Last year I grew some cherry tomatoes in containers in this half barrel. I didn’t plant them directly in the soil already in the barrel for two reasons. There was still a stump of a dead apricot tree there and the soil would need some major overhauling if it was to grow tomatoes worth anything.

This year the stump is gone but the same old tired soil still inhabits the barrel. I knew I still wanted tomatoes in this barrel but didn’t want to fool with old soil. I remembered how a friend once grew commercial tomatoes under black plastic. Their roots loved the warmth, it kept weeds down and helped keep the soil moist (he had drip irrigation). I also remembered hearing how some greenhouse growers would simply line bags of soil in the greenhouse, cut them open and plant the tomatoes inside. The idea was that the soil was only used once (good for tomatoes, cuts down on disease) and makes cleanup a snap. I decided to mix the two techniques for my mini bush cherries this year.

The pics were taken with the cell phone cam.

A bag of potting soil with slow release fertilizer included. I cut 4 openings and poked a couple of holes in the bottom of the bag for drainage and planted the toms.

It would have been a little easier if I had laid the garbage bag before cutting and planting but it worked out find in the end. They are watered in and ready to go.