Winter Gardening In Car Top Luggage Carriers

A friend of mine with a truck who makes a fair living recycling curb-side cast offs began finding older heavy plastic (fiberglass?) car-top luggage carriers. These were mostly from Sears, about 5' x 5' and 20" inches deep. He has been selling them to me for cheap, for various uses. I am preparing them for cold frames now, with winter gardening coming up, then spring seedlings.

Many plants, that do not grow too tall have needs for only about 6" of root area so those can remain longer, if needed. The wonderful design of these carriers in recycling them is that most, if not already damaged in some significant way, have metal hinges that will hold in the 3/4 open position. They also have removable hinges/tops should a person have need to remove the top. If done right, moisture is preserved inside, and pests are not so easily able to get into their design. (If somehow, one should become contaminated by anything, it can be easily isolated from all other garden areas and decontaminated accordingly).

I drill small holes in the bottom, covering each hole with 1/3 of a coffee filter. I then line the gently sloping side walls with rubber cemented 1" sheets of recycled Styrofoam packing material prior to filling with soil, adding just the right amount of ingredients for each type of plant's soil needs. This gives great versatility and better success. It's always wise to add a layer of gravel beneath the soil for good drainage in any growing medium. Inspect daily, or several times a week, for any sign of damage or need for adjustments in moisture, sun, pests, invasion, etc. Adding a few red wiggler fishing worms is always a good idea as well. (Keep the soil's heavy plastic bags for later *tip*).

As the seedlings begin to sprout their leaflets and the winter winds begin to blow against the back of the hinged top of the carrier, they can be turned against the wind. The top can safely be closed for a day or two, or more, should a light or heavy frost blow in, with good results because the color is always gray on bottom of the carrier and white on top, allowing for lots of temporary light and warmth.

Should a gardener be fortunate to have heating coils designed for cold frames, you can place them along the many ribs of the design in the bottom before adding soil, since the coils do not get red hot, making a larger, higher hole for the cord. Note that holes should be really necessary because it compromises the integrity of the use for luggage and leak free storage. It could, however, be well patched/taped over after gardening use, then reopened for later gardening re-use. Even if coils used over the season discolor or damage the medium grey thick plastic slightly, the carrier bottom does not show when used for luggage.

I am considering adding ordinary but electrically "grounded" light bulbs, perhaps at each corner, since I have no small children, and since I do NOT have heating coils. Small plastic bottles with a small hole in bottom can be placed throughout to water/feed plants, if necessary when not freezing. The carrier has a nice large overlapping fitted "lip" all around the edge of top and bottom that mate together nicely.

Come summer, after using in the garden as a greenhouse, the carrier can be emptied of soil (* Tip: replace soil back into original bags and reuse another season, if uncontaminated, adding a small amount of crushed charcoal if you have it to keep soil smelling better), whole carrier scrubbed and bleached or sanitized, and used for the original purpose of luggage carrier, outside camping equipment storage, etc. (Note: the few bolts need additional washers to prevent any water leakage for any outside storage items of cloth, tents, or perhaps garage sale items you may be accumulating.)

For water plant lovers, I can see how a few water lilies can be rooted and grown if a recirculating pump can be installed much like the heating coils. They prefer a "tank of their own" and lots of sun, I understand. Remember to add mosquito-eating minnows/fish to the water and/or mosquito bait. This carrier would also make an excellent vermiculture home as well, except the holes might need to be sealed.

These may be the best ideas I've come up with yet for the carriers. I now have five carriers. For my purposes, they are as helpful as a tool shed. I'm going to add a little more sand to one and try to keep my herbs healthy throughout winter. They also make excellent covered sand boxes, shallow wading pools (but have multiple ribs in the bottom that may cause tiny ones to fall) since the lids are totally removable. They can also become compost storage (will stain, if left too long or compost is too wet), garden supply bins, pet homes, pool equipment/cushion storage, and even, if corner damaged, the carrier can store firewood and keep garbage away from most roaming domestic pets/rodents until garbage day pickup.

I would NOT store chemicals, paint, or flammables in them because they might become combustible unless stored on a much wider concrete pad inside a non-flammable fence and in the shade at all times. Check with the local fire marshal. They would make excellent multiple garden tool and/or hose storage, too. Remove any canvas/straps that may be attached for car-top carrying. Also remove the black rubber pads on the bottom before using in the garden, later re-gluing them back onto carrier with rubber cement for the original car-top uses. Do not leave open during threat of high wind to prevent obvious risk of damage.

Do not let children climb on top because the corners seem vulnerable to damage and may be thinner at the curves. These are too useful to allow children to damage the tops of them. Encourage 4-6 yr. olds to store their outside toys in them, if you want, but set boundaries and describe warnings and cautions. Although a very small child could theoretically become trapped inside, they do not appear to be airtight like appliances. Do not use a damaged one for children's toy storage, sand box, or wading pool because the edges of any damage/cracks may be sharp. Just use common sense as with anything.

They can be stacked on top of one another for long time outside storage, are not heavy when empty, (may slide off one another if pads have been removed and if they are jolted hard or left open for any reason during high wind). They can be locked at their two outside hinges, can help in moving, and age quite well. Most are uniform in size, with few variations, so, although "different" when used "outside the box", they certainly deserve recycling! Any additional use ideas are appreciated. God Bless you in your efforts.

By Lynda from Richardson, TX