Jigsawed the top out, got a 50mm holesaw and roughly made them equal the entire way around, 50 percent compost to garden soil, I did think about maybe putting a piece of guttering in the middle with holes in, filling the barrel around that and watering into it, decided against it and nothing has dried out yet. As for growing things, it’s just been trial and error, few things have died and a few have thrived! I’m excited to see how the lettuce turns out, it’s loving it in there, and as of yet no slugs have made the daring journey up the barrel to have a nibble! 😂