbs, the final one could be a beautiful mix of those types of plants.