Growbeds from 55 gallon drums

[Dan Ponton]

I plan on using 55 gallon drums cut length-wise as grow-beds.

Should I make them "flood and drain"? Anyone using barrels cut this way?

How much media does it take to fill one of these?

I saw clay balls for $50 per 50 lbs, but it seems to me it would take more then one bag per 1/2 barrel.

[Ron Thompson]

While many people use those barrels for grow beds, I see one major drawback and another caveat that needs to be followed. First the caveat - Insure that you are using food grade plastic barrels and make sure you know what was in them previously.

However what I don't like about them is the round shape - you really can only grow in the middle as the edges get too shallow. What I saw in place (and will be trying shortly myself) are large mixing tubs. The ones at Home Depot are 2x3 and a uniform 8" deep. I wish they were a bit deeper but 8" is still useable. For actual grow area, I believe they give more than a barrel. They cost $12.65

http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Materials-Concrete-Cement-Masonry...

[Ron Thompson]

BTW - 50# bags are generally 2 cubic feet - each half barrel is 4 cubic feet, so it would take two bags in each half. 

$50 is steep for 50#'s, it should be a little over half that; I'd either find it cheaper or look into pea-gravel. Maybe a 75% mix of gravel to clay.

[Lonnie Kirkman]

Im using drums for the time being every one wants way to much money to buy grow beds I found a nice smaller plastic container Im going to use for a while it holds about 1 1/2 to 2 bags of the clay balls and it only cost me 13.00 plus making my bell syphon Ihave uploaded some new pict. check them out if I can help let me know Im not an expert but Im doing pretty good.

[TCLynx]

Another option with blue barrels is to cut them round the middle making two round beds that don't need a cradle built to support them.  Siphons work easier in beds made this way too.