Garden Tours: my dads barrel garden,hundred of veggies-not 1 in the ground

Forum: Garden Tours Replies: 4, Views: 157 Print -

Author Content mbhoakct76 Winsted, CT March 15, 2009 11:08 PM Post #6273568 My father is ready to see 65 this year and has been doing a enormous and grand barrell garden for a few years now , he has well over 100 barrels spread out in every neat nook and crany over 5 acres. As you can tell by the pictures - its alot of barrels.!! The benefit of gardening in barrels is that number one it is super easy to weed, with the barrels being at a good height - there is no bending to plant, no bending to weed or pick. In addittion - it keeps many critters and bugs at bay - of course you still get some but not as many. Also because of the confined space of the barrel - it allows for a longer growing season because when some compost is added- the heat that it gives off is more confined , keeping temps a few degrees higher and lessening the damage from early or later frosts. He is able to pick up free barrels from some local manufacturing companies before they toss them. As you can tell by pictures he has been collecting them for a few years now. He plants mostly vegtables in the barrels with touches of flowers here and there. He places them evenly (still working on spacing) so that he can mow with his ride on mower between the rows. He swears by it - and for good reason- he gets tons of vegtables. Now he does put some effort into it by mixing in compost every spring and fall, but thats much easier for him to do with the barrels being at arms height. He is quite proud of his barrel garden... I am quite proud of him for makin it work. He keeps busy at it all spring and summer ... I think hes actually looking forward to retiring just so he spend more time tending to it. http://cid-842b29f3f36bdfbd.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.res... lincolnitess Lincoln, NE (Zone 5b) March 16, 2009 06:09 AM Post #6274196 What a great idea to save on bending. Looks like he get wonderful results. TheMasterMoo Waxahachie, TX (Zone 8a) April 23, 2009 02:41 PM Post #6452921 Thats very awesome, and very creative! I think the blue barrels with the green plants on top look relaxing. mattsmom Tomah, WI May 02, 2009 08:10 AM Post #6492334 What an awesome idea! I like how your dad thinks, work smarter not harder! WigglyPaw Hastings, MI (Zone 5b) June 08, 2009 09:04 PM Post #6661135 How does he get all that dirt into the barrels? That has to be a hard job!!!! some of the veg grow so high, how does he get the 'maters off the vines? Sher

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