Turn A Crockpot Into The Perfect Mini Garden Solution

At first glance, this TikTok video is the kind of content that makes you pause mid-scroll, not because it's particularly flashy but just because it's pretty unique. In the clip, the creator Burninbridge takes a broken family crockpot, fills the ceramic insert with compost, and presses sprouted garlic cloves into the soil to grow her own garlic at home. There's no electronics, no heat, and no fancy setup, just an old crockpot reimagined as a common household item you can repurpose in your garden.

The logic becomes clearer with a little thinking. Crockpots are typically made with thick ceramic or porcelain designed to retain heat evenly, which also makes them surprisingly good at insulating soil. And as the appliance is no longer functional, there's no concern about wiring or safety — the shell simply acts as a sturdy, weather-resistant planter wherein garlic cloves or any other plant you desire can be grown. For those with limited outdoor space, balconies, patios, or even sunny windowsills, the concept offers an accessible way to experiment with planting (particularly if the alternative is simply throwing the crockpot away).

While the creator uses garlic in the video, the real takeaway isn't the crop that you grow, it's the container you grow it in. It's a fun lesson that slow cookers can do many things and not all of them belong in the kitchen. And considering that a crockpot is thick, heavy, and designed to hold a consistent temperature, it will probably make a surprisingly well-suited container for a number of small-scale planting. Think shallow-rooted plants as we're working with a shallow container here — herbs like chives, parsley, thyme and basil will also do well in a container this size, as would compact leafy greens. It may also give seedlings a bit of an edge as it will retain heat better than plastic planters. 

To get the best results, drainage is key, and at one point in the video, the creator cuts and adds a flexible liner inside the crockpot before filling it with soil. While the clip or caption doesn't explain the material itself, the purpose is clear — it's all about introducing separation and drainage so moisture doesn't become trapped at the base of the planter. Without this step, you could also drill holes into the bottom of the container or fill it with a layer of pebbles or gravel to encourage draining.