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thedogsll

How much does a big batch of 511 make?

thedogsLL
9 years ago

Hi, All.
I have two 60 gallon plastic barrels that I plan to cut in half around the middle. They are the big blue barrels that are used in manufacturing. They held coconut oil about 4 years ago, but were steam cleaned before I got them, and I plan to pressure wash again once they are opened up. So, I think I'm good at estimating 26-28 gallons each. But I'm starting from 60 gallons liquid. How does that translate to container mix?

I've spent some time reading everything I can on 511 mix, and plan to use the recipe in Big Batches, but need a little help with the amounts:

Big batch:
2-3 cu ft pine bark fines- is this two 3 cu ft bags, or just 2 or 3 cu ft per batch? I have found a pretty small pine bark mulch at Home Depot I can use, in 2 cu ft bags.

5 gallons each peat/perlite- is that a 5 gallon bucket?

While we've grown tomatoes and peppers in 5 gallon buckets for years, I've never done containers on this scale, and just want to do it right to maximize yield on tomatoes, peppers, cukes, and something else. The half barrels will be on asphalt, raised on something a couple inches high so they can drain.

Thanks for any help!
Lynn T

Comments (8)

  • Ohiofem 6a/5b Southwest Ohio
    9 years ago

    In the big batch, you use 2 to 3 cubic feet of pine bark fines. When I make 5-1-1, I use 5-gallon and 1-gallon paint buckets to measure my materials, and I try to use 5 parts PBF to 1 part of each of the other two components. The paint buckets are measured in liquid gallons, and I use liquid gallon measurement for all my components, so I don't worry about the difference between liquid and dry gallons (one cubic foot is 7.5 liquid gallons or about six dry gallons in the U.S.). Since your barrels are probably measured in liquid gallons, you don't need to worry about the dry measurement either.

    This is gardening, not baking or rocket science. You will need roughly 105 to 110 gallons of final mix for your four containers. That would be approximately five 2-cubic foot bags of bark plus 2 cubic feet of peat and 2 cubic feet of perlite, plus about 6.5 cups of lime, and if you choose to use it, about 6.5 cups of controlled release fertilizer.

  • jodik_gw
    9 years ago

    Personally, I mix it all to my own specifications... depending on what I'm growing, where, and when, and how....

    A bit of change can be good...

  • thedogsLL
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thank you both! So it's more proportion that actual measurement, I should have seen that. I do understand that PBF are the ideal, but DH is a bit heavy-handed when it comes to watering, so I don't think I want to go too fine, thus the small bark mulch, There's no sapwood that I can tell through small holes in a couple of bags (not by me, I swear!), but mostly chunks (chips?) under about 1/2" with some shredded mixed in.

    I add crushed egg shells to vermicompost for houseplants, and am wondering if I'm correct in thinking that when using this mix, the lime is more available to the plants?

    Lynn T

  • Ohiofem 6a/5b Southwest Ohio
    9 years ago

    Definitely use the dolomitic lime. It takes forever for eggshells to break down and the calcium they might provide is not taken up by the plants. Also, it is difficult to overwater 5-1-1 in a container with adequate drainage holes, especially outdoors in the summer. Don't leave out the finer stuff.

  • thedogsLL
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thanks again - all advice noted and (I hope) balanced for DH to water enough to grow his veggies. He's actually excited about this new project!

    I cannot say it enough times - thank you!
    Lynn T

  • Ohiofem 6a/5b Southwest Ohio
    9 years ago

    I wish my DH was enthusiastic about watering! I have so many containers going in the summer since I joined this forum that it takes me about 10 hours a week to water adequately at the height of the season. I would encourage the enthusiasm!

  • thedogsLL
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Oh, I don't discourage him. I just make sure I use slow release fertilizer liberally. It doesn't release so slow when it gets running water every other day...

  • seysonn
    9 years ago

    Mixing 5-1-1 is just in relative proportions. You can use anything of any size; bucket, pot, bin. just measure 5 time bark, one time perlite, one time peat moss. If you are making a big batch just multiply the numbers. I dump all my measured stuff on a tarp and mix them all together and store it in a barrel

    But if your question is how much you will need to fill two 30 gallon container (60 gallons) , just take roughly 6 gallons per cubic foot. So roughly you will need 10 cubic feet of bark, 2 cf of perlite and 2 cf of peat moss: You will end up with some extra for other potting needs. If you want the total to be just about 10 cf, then take 7 cf (40 gal) of bark, 1.4 cf(8gal.) of perlite and 1.4 cf (8gal) of peat moss.

    Thing to remember is that 5-1-1 is just a ball park proportion. I may add more or less peat moss depending on how fine or coarse the bark material is. With coarse bark you may also use less perlite because it will have less water retention capacity. In other words : Too coarse bark, too much perlite will end up with a mix with very low water retention.
    Not exactly a perfect science in a chemistry lab.