$10 each, which works out to $5 per pot. 22-1/2 gallons each.

Good idea and ncie price. What was in them?

John i did not know you grew fig plants in containers other than the ones you sold out there in Sunny California.   ; )

Nice price!  If I found that deal, I'd put dozens of holes in the sides to root prune the trees, and I'd spray them white outside to deflect the sun, and black inside to mimic the dark underground.

Martin,

I have more than 1200 of my own trees in pots. Some are 1g pots, and on up to 15g pots, but some are outgrowing their 15g homes. I want some portability because there is the hope one day of establishing a "Figs 4 Fun" orchard that will be self-sustaining and accessible to all, and that can outlast me. My current location does not allow for that possibility. I have begun making inquiries into setting up a foundation for this purpose, in the hopes of then attracting the $ necessary for the establishment of the orchard, and the funding of its future.

You might be able to get some traction with the United States National Arboretum, the Urban Tree Breeding Program. As figs are one of those plants that can do really well in urban settings. I believe they just got a new director who might be interested in that type of project http://www.usna.usda.gov/Research/~rto.html

I use the same drums in black for my self watering containers. They are perfect for there size, price, and durability. I also found its much easier to move them if you make handles on either sides by drilling two holes and using heavy rope with a knot on the inside of the pot.

Thunderbird,

Thanx for the ideas. I thought about such groups as SeedSavers, but their location is a bit cold to be fig friendly. The money is out there: it is just a matter of making the right connections.

I am going to see a ranch, tomorrow, that belongs to a friend of mine about 60 miles north and east of me. It adjoins the only intact Spanish land grant that remains in California. You never know, that might be the start of a possible solution.

ce4656 - thanx for that idea, as well. I am hoping that they will not need a lot of moving, but that may be a "dream".

Good luck Jon.  ; )
Hey Rafed has a truck and i hear he is reasonable and good looking  as well.  ; )

Yes, Martin, he is really cute!!

Are these something routinely available or was it a 1 time thing?  If routinely available want to share the source?  Thanks.

They are routinely available from several sources. Generally they are $20 each, or $15 in quantity. Those are food grade, and people use them for rainwater for their organic gardens, etc These had a biodegradable cleaning agent in them. They have been rinsed,  so they are fine for what I want to do.  That is why they were a little cheaper than usual.

The drums are routinely used for food products or food ingredients, and cannot be reused for food products, thus their wide availability.

Ahhh Martin,

How about I put you in the back of the wagon to keep the drums from rolling?
And I'll find the bumpiest road I can find.

I picked up two like those and wanted to fill them with water for an emergency here in earthquake country. Does anyone know if they are UV resistent, or should I keep them out of direct sun? I've had non-garden plastic containers totally disintegrate after a year or two in total sun.

I could be wrong but over time i would imagine the oils in the plastic containers would eventually break down from the suns rays just how long that would take is anyones guess.

Rafed n Jon ... lol ...

My Grandfather has had his trees in these pots for about 8 years. He bought two for 5$ each from a fruit juice company. ( I guess the juice is wholesaled in those, they smelt like cranberries.) We did the same thing cutting them in half. We drilled three 2-inch holes in the bottom because we put the trees in the yard. That allows roots to go into the soil to pick up water. At the end of the year i cut the roots coming out those holes with a hatchet. We also bolted handles on the side to make them easier to move. The plastic is heavy duty and takes abuse. Once my trees are large enough i am planning on doing the same thing. -Steven

22.5 gallons each or 27.5 gallons each?

OK, Jason, Make me look bad with my math.

Noss, start with craig's list. We have a "for sale" magazine called "The Trader" - maybe it is country wide. Google "blue drum" or "blue barrel".

They are 1/4" thick, or more. A blow molded nursery pot is probably less than 1/16".

They can always be painted for further weather protection.

Hey, if they disintegrate in 5 years it will make root pruning and re-potting easier. I expect they will last a lot longer than that. I have some for water (not in the sun) that I have had for more than a dozen years. They look brand new.

A number of years ago I drove down to NC and bought a bunch of used oak barrels dirt cheap from a distillery and brought them back to Va. I had a couple local carpenters cut them in half for me. The problem was they were both too drunk to finish the job after only a few barrels. I tried to finish the rest of them but ended up asleep on the dump truck's worth of mulch delivered earlier that day. Between the 3 dogs and 3 stoned men we presented a pathetic picture laid out in the steaming mulch snoring away as the sun set and the bugs finally roused use from our hazy slumber.

Craigslist.org is a good place to look for these barrels in your local area. Just search for "55 gallon drum"