Look at my new 3-D garden

[k8sl8]

Here is a pic of the 55 gal. 3-D barrel garden I put together over the last couple weeks.

It was relatively simple, but very time consuming, does require tools and not really 'easy'.

On the other hand, I had the first few lettuce and kale leaves for lunch for a sandwich wrap. YIPPEE.

I found a local supplier for organic seedlings and have 8 kinds of herbs, a couple kinds of lettuce, kale, peas, beans, peppers, cukes, tomatoes and vidalia onions. Also have 3 kinds of edible flowers and then a few impatiens for instant color. I will seed some spinach and other lettuces nearby in another smaller 'garden'.

The umbrella you see was to protect for a few days after they were planted and to keep rain off for a while as it is pretty wet right now. The bamboo stakes are allowing my peas to wander.

I'm having a blast!!

[okorolina40]

that looks great! You must live in a temperate climate. I wish I could go outside and pick some kale for my salads. i did early on in the summer, using some Earth Boxes I bought online. my patio garden was quite impressive.
That must be a heavy barrel - I would hate to see you try to move it -- perhaps get a platform with wheels or a dolly to slide under it in case you have to move it around..

You'll save quite a bit of money - hopefully all will grow well inside.
Rawk steady!
Okorolina

[AllergyGirl]

That is SO cool!

[DebB]

I am so impressed! That looks beautiful. I vote for taking pictures later on so we can see how it progresses! Ahhhh - to be able to grow produce outside year round - wonderful! *Ü*

[streetsurfer]

Most excellent! Is it light enough you can at least rotate it to get even sun exposure or do you think that will even be needed? I like okorilina's suggestion of a movers dolly. I would like to make something like that, or else maybe a gutter system along a wall using hydro. You did a very nice job! Thanks for showing it. I think I see some nasturtium, basil lettuces, mint, maters. What else?

I am temporarily staying in Palm Coast and can't help but wonder how many of the cute little anoles that will support. I don't know much about them coming from a northern clime. I bought a mandevilla for the pool area and started some food containers (kale, tomatoes, rosemary, okra) and often see them wiggling their way through the foilage or sunning on the leaves. Are they an efficient form of natural pest control down here?

[k8sl8]

Most excellent! Is it light enough you can at least rotate it to get even sun exposure or do you think that will even be needed? I like okorilina's suggestion of a movers dolly. I would like to make something like that, or else maybe a gutter system along a wall using hydro. You did a very nice job! Thanks for showing it. I think I see some nasturtium, basil lettuces, mint, maters. What else?

I am temporarily staying in Palm Coast and can't help but wonder how many of the cute little anoles that will support. I don't know much about them coming from a northern clime. I bought a mandevilla for the pool area and started some food containers (kale, tomatoes, rosemary, okra) and often see them wiggling their way through the foilage or sunning on the leaves. Are they an efficient form of natural pest control down here?

For sure NOT light. The barrel itself is surprising heavy and it has 5 BIG bags of potting soil which what heavy when it wasn't wet, lol. I planted things on the North that needed less light, although it really gets sun all the way around cause of the shape and lots of morning and afternoon sun. In order to use wheels/dolly you'd have to have it on a cement pad or something. I just have it on blocks so would be difficult. Don't really think it's necessary, but time will tell. This is an experiment.

I'm not a fan of the anoles (I'm from ND and we don't DO reptiles, lol) but there are a ton of them. They do eat bugs so that's a good thing. The black snakes eat the anoles, so I guess they are good too, but I'm not convinced!~!

No mint, but 8 other herbs. You've got a pretty good eye! Not so far if you want to come visit, ggg.

[k8sl8]

Here are new pictures of the barrel garden. The tomato plants have green fruit so far. I've had lettuce/kale/spinach from the beginning - and herbs of course. (The "pole" centered is actually a palm way behind the garden. Optical illusion of being in or close.)

Peas are producing now, but I only had 4 or 5 plants so not a lot of yield. Cukes FROZE a couple cold spells ago...

I've learned a lot from this experience and know better what to plant next year. I love the flowers, but wouldn't do it again... Takes up veggie space.
Also planted a couple edible flowers and they too were space hogs: Borage and Nastursiums

Have had it covered at least 10 nights since I planted and this is in SWFL. I put a large beach umbrella over the whole thing and attach sheeting with clothespins. Pretty simple actually, but a PITA.

Very little upkeep and very little water required; it's really pretty amazing.

[OnMyJourney]

That is SOOO Awesome!

[green goddess]

What a neat idea! Good use of vertical space! Looks really good with lots of green things growing around it!

[Lesla]

How did you cut and bend the holes in the sides of the barrel? Does the pvc running down the middle have holes drilled in it for the water to disperse to all the plants? I saw something similar for a strawberry pot on a gardening show once...I think it was Martha Stewart. I really like this idea and want to try it!

[rpage]

Awesome garden! And that was an umbrella in the first photo! I knew it :) My sister-in-law lives in North West Palm. Of course that is the opposite side of the state from you, but I am sure the conditions are close the same. I can see were the umbrella would come in handy.

Again, very nice!

[k8sl8]

How did you cut and bend the holes in the sides of the barrel? Does the pvc running down the middle have holes drilled in it for the water to disperse to all the plants? I saw something similar for a strawberry pot on a gardening show once...I think it was Martha Stewart. I really like this idea and want to try it!

Sorry I didn't see the post before.

I cut the slits with a circular saw and then used a heat gun to warm the plastic enough to stretch them with a piece of 1 1/4" pvc which I left in as a 'form' until the plastic cooled. They are alternating so you can get more in the same space.

The 4" PVC in the center has slits, cut with a hand saw (circular would work if you could stabilize; I didn't have anything). Cut more near the top than the bottom as the water stays in the pipe longer at the bottom. It is also only about half the depth of the barrel. Use a 2 litre soda bottle bottom cut off and kept on the PVC with duct tape to seal the bottom. Not all fit and mine didn't so I just used a couple alternating layers of tape. Works so far.

Don't forget to drill several drain holes around the outside of the bottom. Works better than ON the bottom.

[k8sl8]

Awesome garden! And that was an umbrella in the first photo! I knew it :) My sister-in-law lives in North West Palm. Of course that is the opposite side of the state from you, but I am sure the conditions are close the same. I can see were the umbrella would come in handy.

Again, very nice!

The umbrella came in very handy when the garden was new to protect from the very intense sun... even in Oct/Nov when I was doing this.

I also used it when it FROZE!! SEVERAL TIMES... And this is a sub-tropical climate here! Used clothespins to attach a couple sheets to make a hanging house around the barrel. It was offset as the umbrella was in the ground outside the barrel. Next time I'll put it IN the barrel before I start and take it out when I don't need it anymore. Everything survived except the cuke that were on the very bottom and not protected well enough.

[k8sl8]

What a neat idea! Good use of vertical space! Looks really good with lots of green things growing around it!

It worked very well for me. We live in a park model on a very small lot in an RV park. Didn't cause any problems and I had lettuce and kale every day that I wanted all winter. Tomatoes were just done as it's getting HOT here.

[k8sl8]

For those who want to try this on a smaller level, I did 5 gal. buckets (White ones with no writing available from Home Depot for about 3 bucks). Very easy to cut with a hand saw (I used a keyhole saw) and much easier to form. The barrels are VERY thick and pretty hard to work with. Not so the buckets. You can even stack a couple or even three, if you wanted to; just cut the bottoms out and wire together. Be sure to drill some drain holes on the sides (works better than on the bottom).