Are cinder blocks good for raised garden beds?
Cinder blocks can be used for raised beds, and offer some pros and cons. Pros are: they’re inexpensive, widely available, durable, and allow flexible design. Cons are: leaching of chemicals from the concrete, high transportation costs, and they can make soil too hot for plants.
Can you use cinder blocks as planters?
If you are wondering whether it’s safe to pot plants in cinder blocks, the answer is yes, it is. Though these blocks are made of concrete and concrete leaches alkalinity. Alkaline soil can damage many plants as most prefer acidic soil, unlike succulents which prefer alkaline soil.
What plants grow well in cinder blocks?
What plants grow well in cinder blocks?
- Onions.
- Scallions.
- Beets.
- Radishes.
- Carrots.
- Lettuce, chard, spinach, & other greens.
- Micro-greens.
- Tomatoes–especially determinate varieties, which tend to be smaller than indeterminate varieties.
What is the best material for a raised garden bed?
Best Materials for Raised Beds
- Cedar and cypress have a similar aesthetic and natural rot-resistance, making them an excellent choice for garden beds.
- Composite beds are often made with recycled wood, which helps reduce the need for raw materials.
- Galvanized steel is durable, rust-resistant, and economic.
Do cinder blocks have chemicals in them?
“So yes, modern day ‘cinder’ block might have fly ash in it.” Fly ash is a byproduct of burning coal and so contains heavy metals and other hazardous waste. Labels do not give specific information on exactly what aggregate is used in the manufacture of the block.
Can you grow tomatoes in cinder blocks?
Cinder blocks provide adequate support for compact determinate tomato varieties, but they’ll hardly stand up to sprawling indeterminate or heirloom varieties. If you fill cinder block holes with soil and plant the tomato plants in the holes, then the plants’ growth may be restricted severely.
Are cinder blocks toxic for gardens?
Garden beds built with cinder blocks may be fine for flowers and plants but avoid them if your planting vegetables, fruits and herbs. Toxic materials found in the fly ash can leach from the cinder blocks into the soil and then into the food.
Can I plant strawberries in cinder blocks?
The concrete blocks are solid and sturdy edging material, but they have empty spaces in the center that can be unattractive. Use that space for double-duty planting and grow strawberries in the holes in the center of the blocks when you have beds that are in full sunlight.
