Seems like a waste of real estate (center of the barrel). I seem to recall seeing pictures of strawberry "towers" using wide pvc pipe. Not sure which forum they were on.

I am growing in one now on the same idea.

I will let you know how they do. I think that I have to rotate it many times to let the sun hit them all evenly.

Mike:-)

Mike do you have anything in the center to displace some of the soil and maybe to facilitate watering?