If I were to plan on using about 30 gallons of soil per plant and don't care about moving them any, would it just be better to dig holes? It's gets hot where I love so if that makes a difference
Plastic pots or Smart Pots?
If its Smart Pots I would go for that, if plastic I would dig holes.
How bad is existing soil? You may be able to dig bigger hole and toss native soil back into the mix 80% bought Soil 20% native.
If you dont have to worry about, cops, rippers, or animals killing them, I would go for digging a hole. You cant compete in a bucket against endless soil and nutrients.
Some pots 15 gallon nursery pots I knock the bottom out ( so the roots get out ) and bury because it is over a hundred months at a time here. I fill them with good soil and amend them yearly. As long as the pot or chicken wire is 2ft tall the gophers won't get in. I have a 35 gallon trash can with a crap load of 1 inch holes in it buried .
An old grower I knew, who is now deceased told me to wrap the trunk of the seedling with a piece of human hair to keep bugs and animals away. I didn't know if he was pulling my leg or what. Before I put the hair there I had an animal chewing but not eating my plants. The old guy did grow some really good weed.
Id put in ground , they can go longer between watering if you get dry weather and will yield more because of more space for roots, If they were inyour backyard i guess watering might not be a problem , and it could be handy if you could move them around