Strawberry Barrel

GrannyG · February 3, 2010

I had DH fix me several of these barrels...this one holds strawberries, and they do great during the summer. The runners generally end up all the way to the ground. They have remained alive so far this year, in spite of the cold, snow, ice and rain we have had. I also have one that I just do herbs in, basil grows beautifully in the holes...have all kinds of herbs in one barrel, so can just clip and use...I can move the barrels around in a cart.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...RRYBARRELL.jpg

veggie babe · February 4, 2010

Great repurposing, I will see if DH is interested in fixing one for me. Space saving and convenient all in one.

Neva

yotetrapper · February 8, 2010

Pretty neat! Bet you could squeeze in a lot more holes/plants than that too! Or on a smaller scale maybe even 5gal buckets?

habitat_gardener · February 9, 2010

I tried a strawberry tower one year. I had a tuteur (4-sided freestanding trellis about 18 in. square and 5 ft. high), so I lined it with 2-in. wire fencing and started filling it with mulch in the middle and soil/compost pockets for the strawberries, placed about 4 per level, with the levels 8-10 inches apart. The ones on the south sides produced more berries (which the slugs were still able to reach), but I didn't have the right substrate and the soil/compost and mulch levels fell at least a foot over the summer.

So I'm wondering what the strawberries are growing in (compost? soil mix?), and how you keep it watered so that the plants get water, the mix drains well, and the center doesn't get boggy.

GrannyG · February 9, 2010

I also had one of the big cedar strawberry towers once, but it fell apart after a couple years, and no luck with those rings that fit on the ground, so this was a good solution for me. I compost in the barrels, and then use a good quality potting soil like Miracle Grow. I only water them once a week until the temps get up in the 100's every day, and then water them more. They did very well, and are still thriving in the barrell. One barrel has a plastic pipe down through the center of the barrel, and has holes in the sides, so I can just put the nozzle in the pipe and leave it for awhile.

puttgirl · February 9, 2010

What kind are they, and what size? I'd love to get ahold of a couple of those.

oteixeira · July 26, 2010

I had someone give me (they were throwing it out) a 55 gallon barrel, the plastic kind, all drilled out to do this and I just haven't had the time or energy to fill it up. Can you just fill it up and let it sit (like a raised bed) until you are ready to plant in the next season, since it is already the middle of growing season here?

Orlando

February 3, 2010	#1
GrannyG Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: near Abilene, TX Posts: 34	Strawberry Barrel I had DH fix me several of these barrels...this one holds strawberries, and they do great during the summer. The runners generally end up all the way to the ground. They have remained alive so far this year, in spite of the cold, snow, ice and rain we have had. I also have one that I just do herbs in, basil grows beautifully in the holes...have all kinds of herbs in one barrel, so can just clip and use...I can move the barrels around in a cart. http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...RRYBARRELL.jpg

February 4, 2010	#2
veggie babe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: east texas Posts: 686	Great repurposing, I will see if DH is interested in fixing one for me. Space saving and convenient all in one. Neva

February 8, 2010	#3
yotetrapper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Oakland MS Posts: 231	Pretty neat! Bet you could squeeze in a lot more holes/plants than that too! Or on a smaller scale maybe even 5gal buckets?

February 9, 2010	#4
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	I tried a strawberry tower one year. I had a tuteur (4-sided freestanding trellis about 18 in. square and 5 ft. high), so I lined it with 2-in. wire fencing and started filling it with mulch in the middle and soil/compost pockets for the strawberries, placed about 4 per level, with the levels 8-10 inches apart. The ones on the south sides produced more berries (which the slugs were still able to reach), but I didn't have the right substrate and the soil/compost and mulch levels fell at least a foot over the summer. So I'm wondering what the strawberries are growing in (compost? soil mix?), and how you keep it watered so that the plants get water, the mix drains well, and the center doesn't get boggy.

February 9, 2010	#6
puttgirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW PA Posts: 281	What kind are they, and what size? I'd love to get ahold of a couple of those.

July 26, 2010	#7
oteixeira Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Middlesex NC Posts: 4	I had someone give me (they were throwing it out) a 55 gallon barrel, the plastic kind, all drilled out to do this and I just haven't had the time or energy to fill it up. Can you just fill it up and let it sit (like a raised bed) until you are ready to plant in the next season, since it is already the middle of growing season here? Orlando