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Taber, Alberta

Just curious. My flooding problems this past year got me thinking about growing in a 55 gallon (or 1/2 of one) barrel. The joy of this is I can plant one in the barrel and some right beside it in the soil and see how they do.

Eddy and Don, did Barry Wood grow his in a barrel in his greenhouse? He had great results this year.

Any thoughts?

12/11/2010 12:28:54 PM

Soldiers Grove, WI

Gourd plants can root out 30' in all directions so growing a gourd plant in a barrel is limiting the plants ability to develope a superior root system. In my opinion.

12/12/2010 11:37:41 AM

Lloydminster/AB

I tried one in a barrel, I think it would have been ok but not longer than the one I took to the weigh off. If Barry grew that in a barrel well all I can say is wow! I don't remember him saying anything to me about it but my memory is shorter than my gourd lol.

12/12/2010 10:50:44 PM

Taber, Alberta

Thanks for the ideas. I had a problem with my patch flooding last year and losing my plant and the backup a few weeks later.

My thoughts were that the barrel would heat up faster, causing faster growth earlier in the season. It takes my gourd plants a while to get going in the spring. I want to get the actual gourd growing in the peak growing season here (mid July) instead of mid August when the nights get really cool. Perhaps only 1/2 a barrel with an open bottom, similar to a raised bed.....or heck, why don't I just raise the bed? Just curious to see if anyone has tried it. I'm sure Barry grew in a barrel, course I've been wrong before.

I've got the seeds and the room, I'll probably grow in the soil and a barrel and see how it goes.
Thanks
Alan

12/13/2010 9:34:56 PM

Gays Mills,WI

I would cut the entire bottom off the barrel and bury a foot of the barrel in the ground for stability. Then fill the barrel with the best soil you can find and plant. You will problably have to water morning and night on the hot days. I personally dont like to garden in containers. Maybe you could mound up the soil at site so the water runs away from the planting area or improving the drainage of the soil would help also.

12/20/2010 8:11:33 PM

Anchorage Alaska

Alan,I grew a 76" and 83 " gourd, off the same plant. In a 33 gallon tub. The plant was 10 ft high ,looked great,but it was also grown in a greenhouse enviroment, so if your not looking for a world record, it,s possible

12/20/2010 11:46:31 PM

Taber, Alberta

Thanks for the responses. Last year saw well above average rainfall. There was widespread flooding that caused millions of dollars of damage to crops and property, so I guess I was not that bad off with my little hobby. Like I said, I've got the room and seeds, so I'll do a little experiment in 2011.
Thanks
Alan

12/23/2010 2:12:44 AM

McMinnville, Oregon

I think its a great idea for an apartment dweller, or someone with a second story deck.

1/11/2011 3:12:57 AM

Putnam Ct.

Alan , Last year I grew a 107.5 lg in a raised box 3ft high 4ft wide, but the wooden box had no bottom. I believe the advantage was the soil in raised bed warmed faster than the ground so the roots had a fast start. I would leave the bottom because the roots go very long. hope this helps. I got 2nd place at frerich farm weigh off in RI this year. tough to beat Mr Jutras

1/11/2011 10:00:02 AM