Abby

FWIW, cherry tomatoes do not necessarily grow well in a half whiskey barrel if you're thinking the plants are smaller than those of big tomatoes. Cherry tomato plants can grow to 16 feet tall, depending on the variety! Any smaller tomato plant can certainly be planted in a half whiskey barrel and do well though, determinates and indeterminates that grow to only 3-7 feet. Some kind of support for the taller plants if needed.

As for winter sowing, the people who hang out at that forum probably have the answers you're looking for. They're nothing if not enthusiastic and helpful! And they have experience in winter-sowing all kinds of seeds. Winter sowing may be the answer for you if you don't have the inside room to start the plants.

Here is a link that might be useful: Winter Sowing Forum

anney,
I totally forgot there was a Winter Sowing Forum! Thank you for reminding me. :)
I have a few determinates and bush toms that I could plant in whiskey barrels. I thought about planting my Silvery Fir Tree's in the front yard because I heard some use them for edible landscaping. I guess they might do okay in the barrels.

Abby

Well I'm trying my hand at winter sowing thanks to Trudi!!! And certainly feel that any tomato you have is a candidate for WS. So what you can't grow indoors grow by WS outdoors.

George