I just recently moved and don't have time this year to make a garden, but I'm itching to grow at least a couple veggies in a oval shaped like tin barrel thing….what kind of veggies could I grow in the next 2.5 months to get my veggie fix on, but in a round metal barrel??? I thought cucumbers and zucchini are fast growing veggies? I was going to buy seed pellets start a bunch and then transfer them to barrel once sprouted? Can all diff types of veggies go in same barrel???

Hope for advice

I think you could hurry up and try zucchini or cukes. But that's risking they don't get big enough and you get nothing.
How big is it? It is easy to underestimate how big a couple squash plants wants to be. And you should have a couple because you need male and female flowers on the same days for pollination.
Cucumber plants are a lot smaller and pretty quick to fruit once they get going. I think they're a better bet than squash. Can grow up a lightweight trellis.

Smack in the middle of July is thought of as outside of planting time- too late for summer crops, too early for fall crops.
Certainly there are good fall growing things you can do. Get the potting mix in.
Do you like lettuce, radishes, spinach, Asian greens?

You can certainly grow different veggies in the same barrel, no problem there.

How large is your barrel? You might grow 1 zucchini plant in a barrel; but you could grow quite a lot of lettuce and chard, maybe a few radishes, scallions (if you can still find onion sets) and a cucumber plant to trail over the edge.

Pennsylvania? Probably not the same things you could in Alabama But, I'll throw in with Sandy about the greens (lettuce, spinach, kale, mustard,...or a mix of all these) and radish...all are fast growing. I have no idea what your weather is right now, though...greens might be better when it's a bit cooler, maybe? Green beans might be an option, too. These are all from seed.

How big is the "tin barrel thing"...especially the depth? Has it got drainage holes in it?

It looks like your first possible frost is around the first of October so you've got a good 60 days to work with. You could even extend that time frame with with a little protection (simple sheet thrown over the barrel thing) or a more elaborate plastic tent.

Do a little research and see what will produce in the next 60 days (you maybe have a *very* short harvest period for some vegetables) and possibly visit some local nurseries and get some transplants to work with...??? That would shave off six weeks of grow time for some vegetables.

With the crazy weather that we've been having your season may last well beyond the 60 days or end well before it. Cool weather crops will extend better into the cooler weather.

Just some brain-damaged thoughts.
Best wishes.

Plant a zucchini in the middle and some cucumber seeds around the edge for the vines to trail over.

Just direct see into your barrel. The seeds will come up quickly now since it is plenty warm out.

Rita's in your area, Nickm. She's in your area and knows what she's talking about...she furnishes all of Long Island and north Pennsylvania with all the fresh vegetables they can eat each year! Well,...maybe not *all* of northern Pennsylvania, but close!

Intheswamp said:Rita's in your area, Nickm. She's in your area and knows what she's talking about...she furnishes all of Long Island and north Pennsylvania with all the fresh vegetables they can eat each year! Well,...maybe not *all* of northern Pennsylvania, but close!

Ed is exaggerating just a little. But I do give lots and lots of veggies to my neighbors and friends.

It is not too late to start cucumbers from seed.

@nickm62388 - just wondering if you ever found your way back to this thread and the replies?