I would really like to grow vegetables in large (8' by 2' by 2' high) raised wooden boxes. Does there exist an alternative to totally emptying the soil for winter to avoid destructive ice expansion?

Thank you in advance.

Charley

The wood will only deteriorate over a few years. Cold and ice is not going to hurt the wood. If you were growing flowers you could use some type of treated wood but since you want to use them food I do not know what you could put on the wood to make them last longer but untreated they should be good for about 3 yrs.

My DH made me a wood box planter using cedar it is around the same size as you want to use. I have used it to grow tomatoes for years, it is still in very good shape and not deteriorating as of this time. I leave the soil in it year round in spring when planting a portion of the old soil is removed and some new soil added. The tomato plants grow and produce well each year, he did add a built in support system for the plants using those plastic coated heavier garden stakes.

Added: our container is sitting on cement which likely contributes to it lasting a long time.