grow bags

[chappyk]

Hey guys:

I have done a bit of research on container gardening...even used some in last years garden. What I am wanting to know is if anyone has used grow bags? I am intersted in this product as I am starting (attempting) to start a vegetable greenhouse. I know they can be purchased at Walmart or any garden centre, but my "wonder" is how often do you have to water your plants/crops in this system? I know that the bags have a soiless medium in them that does retain the water longer.....

Any advice from those who have used grow bags would be helpful, thanks.

[Wyrdlight]

Well i am by no means an expert on the art of growing veggies, but last year i had my first go at growing veg in the form of runner beans.

I planted them out in a grow bag after getting them started on my kitchen window-sill, i supported them with a cobbled together hodge-podge of bamboo canes and lavender and pink wool and found in my mums knitting box.

Despite the fact it looked horrific, swayed alarmingly in the wind and needed frequent repairs.... it worked very well indeed. The runner beans grew very well and i got a good yield of beans from the 4-5 i planted in the grow bag, i think prehaps i planted to many though? as the soil within the bag began to look washed out and depleted by mid-summer and i had to top it up with compost.

From my limited experiance (of one season ) i would say they can work very well, but dont over-fill them, my beans worked very well, grew to over 8 feet in height and provided a good yield, supporting them was hard with bamboo canes but prehaps a net or treliss would work better if the grow bag can be placed close to a wall.

I dont think grow-bags are good value for money in the long run if you have access to beds or the ability/space to make rasied ones but are well suited to those with only a patio/terrace on which to grow things.

[DavidT]

Instead of using normal growbags, get some " planters " these are jumbo sized growbags.

[judiandberyl]

we use grow bags in the greenhouse for cucumbers and tomatoes, but I also use a growing ring with them or a large plant pot with the bottom knocked out. I then fill this with compost and plant into that. I also cut a small hole in the bag and push a small plant pot into that to act as a funnel for watering - saves the water cascading over the floor. feed from the top and water from the bottom. works especially well with toms indoors or out.

judi

[DavidT]

Judi, use the planters and you will have even BETTER crops.

[malcolmx]

all these bags require supplimental feeding i connect mine to drip feed system and incorporate some slow acting fertaliser into the compost as well .
i feed tomorite into the drip system

[DavidT]

Malcolm, I think you`ll find that the better planters have slow release fertilizer AND water retaining granules included.

[PottyPot]

Originally Posted by DavidT

Malcolm, I think you`ll find that the better planters have slow release fertilizer AND water retaining granules included.

What are planters?

[judimac]

I use plant pots from Morrisons for my chillies and tomatoes. You find them for sale by the flowers usually 99p for 8 but I've had as many as 13. I used the grow sacs for potatoes last year and had an OK crop. This year I'm adding some rubble sacks from B&Q.