This really looks interesting and there is a bit written up in Countryside about them this past issue. Hot or not?

http://www.earthbox.com/

not for this lady, but it might be really good, and if I was still doing pots on my deck in Prince George, I might have gone for this.

Too close to turning a bale of that new fangled potting soil on the ground, inside the plastic, poking holes in it top and sides and bottom and wetting it down, then planting in the top holes and keeping it moist every once in a while. Which has been known to work in a pinch, but I never did it.

That new potting soil with the water holding jelly bits in it, that those new disposables have --the gel stuff that keeps the baby dry while holding a tremendous amount. (my sister -- a mother of 6 swore by them)

In the new potting soils, it keeps the soil moist for incredible lenghts of time, and holds a lot of water for the plants.