Buying blue barrels

[nwalch]

I'm after some blue barrels (http://www.dvfuels.co.uk/product.asp?pid=10) or something similar to grow carrots in. Does anyone know where I can buy them locally or suggest something else that would be suitable. They need to be about 2 foot deep to avoid carrot fly.

[low_carbon]

Many people including myself grow carrots in discarded baths -free and definitely classed as 're-use'.

 

If you really want barrels (which I think are too deep for carrots - lots of soil, not much surface area?), then I believe Stokes Paints on Little London Road, Heeley do them. I think the inside will be covered in paint so go for emulsion if poss but I think they are free.

[medusa]

Please be careful about taking barrels from outside businesses if you don't have specific permission. Not only could the barrels have contained toxic chemicals that need specialist disposal or cleaning before reuse, but in a lot of instances they are outdoors awaiting collection by the company who supplied the ingredients and the business that they are outside of are likely to get charged for each barrel that goes missing.

 

Industrial coolants, lubricants and the like are all supplied in barrels but the barrels are all on a deposit and return basis. They aren't left outside for disposal and it is theft to take them (not implying that you would just take them nwalch, just trying to dissuade the 'if it's left there they obviously want it to be taken' brigade).

[nwalch]

Many people including myself grow carrots in discarded baths -free and definitely classed as 're-use'.

 

If you really want barrels (which I think are too deep for carrots - lots of soil, not much surface area?), then I believe Stokes Paints on Little London Road, Heeley do them. I think the inside will be covered in paint so go for emulsion if poss but I think they are free.

 

I did unearth a couple of baths on the allotment (it has been a jungle for a good few years before I took it on) and was going to use them to collect water until I got something more permenant sorted but I could use them for carrots.

 

I'd also noticed that builders use some sort of tub (regtangular and about 18in deep) for mixing things up in (cement\plaster?). I've never been able to find out what they are called so have found it difficult to track them down.

[nwalch]

Please be careful about taking barrels from outside businesses if you don't have specific permission. Not only could the barrels have contained toxic chemicals that need specialist disposal or cleaning before reuse, but in a lot of instances they are outdoors awaiting collection by the company who supplied the ingredients and the business that they are outside of are likely to get charged for each barrel that goes missing.

 

Industrial coolants, lubricants and the like are all supplied in barrels but the barrels are all on a deposit and return basis. They aren't left outside for disposal and it is theft to take them (not implying that you would just take them nwalch, just trying to dissuade the 'if it's left there they obviously want it to be taken' brigade).

 

The blue barrels have contained food stuff so they should generally be ok to use once washed out. I would obviously ask for them first (I'm happy to buy them for a small price if I can find them locally).

[mc55]

I've got a bath for my carrots, although I still suffered from carrot fly, so I'm going to make a fleece barrier to try and protect them this season.

 

Our builders have been using flexible pull rubber 'buckets' which I've seen in B&Q.

[Don_Kiddick]

Similar advice on using builders trugs here to combat carrot fly.