Method of growing perennials

A method of growing a perennial having a growing season and a dormant season, comprising:

• providing a container having an at least substantially continuous sidewall, an open top, and an open bottom;
• and substantially filling said container with a growing medium;
• planting a perennial starter plant in said growing medium;
• allowing said plant to grow in said container in a controlled environment until a point in said growing season at which said plant is sufficiently hardy to be planted, and grow to full size, in a field;
• then, during said growing season, planting said plant and said container as a unit in soil in a field;
• allowing said plant to grow in said field, including allowing foliage to grow above said soil, a densely rooted basal plate to form within said container, and feeder roots to grow outwardly from the bottom of said container into soil below said container;
• and
• harvesting said plant during the dormant season by undercutting said feeder roots and removing said plant and said container as a unit from said field.

A method of growing a perennial having a growing season and a dormant season, comprising:

• providing a container having an at least substantially continuous sidewall, an open top, and an open bottom;
• substantially filling said container with a growing medium;
• planting a perennial starter plant in said growing medium in said container;
• placing said container in soil in a field with said open top substantially flush with said soil;
• for a period of time during said growing season, allowing said plant to grow in said container in said field, including allowing foliage to grow above said soil, a densely rooted basal plate to form within said container, and feeder roots to grow outwardly from the bottom of said container into soil below said container;
• and confining growth of said basal plate to said container throughout said period of time;
• and
• harvesting said plant during the dormant season by undercutting said feeder roots and removing said plant and said container as a unit from said field.