Sand Plunge Bed

[Neil]

Has anyone have an opinion on the Two Wests & Elliott Plunge Propagating Tray?

[bulborum]

looks like crap for me
and 6" isn't 915cm . Looks a 9 to much
it's only 0,6m² for £19.00
looks small for that price

easy to make yourself with building stones 50x10x20 or 50x5x20
I use the same as raised beds
cheaper and better

Of-course you don't use potting-mixture like I did but sand


R

[Ezeiza]

Aluminum will be corroded by fertilizers with time

[mark smyth]

I bought Two Wests plunges. Not the best! I'll look up photos

[Anthony Darby]

You'd have to go some to corrode aluminium in a sand plunge. I take it these are for a greenhouse bench?

[Neil]

Yes they are for a greenhouse bench

[Ezeiza]

All you need is excess fertilizer leaching down

[Diane Clement]

I can thoroughly recommend Two Wests benches, they are expensive but very strong.  I've got quite a few - my 10' x 8'  greenhouse and my 7' x 8' hexagonal have the benches all round, I also have a free standing one outside that is 12' x 4', nearly all of them are the version with built in legs and a shelf underneath.  The oldest of mine I've had more than 12 years and no corrosion problems.  They will make them to any size you want. 
An old picture, but taken at this time of year:

[Palustris]

I Have not got the Two Wests benches, but I have seen them at shows and they look very good and strong to me.
My benches are made from 3 feet by 2 feet paving slabs on 3 inch fence post legs. I used well preserved timber for the sides but am in the process of replacing that with concrete bricks. Probably a little cheaper than the aluminium, but a lot more fuss to build.

[Anthony Darby]

All you need is excess fertilizer leaching down

As I said, I don't that would be a problem in a sand plunge as fertilizer is not used to excess. If water is draining through the bottom of the plunge you're using too much, and the use of fertilizer would be once or twice a growing season.

[DaveM]

I have used these plunge frames too and agree with Dianne's comments. The only problem I found is that as they are only 6 inches deep they do not provide the protection and more stable environment of a deeper plunge. For smaller pots I found them to be fine and they lasted for many years. However, deeper pots are more exposed and will not have the benefit of a more stable environment that a deeper plunge will give. Also, these shallow plunges and their contents will tend to freeze more readily in a cold winter. However, the aluminium frames are easier to construct and disassembled if required, unlike bespoke plunges preferred by many growers.

[Darren]

I've a mixture of Two Wests and some produced by a (now defunct?) company called Andmore Design who used to advertise in the AGS bulletin. They are very similar and very good. In fact I'll be buying some more soon. Like Diane, I really like the shelves underneath too.

I've found some, but insignificant, surface oxidation of the aluminium surfaces in nearly 20 years of use BUT the bolts supplied at the time (they may be different now) were steel and were impossible to unscrew due to corrosion after only a few years where in contact with damp sand. I have horrible memories of spending hours trying to dismantle them (on a very damp cold january day) before we moved in 2004 and in most cases ended up sawing through the bolts with a hacksaw or drilling them out without access to power tools. Not an experience I'd like to repeat.

My advice is put plenty of grease on the bolts where they are in contact with the damp sand in the plunge - and possibly try to cover them with plastic as well.

[bulborum]

My advice is put plenty of grease on the bolts where they are in contact with the damp sand in the plunge - and possibly try to cover them with plastic as well.

Better to use stainless steel bolts and nuts

R

[Martinr]

Like several others I'd fully endorse Two Wests plunges, especially their willingness to make bespoke sizes and modifications, and fast service. As David says the depth is a bit inadequate for larger pots but I bet if you asked they'd quote for a deeper one.

[ChrisB]

Wouldn't deeper ones involve a lot more weight with the sand Martin?