VegTrug Poppy Planter: Product Review

The stylish VegTrug Poppy Planter is a compact, elevated planter with a fabric liner that’s perfect for smaller spaces, such as your deck, patio or even in your yard. At 25.5 inches long, 15.75 inches wide and 31 inches tall, it can fit nearly anywhere.

The vibrant color choices are very attractive and eye catching, and the stand is sturdy and well-made.

The Poppy Planter is also a great idea for gardeners who cannot bend or stoop to the ground. It’s a good height for gardening standing up or sitting in a chair.

The assembled Poppy Planter is easy to move.

Quick and Easy Assembly

My planter arrived in one lightweight package that included everything needed to easily assemble this attractive planter. The only additional items needed are potting mix and either seeds or plants.

I assembled the Poppy Planter myself in about 35 minutes. I usually make a few mistakes and have to start over when assembling items, but this planter was relatively easy to put together.

The step by step instructions were easy to follow and I felt confident as the assembly progressed. I referred to the photo on the package a few times to make sure I was putting pieces on in the correct orientation.

All of the smaller parts such as the bolts, washers and wing nuts were contained in a plastic bag.

I assembled the Poppy Planter myself in about 35 minutes.

Sturdy and Stable

The black powder-coated steel frame was sturdy and stable once assembled, with angled feet caps on the bottom of each leg adding to the overall stability. While the planter felt sturdy enough when empty, the added weight after the addition of potting mix made it feel even more stable.

The Poppy Planter will hold up to 40 quarts of planting mix. For best results, use a lightweight mix with some organic matter (such as compost); don’t use garden soil as it’s too heavy and won’t drain well.

I only added one bag of potting soil because that’s all I had and I didn’t want to wait until I purchased more before sowing seeds in my planter. There is room for more soil, but having less made it easier for me to move.

The added weight after the addition of potting mix made it feel even more sturdy.

Removable Liner

One of the thing you’ll like about this product is that the liner is removable so that you can fold the frame for compact winter storage.

The liners have a sewn in membrane so they won’t split or stretch too much, and they’re pre-formed to fit neatly into the planter frame.

The imported felt fabric liners are available in black, lime green, light blue or red and are also sold separately if you want to change the color depending on your flower/herb choices each season.

The felt liner is removable so you can fold the frame for compact winter storage.

All four sides of the liner have a Velcro closure that wraps around the top of the frame to ensure the liner stays open and in place when being filled with potting mixture. There is also a large hole metal mesh platform for the liner to rest on so it doesn’t sag.

The fabric liner is held firmly in place with Velcro strips along all four sides.

Corner view

Planting & Watering

The Poppy Planter is great for herbs, short annual flowering plants and shorter vegetable plants. The top is almost three feet above the ground and will look off balance if planted with tall plants. While the planter is sturdy, these taller plant may cause the planter to become top heavy and tip over during heavy winds.

Because it has a fabric liner, the Poppy Planter can dry out more quickly than a planter made with plastic or wood. It also tends to leak when watered so be sure to place it in a location where you don’t mind the area under the planter getting wet.

Recommendation

I’ve had my planter for a few months and am happy with it. The felt fabric drains well. My only issue is that the fabric has become soiled near the bottom and lower sides. Drainage during heavy rainfall has resulted in the fines in the potting mix penetrating the felt fabric. [Editor’s Note: See update below for more details]

A plus is that I was easily able to move it to a sunnier location in my yard as winter approached and the sun is lower in the sky. I planted fall greens in it this year, but will probably use it for brightly colored flowering annuals in the spring. I also like the bright color choices available.

My frost hardy greens are still growing, but I’m pleased that the planter is foldable and will only take up a small space in my garage once the coldest days of winter are upon us. Overall I would recommend this product and give it a 4 shovel rating.

Product Review Update – July 31, 2016

I disassembled my planter after harvesting the spinach I had planted in it, emptied out the soil and washed the felt liner in my washing machine. I was happy to see that the liner came out clean.

I reused my Veg Trug planter again this year and once again heavy rainfall resulted in the soil fines penetrating the fabric and causing it to appear dirty. I’m okay with this because I would rather have a soiled container than one that doesn’t drain well.

If you are concerned about the appearance of your VegTrug Poppy planter, I recommend using it in a covered area and only watering as needed.

Where to Buy

The VegTrug poppy planter is available online at Gardener’s Supply and through Amazon. The price range is between $50 and $60 US dollars. It is also available at many garden centers across the US.

VegTrug Poppy Planter

The stylish VegTrug Poppy Planter is a compact, elevated planter with a fabric liner that’s perfect for smaller spaces, such as your deck, patio or even in your yard. The vibrant color choices are very attractive and eye catching, and the stand is sturdy and well-made. It’s also a great idea for gardeners who cannot bend or stoop to the ground. It’s a good height for gardening standing up or sitting in a chair.

$59.62

See it on Amazon