Anyone else use the 80 litre strawberry barrels?

[AllInContainers]

These are what I'm asking about ...

Strawberry barrels and planters £19.95

I planted both of mine up this weekend, and of course gave them a good watering afterwards. Today though, I noticed quite a few of the plants were wilting quite badly. It may be due to root disturbance (second time they've been potted up within 4 or 5 weeks) and they need to settle in, or it may be that the compost I used was a bit dry and it's not taking on water as freely as it should (repelling/running through moistened channels), or it might be something about the planters themselves.

I have given them another good watering, and once the sun has gone off them I'll be hitting them with the mist setting on the hosepipe in case it is a hydration issue, or the compost isnt taking on moisture evenly throughout. Just wondered if anyone else here has used them and what their experience was with them

[fishpond]

Nothing wrong with the planters, had to use the netting to keep the birds off, and the compost got infested with vine weevils, but no problem at all with the planters

[AllInContainers]

Superb, thanks Fishpond. Did the watering tube work well i.e. was is easy to keep well hydrated?

[Bren In Pots]

I used to have one of those and just didn't get on with it, biggest problem was keeping the plants watered.

Just found an older post about barrels plus it has a bit about the recommended compost mixture to use. :-

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...els_63902.html

[AllInContainers]

Thanks Bren Seems these barrels didn't have too many fans in that thread I grew my strawbs in a coir lined basket last year, and they were an absolute nightmare with watering - this was meant to make it better There's certainly a greater volume of compost so the theory is right, but in practice I have found the central watering tube empties far too quickly, probably just running out of the bottom rather than seeping through the sides as it should. A bit late with the compost too, as they're all filled with good old MPC now

Watering with the hose on a mist setting seemed to work really well just now, but that doesn't make it easy to apply liquid feed - particularly if it's just running out the bottom when you use the tube. I have considered third/half filling the central tube with top soil to slow the water down somewhat, but once you do that there's no going back. All things considered, I can't see it making it any worse so I reckon it's worth a try. Seems to be the best way I can think of to get the water to go where I want i.e. seeping through the tube higher up.

Actually .... just thinking about it, that would make much more sense. If the water soaks in through the top half of the pipe then travels down through the compost there should be more chance of getting a more even watering .... hmmm. I think I'll also need to keep on with the mister as well, at least until I'm confident the roots are migrating well into the body of the planter.

Well, there's no other way I'm going to get that many strawbs in my diminutive garden, so I'll have to come up with something creative

[fishpond]

Superb, thanks Fishpond. Did the watering tube work well i.e. was is easy to keep well hydrated?

I never had a problem with the tube, but it was a very hot summer and I also used to add water via a watering can.

[AllInContainers]

Cool, many thanks I'll add some "blockage" to the pipe next weekend and see if that improves things on mine

[Bigmallly]

I used to have one, it was ok but a pig to keep turning everyday. Wouldn't buy another one.

[AllInContainers]

Turning ...? Yikes!

I went for the lazy approach with shade tolerant alpines for the back, mid season in the prime spots, Earlies to the sides, and late seasons on top for best sun catchment. With 60 plants on the go, I'll be worn out just picking them, never mind trying to spin them

If you'd left it static and not had to mess about turning it, would you still have been underwhelmed BM?

[Aberdeenplotter]

My strawberry planter is now a herb garden. Nuff said

[Richard Eldritch]

I just made my own from an old dustbin and a hole saw. Filled it full of peat and garden compost from my Hotbin. Watering so far not an issue and it's a great way to stuff loads of strawbs into a small space.

[AllInContainers]

Sounds like a great idea. Having already got 60 plants in these already, I'll be putting all my efforts into making these produce as well as possible, but it's great to get all these insights and opinions in. Cheers guys