Good video. I used to make quite a few of these. We would take old garden hose and cut them to the length of the handle then split one side along the length. Then simply slide them onto the top edge of the handle. Made it more comfortable to lift when loaded.
I found that drilling holes in the side helps with air for the root system. It helps the roots spread out instead of going straight down for the holes at the bottom. Which gives it a healthy and firm root and leads to less problems later. I do this with 5 gal buckets from firehouse all the time. And always had a great harvest from pepper plants and tomatoes.
@@MidwestManMountain anything to help a fellow gardener out. Also if you have yet to try them the fabric raised beds.... They make a great inner lining for a wooden bed. Plus it helps with keeping out weeds and stuff while giving your plants room to breathe.
we did that years ago, using them as planters...there are two problems with it...1 if the bottoms set on clay soil or the patio, they do not drain properly even with holes drilled in them and gravel on the bottom. 2 the summer heat causes the barrel sides to bow inward like they are melting, folding in on it's self.
Hi! We live in Western NY, and our property used to be an old train station, so the "soil" is mostly clay and boulders. Container gardening was our only option, really. So we bought two stock tanks for the main veggie garden, we have blueberry bushes in 5 gallon buckets (for now), and we also bought two used food grade 55 gallon drums for more space. However, we cut our barrels in half the long way, and built wooden frames to hold them up off the ground. It's great for weeding, and they kinda look like little mangers. My issue is that I need to "refresh" the soil I have in the barrel containers, and I'm not sure how to tackle that. It seems like it's just full of weeds in all 4 of them, and I can't seem to get anything else to grow in there. I had planned on using them for things like spinach, lettuce, romaine and rhubarb, so nothing with particularly hardy root systems. What do you recommend I do with the dirt I currently have in the barrels?
Nice, I buy my barrels from an inkjet ink manufacturer here in Denver. The barrels are food grade though..which is weird. There's always about a cup of ink left in each barrel, breaks down in the sun in a day or so. It has to be safe, it hasn't killed me yet.
Nice! But I probably wouldn't go with the white containers as they're slightly translucent, and light getting through will impact root growth. Have you tried painting any of these a darker color for better heat retention?
I wish you also shared how you cut out the holes for the handles. Also may I ask why you elevated the barrels by adding wood underneath? I thought it is better to sit directly on the soil so earthworms can move in.
Drill a hole and make it bigger with a jigsaw until the handle is the size that you want for your hands. As for elevating on the 2x4s, I opted to do that for drainage and mildew control. It's worked for me, for what it's worth. Happy growing!
"You Can!!!!...and for just 2 payments of.....eh you know where i'm going with this lol. In TX's I am really starting to think this is the way to go. Hmmm retractable garden......hmmmm. Good vid hope you are all well and doing good. Moose is, well, getting..Moose like? BIG.. Peace
Good video. I used to make quite a few of these. We would take old garden hose and cut them to the length of the handle then split one side along the length. Then simply slide them onto the top edge of the handle. Made it more comfortable to lift when loaded.
The explanation was well-organized, and the perfect balance between details and being concise
I found that drilling holes in the side helps with air for the root system. It helps the roots spread out instead of going straight down for the holes at the bottom. Which gives it a healthy and firm root and leads to less problems later. I do this with 5 gal buckets from firehouse all the time. And always had a great harvest from pepper plants and tomatoes.
That's a good suggestion, thanks for sharing! I think I'll add some side holes to my barrels this year as well.
@@MidwestManMountain anything to help a fellow gardener out. Also if you have yet to try them the fabric raised beds.... They make a great inner lining for a wooden bed. Plus it helps with keeping out weeds and stuff while giving your plants room to breathe.
we did that years ago, using them as planters...there are two problems with it...1 if the bottoms set on clay soil or the patio, they do not drain properly even with holes drilled in them and gravel on the bottom. 2 the summer heat causes the barrel sides to bow inward like they are melting, folding in on it's self.
Hi! We live in Western NY, and our property used to be an old train station, so the "soil" is mostly clay and boulders. Container gardening was our only option, really. So we bought two stock tanks for the main veggie garden, we have blueberry bushes in 5 gallon buckets (for now), and we also bought two used food grade 55 gallon drums for more space. However, we cut our barrels in half the long way, and built wooden frames to hold them up off the ground. It's great for weeding, and they kinda look like little mangers. My issue is that I need to "refresh" the soil I have in the barrel containers, and I'm not sure how to tackle that. It seems like it's just full of weeds in all 4 of them, and I can't seem to get anything else to grow in there. I had planned on using them for things like spinach, lettuce, romaine and rhubarb, so nothing with particularly hardy root systems. What do you recommend I do with the dirt I currently have in the barrels?
Very smart! I love that you can move them around.
Thanks pal!
LOL. I did this to. I get them from my work. They also make good outdoor toy bins. Downside is if you paint them. It doesn't hold long.
Nice, I buy my barrels from an inkjet ink manufacturer here in Denver. The barrels are food grade though..which is weird. There's always about a cup of ink left in each barrel, breaks down in the sun in a day or so. It has to be safe, it hasn't killed me yet.
Mike Horan Be careful with those since ink IS a riddled with chemicals. So I don't know if washing the ink off will be enough...
Most newspaper print is composed of soy ink. Your food-grade barrel provider is most likely a supplier for a soy-based printer. You could ask.
Nice! But I probably wouldn't go with the white containers as they're slightly translucent, and light getting through will impact root growth. Have you tried painting any of these a darker color for better heat retention?
Great video! Thanks so much for sharing!
Good idea! I’m going to have some to grow lotus but lockdown stop me.
So awesome! Thanks!
I wish you also shared how you cut out the holes for the handles. Also may I ask why you elevated the barrels by adding wood underneath? I thought it is better to sit directly on the soil so earthworms can move in.
Drill a hole and make it bigger with a jigsaw until the handle is the size that you want for your hands. As for elevating on the 2x4s, I opted to do that for drainage and mildew control. It's worked for me, for what it's worth. Happy growing!
Good ideas, thanks for this video.
"You Can!!!!...and for just 2 payments of.....eh you know where i'm going with this lol. In TX's I am really starting to think this is the way to go.
Hmmm retractable garden......hmmmm.
Good vid hope you are all well and doing good.
Moose is, well, getting..Moose like? BIG.. Peace
Yeah, he's a gentle giant. For you a retractable garden might be a good opportunity! Take care, Dale.
How bout doing canalop in a half barrel an covering it wth chicken wire or mash to kep groundhogs out from eating the canalop? SIR? ANY IDEAS!?
Did you use window screen to cover the plants?
My question is. Why do you need all that soil? Most plants do not have deep roots except for root crops of course
I cut out the bottom of my barrels and till under them the first year so that organisms can work my soil
I did this exact thing 2 days ago, but split the barrels into thirds. How did the UA-cam know that?
The only thing I should have done differently is to cut it up somewhere all the plastic shavings can be easily cleaned up.
All hail the Google algorithm. lol. Cool that you and I were working on a similar project! Yeah, those plastic shavings are kind of a bother.