I probably mixed in a little MPC with the topsoil but not much. The tree seems happy, this was last August:
The planter gets really hot but the tree seems OK with it (it does live in tough environments in the wild). I have never noticed the plants struggle with drought. I didn't want to fill the entire planter with soil, because topsoil can become compacted and aerobic if laid too deeply, which is why I started off filling with sharp sand and then topsoil for the final 400mm.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
I also want to know about galvanised planters! I’ve been given 2 large troughs. I have a south facing garden and I’m not sure whether I can use them.Should I line them? What with? What can I grow in them? Would they be any good for tomatoes??
How large are the troughs @amrees21rUYkznol? What one person calls large, another would call small If you can give some more info that will help - ie your rough location, climate etc.
I grow lots of things in metal containers - sweet peas, ferns, Dahlias, Ipomoea, Phormiums etc. It often depends on where you put them, and how hot they'll get - some things will struggle if in strong sun all day.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The key is to provide a thermal break so the advice is to line with some form of insulation. We either use 10mm drainage board (which has added benefits obviously) and/or sheet extruded polystyrene.
My last experience of galvanised was a garden burner which rotted to the ground in a short time. Hopefully your planters will last.
This is to be expected. The galvanisation process provides only a veneer of protection and once this gets damaged (heat, scratches, dents etc.) it allows rust to take hold very quickly. Compounding this is its usually very thin low grade mild steel hence the cheaper price.
Much better to buy 3mm galv if you want to stand a chance of any realistic longevity...or plump for powder coated steel where possible (and ensure powder coating or a coat of waterproofing is also inside the unit!)
All the above has made interesting reading for me. I have a large galvanised water tank ear marked to grow a fig tree in. I had planned to line it with polystyrene sheeting of some kind before filling it. There appears to be a hole somewhere in the bottom because there is usually a couple of inches of water in the bottom of the tank which will be fine because I was going to start with a layer of gravel or small stones before filling with soil of some kind.
If you have spare plastic plant pots, before you pour in the gravel put a layer of them (upside down) on the bottom. This will fill up the void reducing the amount of gravel needed, and provide an even better drainage layer than just gravel.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
All the above has made interesting reading for me. I have a large galvanised water tank ear marked to grow a fig tree in. I had planned to line it with polystyrene sheeting of some kind before filling it. There appears to be a hole somewhere in the bottom because there is usually a couple of inches of water in the bottom of the tank which will be fine because I was going to start with a layer of gravel or small stones before filling with soil of some kind.
It sounds like you're going long term with the fig so i'd advise painting some BlackJack onto the inside too...
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The planter gets really hot but the tree seems OK with it (it does live in tough environments in the wild). I have never noticed the plants struggle with drought. I didn't want to fill the entire planter with soil, because topsoil can become compacted and aerobic if laid too deeply, which is why I started off filling with sharp sand and then topsoil for the final 400mm.
If you can give some more info that will help - ie your rough location, climate etc.
I grow lots of things in metal containers - sweet peas, ferns, Dahlias, Ipomoea, Phormiums etc. It often depends on where you put them, and how hot they'll get - some things will struggle if in strong sun all day.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Edit - 10mm drainage board.
Much better to buy 3mm galv if you want to stand a chance of any realistic longevity...or plump for powder coated steel where possible (and ensure powder coating or a coat of waterproofing is also inside the unit!)
I had planned to line it with polystyrene sheeting of some kind before filling it. There appears to be a hole somewhere in the bottom because there is usually a couple of inches of water in the bottom of the tank which will be fine because I was going to start with a layer of gravel or small stones before filling with soil of some kind.
https://www.toolstation.com/everbuild-black-jack-black-bitumen-paint/p88792