Will this even work? I have a place out front that I'd really like to put a half barrel in. Also, Rutholive was very kind to share some poppy seeds with me. It would look lovely to have the poppies in a barrel like this. But, is it too big/deep? Sowing them outdoors needs to happen relatively soon if I'm gonna do it, I'd really like it if I can get the barrel deal to work. Also, any comments on medium & drainage for starting poppy seeds in a barrel this size? Thanks!!!
Poppy seeds in a whiskey half-barrel???
umm, something that didn't get mentioned during tonight's chat.... no need to fill that barrel all the way up with "good" dirt or potting soil! Any kind of clean rubble will work to fill the bottom part, then maybe a foot (or less) of nice stuff on top. I like using packing peanuts (the styrofoam kind) in the lower part of big planters -- good drainage, and lightweight too. Some people don't like styrofoam because they say it can put off chemicals, but I think that would be more of an issue with vegetable containers.
I was kind of wondering what I could use for the bottom part of the container. Must say packing peanuts had not occurred to me :) LOL -- interesting though. I was considering using some screen somehow raised up in the barrel a bit as a "floor" about 1' from the top and then put the soil on top of the screen. Elsewhere, pet store screen was recommended for drainage in whiskey barrels. Wondering if I could stablilize it with something like another pot or similar size item and just leave the bottom of the barrel empty. Just kind of thinking aloud. Thanks for the tip :) Nice chatting tonight :)
I use packing peanuts in the bottom of my planters also, but I bag them up in walmart bags or any other kind of plastic bag and tie them into "bags of peanuts". That way when the season is over, I don't have a mess trying to separate the peanuts from the dirt.
Very interesting, guys :) Thanks! No problems with mold or mildew or anything I assume???
I've never planted in barrels hughosta. But I do know that hydrogen peroxide kills mold and mildew and would be perfectly fine to use. Perhaps if you have a problem, you could keep a bottle of HP/Water spray around to use on it?
Thanks again :) I'll post pics if I get this project going soon :)
-- Hugs :)
I've planted corn poppies in a big cottonwood stump, and they looked great. Whether corn poppies or somniferum, you may need to fence them or tie them up. They could be a bit floppy.
Bought the half barrels at Lowe's tonight. Opted for the fiberglass ones, liked the way they looked better.
What do ya'll think about woodchips (cedar) at the bottom of the barrel to take up some room? Strangely enough, I have an unopened bag of them from Lowe's in the garage. What if I put the woodchips half way up and then filled the top half with planting mix & a little extra perlite? There's only one little drainage hole in the barrel so I want to keep it pretty "airy" in there.... do you think this arrangement would be alright?
P.S. Can you drill holes in fiberglass???
Yes you can drill holes in those barrels.
I've used spare pots turned upside down in the bottoms of large planters before. Also, I put landscape cloth across the bottom holes.
Don't poppies have long tap roots? I know they can be tough to transplant and thought that was why. If so, maybe you'll need that dirt all the way to the bottom?? I've been wanting poppies and may steal your idea. I saw some beautiful orange fringed ones just the other day that I may have to go back for now.Thanks!
Hope they don't need soil all the way down... cause they didn't get it :) I sowed these, but haven't taken a pic, yet. I put wood chips at the bottom then a potting soil/perlite mix to ensure adequate drainage. I cheated, BTW, and bought a fiberglass whiskey barrel. It's already nicely aged :) LOL -- thought I'd try them out with something inexpensive like poppy seeds and get a feel for whether I like them or not. There very lightweight, not too pricey, durable.... we'll see :) Post pics if you plant, Michelle! :)
Hugs :)
I'd imagine that, if nothing else, you'll like the weight of the fiberglass barrel better. I can hardly move my wooden one when it's empty, much less full of soil and plants! So does the fiberglass one mimic the wood as well as the hoops? I hope my Lowes has them so I can check 'em out.
Michele
Finally, here's a photo of the barrel :) Aren't my poppy seeds pretty? LOL...
Wow, that's amazing. Looks just like my hostas, and daylilies, and echinacea, and monarda, and....
Thanks for the pic of the barrel. I like it!
Well, I'm a bit late with my post here... sorry. If you want to fill up space in a barrel, I'd suggest gravel, or even packing peanuts. Cedar or any organic matter that isn't broken down could be an issue for your soil and poppies. All those friendly little organisms will break down the chips before they give nitrogen to plants. I think these little industrious fellows work within the top 6 inches of soil, so the chips may not be a problem.
Well, we'll find out! :) LOL -- Dave should start an "experimental gardening" forum! I'd be there all the time :) Thanks for your tips. That does make sense, like why we don't put uncomposted leaves in soil and all that. But, what's done is done and I don't think I could pick the poppy seeds out and start over, so.... I'll let ya'll know how it worked out!!! BTW, don't poppies do better than most in depleted soil? Just clinging to hope -- LOL :)
Take care,
Hugs :)
Boy, Hugs, looks like you've developed a stutter! LOL! I'm not sure about the poor soil thing. My somniferums always go in good soil, but the occasional escapee... reseeder... always seems smaller. It could be the soil, it could be that they get a late start. I always start my poppies indoors, transplant them to cell packs, then set them out after danger of frost is past.
While at the Master Gardener conference a couple weeks ago, someone spoke on organic gardening, and he is the one who mentioned the upper 6" of soil as having most of the microbe activity. He also said it is the top 2" in Alaska, probably due to our cooler soil temps. His suggestion was not to till the soil too deeply too often and disturb their environment.