Gardening Methods

Can I grow corn in half oak barrels?

don’t have room for permanent raised beds so I garden temporary crops in containers. can I grow corn in half barrels?

Yes, you can. Fill the half-barrel about 2/3 full with a good potting soil or rich compost over a couple of inches of river rock. Don’t forget to drill some holes for drainage. Plant your corn seeds about 1 inch deep and about 9 inches apart. When they are about 10-12 inches high add more soil (about half the remaining depth of the barrel) and a small amount of fertilizer. When the plants are about 12 inches above the rim of the barrel fill in the rest to the top and add some more fertilizer. The corn stalk will put out additional roots at each section and will stand up in the wind. Since corn is wind-pollinated planting them close together will allow more plants in the barrel and allow proper pollination. You should have between 8 and 12 plants per barrel, so if your family is very large it will take several barrels to feed them all. You can also stagger the planting times and stretch your harvest if there are only a couple of people to feed.

Good luck and enjoy!

Preparing Square Foot Garden Raised Bed SFG to plant Strawberries