POTS VS. Straight IN the Ground?

high there everyone.im trying to decide whether or not i should just dig some holes and put in really good soil,or by smart pots.Now,considering it would obviously be cheaper to just dig holes im startin to lean that way.at least for this grow,always time to updrade in the future if need be.can anyone give me some basic pros and cons to consider before making a final decision? any help is much is much apreciated.thanx!

Raised beds are sweet.

You get better drainage from pots or raised beds.

Raised bed sounds like a great idea.

You eliminate the problems from smaller critters in raised beds for the most part

Is this a backyard grow? if so I would do both, half your garden in smart pots and half in ground. Which ever side dominates should be your go to.
Smart pots are amazing but pricey.
Pro's are: breathable fabric, air pruned roots, excellent drainage, no digging, reusable, portable (over 20 gal gets too heavy).
Cons: cost, more waterings
The biggest plants I have ever seen were in 200 gallon smart pots.

yea..it is a backyard grow..some of the biggest plants ive seen as well were in smart pots...yea..the half and half sounds like a good idea.

I've done both..You can be very successful with either method, or fuck up either method. Our plants love warm soil, smart pots provide that over in ground if you are 45N like me, I used 100 gallon DYI smart pots, I really didn't have to water that much more often in those pots. In the ground I amended 3x3x2 foot holes.
My smart pot plants were slightly bigger, bulkier and produced a little more than my inground plants. But not THAT much.

I suppose that wasn't much help...But that was my experience.

Yea i have done smart pots,pots, in ground, and raised, i really prefer the raised beds, the bags are nice to be able to move if not to big, and the smart pots are way better then regular pots.

I am doing both this year smart pots and raised beds just so some can be movable, good luck with whichever direction you go.

They both will produce nicely!!!

I start my plants in pots until I know which ones are females. The best looking females go into my raised bed in the greenhouse.
Once they're in the ground I don't need to water as much and they don't produce as many yellow leaves. I also like to think the soil biology is a bit more stable and active in the ground than what I make in the pots. However, they're kinda stuck there in the ground so I can't move them in emergency situations.
I've never tried smart pots but I'm sure you'll do well with either method.

The nicest setup I saw last year was smart pots sitting on a trench 3 feet deep. I didnt think roots would go that deep but he said his trench was rootbound by july. Im talking monsters here. My house is on bedrock big holes----big work good luck---mike