It should make a little over 5 cu ft or about 35 gallons. Remember - the recipe calls for 3 cu ft of bark, which is 1-1/2 of the 2 cu ft bags. I know the barrels are different sizes, so you'll need to guess at the volume & do the math.

Al

Al, I am switching to container gardening and are in a learning process.
Pine bark: is it matter that it is fresh or not? Can i just go and buy a bag and mix a soil or I need to put it aside and wait to it to rot?
Will you mix be good for peppers in homemade earthbox?

I prefer pine bark fines, which is kind of like ground up bark, with some bigger pieces mixed in for the bark:peat:perlite soil mix. It is usually partially composted, but I don't really have any problem with N immobilization in the uncomposted bark either - simply because it breaks down so slowly.

I have filled containers with completely dry soil (which is difficult to wet) and set them in a shallow pan of water overnight. In the morning, the top of the soil is damp. Does that give you the information you were seeking about its ability to wick water so the entire soil mass is moist?

Al

thank you, Al, for information.
If I add CLF when building my mix and plant tomatoes, for how long this fertilizer will last? When i should start fertilizing my tomatoes?

Galcho - I hope Sharon doesn't mind our piggy-backing on her post .....?

It depends on how long the formula is intended to last. It varies by manufacturer and formula. I usually figure the fertilizer will last in containers about 1/2 - 3/4 as long as the label indicates. If you're conscientious about keeping up with a fertilizer program, you can easily skip the CRF in soils.

Al