Growing in Grow Bags: Tips for Gardening Success
If you’re looking for a way to get into gardening, but don’t have the space for a garden plot, then growing vegetables in grow bags may be the perfect solution for you! Grow bags are small sacks made of fabric that can be filled with soil and used to grow plants. They are a great option for people who live in apartments or other small spaces. In this blog post, we will discuss how to get started with grow bag gardening!
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What are grow bags?
Fabric grow bags are just what they sound like – a bag that you can grow plants in. They are made from a thick breathable fabric, similar to a reusable grocery bag. Grow bags are well aerated and have superior drainage over traditional plastic pots. Fabric Grow bags are usually filled with a growing medium, which can range from soil to soilless materials like peat, composted green waste, bark or wood chips, or any mixture of these items. Grow bags come in various heights and widths which make them versatile enough to accommodate almost any size plant.
Advantages of Growing in Grow Bags
There are many advantages to growing vegetables in grow bags. Some of the benefits include:
- You can grow a variety of plants in a small space.
- Grow bags are easy to move around, so you can relocate them if needed.
- They help keep the soil moist, which is ideal for vegetable gardening.
- The fabric material allows the grow bag to “breath,” which is beneficial for the plants.
Disadvantages of Growing in Grow Bags
There are a few disadvantages to growing vegetables in grow bags. Some of the drawbacks include:
- The fabric material can get hot in the sun, which can be harmful to the plants.
- If you’re not careful, the grow bag can dry out quickly, so you need to water your plants regularly.
- You may need to replace the grow bag every few years, as the fabric will eventually break down.
If you’re considering growing vegetables in grow bags, be sure to weigh the advantages and disadvantages before making a decision.
Tips for Successful Grow Bag Gardening
Choose the right plants for grow bag gardening
Not all plants grow well in this type of gardening setup. It’s best to choose plants that are suited for container gardening, such as tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and lettuce.
You can also look for “dwarf” varieties. These are smaller versions of full-size plants that do better in grow bags and containers. Also, select “bush” or “compact” varieties rather than vining types.
Crops that grow well in grow bags-
arugula
radishes
lettuce
peppers
carrots
strawberries
potatoes
kale
green onions
cucumbers
eggplant
beets
Choose the correct size Grow Bag
You want to choose a grow bag that is big enough for the plant, but not too big or it will be difficult to move.
2 gallon grow bags are a good choice for many herbs like sage, rosemary, thyme, and basil. 2 gallons is also a good size for kale, green onions, radishes, lettuce, chard, and arugula.
3 gallon grow bags are a good choice for many herbs like dill, cilantro, and parsley. And many fruits and vegetables such as kohlrabi, carrots, beets, strawberries, and celery.
5 gallon bags are a good choice for many herbs like lemongrass, ginger, and turmeric. And many vegetables such as beans, broccoli, cabbage, okra, potatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, and peppers.
10 gallon grow bags are good for tomatoes and sweet potatoes.
If you are growing in bags bigger than 10 gallons consider growing 2-3 different plants in one bag.
Make sure the grow bags have good drainage. If the grow bags don’t have holes at the bottom, the soil will become waterlogged and the plants will not grow well.
Fill your grow bag with the best type of soil
You can purchase soil specifically for grow bags, or you can use a potting mix. Be sure to add some organic matter to the soil, such as compost or manure, to help improve the quality of the soil.
You do not want to use garden soil because it will be too heavy. Making it hard to move your grow bags. Garden soil doesn’t drain as well as potting soil and could therefore cause your plants to become waterlogged.
If you are making your own soil for your grow bag a good mix is 1/3 moss, 1/3 compost mixture, and 1/3 vermiculite. This mix retains moisture and is very important for gardening with grow bags. You can also mulch your grow bags with wood chips just like you would in the garden.
It is important to fill bags all the way up with soil to take advantage of the room inside the grow bag.
Put your grow bag in the best location
You want to choose a spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight per day. If you live in a hot climate, you may want to put your grow bag in a spot that gets some afternoon shade.
Watering Your Grow Bags
Grow bags will tend to dry out a little faster than pots so be aware of that. This occurs because of the superior aeration and drainage inherent to the fabric bags. It might be tough to really soak a plant in a grow bag as the water will come right out.
We suggest putting a container underneath the grow bag and fill it with water so it can be wicked up by the plant as it needs it. Any container will work, even a kiddie pool. Be careful though, if the container is too deep, you will need an overflow. You want most of the roots to be in the air.
Fertilizing Your Grow Bags
Obviously, fabric bags do not contain as much soil as the natural earth does. So heavy feeder plants will need to be fertilized. Bone meal, worm castings, and compost teas, all make great natural fertilizers. Epsom Salts and eggshells can help to add minerals. We suggest Epsoma Fertilizers.
Growing vegetables in grow bags is a great way to get into gardening, and it offers a number of benefits over traditional garden plots. If you’re looking for an easy way to get started with vegetable gardening, then grow bags may be the perfect solution for you!
