recycling growbags

[sandy115]

ive read a number of posts regarding this subject but never found the answer to a few questions, i have no open ground whatsoever in my garden ,its all concrete and slabs due to my lack of mobilty, how ever im in the process of installing a new poly green house and i am using about 20 /25 large pots and potatoe bags ect.

As the season progresses and gets to the end rather than throw all this soil away can i put it in one of the large compost bins and store it with the thought of using it in a future season.

how can i sterilise the soil and make shure its pest free

and what should i include in the mix for feeding


i was thinking three large bins and rotating it every three years


regards the mad jock sandy

[Alison_Kristina]

Good question. Anyone got any advice?

Ali.

[golden14]

I have one very large bin and have done okay by saving every last bit of green veg/salad waste and kept mixing this in, in layers with a layer of compost from an old grow bag inbetween, and then keep mixing the two together, someone told me that by doing this you can effectively rejuvinate the old grow bags, and so far it looks as though it is working. Tip giving to me by a passing gardener who said to do this rather than throw them away. Hope this helps

[Alison_Kristina]

Trouble is, we've only got a small yard, no space for a compost bin.

I tell you what though, this is the first and last year I will buy growbags.

Most people I guess don't see what's inside them. I used them as compost for tubs. They were good quality ones (Growmore/Levingtons?) but full of little fly/aphid eggs, some sort of fungus/mould on the bark chips, and even glass. Very corse stuff, horrible quality compared to B&Q multi-purpose compost

Come winter I'll tip the lot onto our miniature front wildflower garden.

Ali.

[GMB27]

Originally Posted by Alison_Kristina

Trouble is, we've only got a small yard, no space for a compost bin.

I tell you what though, this is the first and last year I will buy growbags.

Most people I guess don't see what's inside them. I used them as compost for tubs. They were good quality ones (Growmore/Levingtons?) but full of little fly/aphid eggs, some sort of fungus/mould on the bark chips, and even glass. Very corse stuff, horrible quality compared to B&Q multi-purpose compost

Come winter I'll tip the lot onto our miniature front wildflower garden.

Ali.

Id never have known that! I often pay more for better quality bags, with no idea that they could be full of rubbish! Scary thought eh. Anyhow, i normally throw my left over bags away as I dont have the room for a compost bin either. I know its a waste of money but buying new ones each year still works out cheaper that buying organic vegetables all season.

[rosa15]

You should absolutely reuse the compost. Because certain plants take certain nutrients from the ground to grow, So any old ,re-used compost for growing something different work for following year.You need to put it on the compost heap or just use as mulch.

[Thomas W]

Originally Posted by GMB27

... Anyhow, i normally throw my left over bags away as I dont have the room for a compost bin either. I know its a waste of money but buying new ones each year still works out cheaper that buying organic vegetables all season.

A bit off-topic, but then again not, as this is a question about growing space: If I were to replace organic vegetables from stores with my own produce I would need much more growing space (something like 400 square meters in total). If I had much more growing space I would definitely be able to fit in a composting bin, or three, one for each year. How much growing space do you have?