55 gallon food grade barrels

Boarhead · April 12, 2014

I have a couple 55 gallon food grade barrels that I am going to use this year. I will be cutting them in half so each will hold @ 25-27 gallons of soil.

I will be growing Wildboar Farms Pink TD, Blue Beauty and Janet's Jacinthe Jewel.
Will I be ok putting two plants in each 25 gallon planter or will it be too crowded?

JamesL · April 12, 2014

Nice.
Post a pic when you get them done. Would love to see it.

kurt · April 12, 2014

More than likely the roots will have enough room.Considering the standard mater spacing at 21/2ft-3ft you will have to place more to the outside of the perimeter of barrel and control thru pruning the interlocking foilage for optimum solar exposure and proper oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange.Flowering and pollinization will have to be monitored if iy gets too crowded.A member here z willus out in California had some threads and or posts regarding some barrels he was growing in.Maybe a search or contact can give you more insight.Good Luck.

AKmark · April 13, 2014

Awesome, I use 20 gallon and one will fill it, but you can use two also. You will have giants if your watering and fert., is on.

oldasrocks · April 13, 2014

I use whole barrels and cut the top out not off so they're stronger. I filled them 2/3's full of rock, then fabric, then dirt. Then I used some salvaged decking 1" X 6" to build around 2 rows of them for looks.

madddawg · April 13, 2014

I am assuming you are talking about cutting them in half height wise, the 24" or what ever it is.. why not cut them length wise, the 5' length, Or what ever it is. Same amount of soil, But more room.

oldasrocks · April 13, 2014

BAD mistake to cut them lengthwise. They will not support themselves. Cut the top out NOT off for full support.

Doug9345 · April 14, 2014

What do you mean by they won't support themselves. If you mean they are round and tippy then that is correct. They are plenty strong enough to cut the other way. The neighbor made a garden cart out of one cut in half. I wouldn't expect to collapse either a metal or plastic barrel cut length wise by standing on it and I was close enough to 325 lb as to not matter.

oldasrocks · April 14, 2014

I mean it will bow out in the middle when filled with soil.

April 14, 2014

I have several half barrels-55gallon from a carwash. They are not beautiful but do the job. I cut several 1" holes around the side bottom and put rope handles to slide them around. There are potatoes in 2, and the others are waiting.

madddawg · April 15, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldasrocks

I mean it will bow out in the middle when filled with soil.

Simple solution to that, screw a board across, preferably non treated or ceder, better yet . yea non treated will rot just replace it. Keep out the chemicals!

Growing Giants · April 15, 2014

they all look good. two tomatoes should be fine. I grew a 5.8 Osmala from in a 5 gallon bucket for three months and basically killed the plant transplanting it to a 35 gallon barrel. I should of started with a 35 from the beginning.

CarolynPhillips · April 17, 2014

I have grown in the 25 gallon half barrels both round cut and long cut. I agree that after a time, the sides bow outward on the long cuts and will need a board screwed on to hold it in place.
The long cut is good for small plants, herbs, greens, peppers, eggplant but if you are only going to grow a tomato in it, best to cut round. Cages fit it better too.

It gets really hot here, and sometimes way too dry for a long time during the summer. I have cut some barrels in round halves and also cut the bottoms out so the roots can dig into the earth for more water and nutrient source. I don't plan on moving them and will mow and weed around the pots. It should work out like Mini Raised Beds. Will be growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplants , squash, and cucumbers in them. Right now I have enough barrels to make 32 half barrels.

Growing Giants · April 17, 2014

the barrels are becoming high demand. 2 years ago they were free. Now they are $35 each. What a change!

Worth1 · April 17, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growing Giants

the barrels are becoming high demand. 2 years ago they were free. Now they are $35 each. What a change!

In another life I could haul a trailer load of wood shavings to the horse track and sell them for $50.
If they didn't want them I had to pay $35 at the city dump.

Worth

April 12, 2014	#1
Boarhead Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 34	55 gallon food grade barrels I have a couple 55 gallon food grade barrels that I am going to use this year. I will be cutting them in half so each will hold @ 25-27 gallons of soil. I will be growing Wildboar Farms Pink TD, Blue Beauty and Janet's Jacinthe Jewel. Will I be ok putting two plants in each 25 gallon planter or will it be too crowded?

April 12, 2014	#3
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	More than likely the roots will have enough room.Considering the standard mater spacing at 21/2ft-3ft you will have to place more to the outside of the perimeter of barrel and control thru pruning the interlocking foilage for optimum solar exposure and proper oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange.Flowering and pollinization will have to be monitored if iy gets too crowded.A member here z willus out in California had some threads and or posts regarding some barrels he was growing in.Maybe a search or contact can give you more insight.Good Luck. __________________ KURT

April 13, 2014	#6
madddawg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 407	I am assuming you are talking about cutting them in half height wise, the 24" or what ever it is.. why not cut them length wise, the 5' length, Or what ever it is. Same amount of soil, But more room. __________________ I grow a garden not just for the food I harvest, but for the creation of life itself. Johnny Cash

April 14, 2014	#8
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	What do you mean by they won't support themselves. If you mean they are round and tippy then that is correct. They are plenty strong enough to cut the other way. The neighbor made a garden cart out of one cut in half. I wouldn't expect to collapse either a metal or plastic barrel cut length wise by standing on it and I was close enough to 325 lb as to not matter. Last edited by Doug9345; April 14, 2014 at 11:35 AM.

April 17, 2014	#13
CarolynPhillips Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Nauvoo, Alabama Posts: 184	I have grown in the 25 gallon half barrels both round cut and long cut. I agree that after a time, the sides bow outward on the long cuts and will need a board screwed on to hold it in place. The long cut is good for small plants, herbs, greens, peppers, eggplant but if you are only going to grow a tomato in it, best to cut round. Cages fit it better too. It gets really hot here, and sometimes way too dry for a long time during the summer. I have cut some barrels in round halves and also cut the bottoms out so the roots can dig into the earth for more water and nutrient source. I don't plan on moving them and will mow and weed around the pots. It should work out like Mini Raised Beds. Will be growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplants , squash, and cucumbers in them. Right now I have enough barrels to make 32 half barrels. __________________ Happy Gardening Carolyn

April 12, 2014	#2
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Nice. Post a pic when you get them done. Would love to see it.

April 13, 2014	#4
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	Awesome, I use 20 gallon and one will fill it, but you can use two also. You will have giants if your watering and fert., is on.

April 13, 2014	#5
oldasrocks Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lebanon, Mo Posts: 59	I use whole barrels and cut the top out not off so they're stronger. I filled them 2/3's full of rock, then fabric, then dirt. Then I used some salvaged decking 1" X 6" to build around 2 rows of them for looks.

April 15, 2014	#12
Growing Giants Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Missouri Posts: 77	they all look good. two tomatoes should be fine. I grew a 5.8 Osmala from in a 5 gallon bucket for three months and basically killed the plant transplanting it to a 35 gallon barrel. I should of started with a 35 from the beginning.