More and more people are interested in grow bag gardening because it is easy to do and does not require a lot of space.
Advantages of gardening in grow bags
- Extra Space When You Need It: When I plant a crop in my raised bed garden that takes a while to grow, it limits my opportunities for succession plantings. I can create more opportunities in my garden by adding grow bags. Grow bags come in various sizes, so you can find ones that are large enough for anything you grow.
- Easy Harvesting: One of my favorite attributes of grow bags is their convenience when harvesting root crops. If you are harvesting sweet potatoes or new potatoes, you don’t have to dig around with a garden fork, potentially damaging the tubers. I pour the bags out over a sifter, so 100 percent of what was growing underground remains intact and the soil can be saved and reused. Some grow bags have flaps on the sides so you can take only the tubers you need for dinner that night.
- Attract Pollinators: To attract pollinators to your garden and add some color, you can scatter around grow bags and plant flowers in them. If you need to move the bags to a better location, you can lift them by their handles or put them on rollers.
- Crop Rotation: Because I grow many crops that are in the same family, it’s challenging to practice crop rotation in my 16 raised beds. Crop families should be on a four-year rotation schedule, moving from one bed to another annually before returning to their original bed. I have built up soil-borne pathogens in my raised beds. If you don’t rotate often enough, it’s not a matter of if it will happen, but when. Now I am forced to find new places to grow tomatoes and peppers (both in the nightshade family) and grow bags are a perfect solution. I don’t have to go through the expense of building more beds. Wood’s expensive right now, and grow bags are very inexpensive, relatively speaking. I fill them up with clean soil that doesn’t have years of pathogen build-up.
- Amy Prentice, the Director of Marketing and Communications at Agrivana Mediacan, also attests to the benefits of using grow bags with clean soil. After struggling with tomato and pepper diseases and poor growth in her beds, she tried using grow bags with potting soil. She reports the plants were bushier with more fruit set and fewer disease issues. In addition to being free of pathogens, the clean soil may have also had more nutrients than the soil in her beds. The experience attuned Amy to issues in her garden and she says it made her aware that she has some work to do on her garden soil.
Disadvantages of gardening in grow bags (and what to do about it)
Grow bags require more frequent watering than traditional pots, as the soil can dry out quickly.
- For thirsty plants like tomatoes and squash, use a grow bag with a watering reservoir or add an olla to the grow bag.
Increased size growth containers can be difficult to budge when crammed with earth.
- To make grow bags easier to move, choose good-quality bags with heavy-duty handles and get help. Be sure of the location before filling it.
For example, once every 2 to 4 weeks. Grow bags need to be fertilized more often than raised beds or in-ground beds. Just like other containers, plants grown in grow bags need to be fertilized more often. For example, every 2 to 4 weeks.
- Use a half dose of a liquid fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season for most crops.
5 Tips for Successful Grow Bag Gardening
- Choose the right plants to grow in grow bags
Some plants are better suited to grow in grow bags than others because they limit the size of the roots and available water.
For best results when growing plants in grow bags, choose dwarf varieties and varieties that are bush or compact rather than vining.
Crops that grow well in grow bags include:
- arugula
- radishes
- lettuce
- peppers
- carrots
- strawberries
- potatoes
- kale
- green onions
- cucumbers
- eggplant
- beets
Herbs that grow well in grow bags include:
- basil
- dill
- cilantro
- sage
- rosemary
- thyme
- garlic
- parsley
- oregano
- ginger
- turmeric
- calendula
- Use oyas or self-watering grow bags for thirsty plants
If you want to prevent your grow bag from drying out too quickly, consider using an oya or a self-watering type grow bag. I use oyas from Growoya.
The alternative is to poke holes in the base of the bag and line it with plastic to stop the compost falling out. Self-watering grow bags provide a reservoir of moisture at the base of the bag, eliminating the need to constantly water the plants. An alternative method is to poke holes in the bottom of the bag and line it with plastic to prevent the compost from falling out.
- Choose the correct size grow bag
Choose a grow bag size based on the plant spacing guidelines for the plants you would like to grow.
An extra small grow bag that can hold up to 2 gallons or 7.5 liters of soil is a good choice for many herbs such as sage, rosemary, thyme and basil.
This grow bag is a good size for many vegetables such as kale, green onions, radishes, lettuce, chard, and arugula.
Many herbs like dill, cilantro, and parsley do well in small grow bags that hold up to 3 gallons/11 liters of soil.
This size of grow bag is also good for growing many fruits and vegetables, such as kohlrabi, carrots, beets, strawberries, and celery.
A medium sized grow bag that can hold up to 5 gallons or 19 liters of soil is a good option for many herbs such as lemongrass, ginger, and turmeric.
This particular size of grow bag is well-suited for a variety of vegetables such as beans, broccoli, cabbage, okra, potatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, and peppers.
A large bag that can hold up to 10 gallons or 38 liters of soil is a good option for tomatoes or sweet potatoes.
If you are using a grow bag that is larger than 10 gallons, that is great! Grow bags that size are well-suited to most types of vegetables and can often have several different types in the same bag.
- Fill your grow bag with the best type of soil
Regular garden soil is too heavy for grow bags; it will become compacted. The best soil for grow bags is a combination of:
- compost
- vermiculite
- coconut coir or peat moss
When looking for potting soil, look for a combination of these ingredients, or make your own.
Soil that is light and airy is better for plant roots because it allows them to breathe. This mix prevents the soil from getting compacted and crusted, which would make it difficult for roots to get the oxygen they need.
You should fill your grow bags to the top with soil to make the most of the space inside.
- Put your grow bag in the best location
You can put grow bags in the best location for them based on the amount of sunlight they will receive.
If you want your plants to grow well, they should get 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day. It’s best if they get the sunlight in the morning, with a little bit of shade in the afternoon if you live in a place where it’s hot most of the time.
Grow Bags Vs. Plastic Containers
Belinda, who is a podcast listener, wanted to know if she should use grow bags when she is already having success with plastic containers. Even though the saying goes “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, you may find that grow bags get even better results.
One difference between plants grown in a plastic container and a grow bag is the root behavior. In a plastic container, the roots reach the edge and continue to grow in a circular pattern. This restricts the plant’s access to water and nutrients, potentially killing the plant. This is less of a risk for annual or seasonal crops.
The roots of plants stop growing when they reach the edge of a grow bag. This is because the bags are porous and allow air to circulate. When the roots reach the air, they stop growing in that direction. This process is known as “air pruning.” Air circulation through the walls of grow bags leads to healthier roots.
Choosing the Best Grow Bags
Grow bags made from heavy-duty landscape fabric are the best option. Polypropylene is a common material used for this purpose. It is food-grade and does not contain any harmful substances. Another common landscape fabric is polyethylene, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. However, the best option is spun-bond fabric.
This is a saying that means that if you buy something cheaply, it likely won’t be good quality. For example, if you’re looking for a durable bag, don’t just buy the cheapest one you can find online. Instead, consider factors like whether or not the bag has handles (which can be important for mobility), and whether those handles are sewn onto the bag or are part of the bag’s design.
When choosing a pot for your plants, it is important to look at the reputation of the manufacturer and seller. Some good brands to consider are Root Pouch, Smart Pots, and Spring Pots. However, you can also shop around and experiment to find a brand that you like.
Whatever material you use for your grow bags will degrade over time due to exposure to UV light, water, and heat. If you plan on moving the bags around when they’re full, choose a material that is durable and has strong seams.
What Can Grow in a Grow Bag
You can grow any crop in a grow bag that you can grow in a container or raised bed. The plants will perform well if you put them in the right environmental conditions with well-drained soil and apply water properly. I recommend plants that grow to maturity quickly because there is less risk over a shorter period of growing time.
What to Place Grow Bags On
The students in my Master Seed Starting course were wondering what the best surface is to put their grow bags on. Sherry said that her tomatoes in bags placed on her deck didn’t do as well as the tomatoes in bags that were placed directly on her lawn.
The type of surface the grow bags are placed on makes a difference in how much water the plants receive. If the grow bags are placed on a hard surface, the plants will only receive water from rain and from watering them directly. But if the grow bags are placed on a lawn, the plants will also receive moisture from the ground.
Staining is a common issue with solid bases such as driveways or patios. The bag will leave a dirty ring, but you can put a liner underneath the bag to protect the surface. You could also prop the bag up on bricks, but then the bottom of the bag will be exposed and will dry out the root mass faster. As a result, you’ll need to water more often.
Spacing Plants When Using Grow Bags
Most grow bags are cylindrical while most spacing guidance for plants is based on a square, as Cindy from the joegardener Facebook group points out.
I determine how much space a plant will need by eyeballing the square within the circle. That leaves four semi-circles on the periphery where more plants could potentially fit.
Watering Grow Bags
Grow bags can dry out quickly, requiring more frequent watering than other methods, unless an automated drip irrigation system is used. These systems are easy to assemble and can be set to water the plants on a schedule, ensuring they receive the required amount of water.
To help the soil retain moisture between waterings, apply 2 inches of organic mulch, such as shredded leaves or straw. This will also suppress weeds, and provide valuable nutrients and organic matter to the soil and plants as it breaks down.
Grow Bags and Sunlight
Vegetable crops need approximately six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. Some gardeners may relocate their container gardens or grow bags daily to follow the sun and avoid shade.
Cindy from the joegardener Facebook group moves her grow bags around on platforms with wheels, but she can’t always keep up with this demanding task. Fortunately, plants don’t need us to be perfect and can survive being left in the shade for half a day once or twice a week. So, just do the best you can and don’t lose any sleep over it.
Grow Bags and Pests
Grow bags don’t necessarily have more pest issues than raised beds, and might even have fewer because it’s harder for animals to get into them. If you do find pests, use the same integrated pest management practices as you would for any other part of the garden.
The flaps on some grow bags can be opened in order to check on or harvest root crops. You may occasionally open a flap and find ants or other insects inside the bag.
Ants aren’t really a problem in the garden, unless they’re fire ants. Regular ants aerate the soil and aren’t really a threat. I don’t recommend trying to control ants.
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