Will Using Grow Bags Make Gardening Easier?

October 12, 2017

If you are a gardener or have recently decided to grow a garden, chances are you have seen an advertisement for grow bags. These bags are just what they sound like. They are bags that you fill up with soil and grow your plants in.

When grow bags are sold commercially they are often made from a thick and breathable fabric. These fabric grow bags are typically rectangular in shape and come in a variety of heights and widths. This makes the bag more versatile and easier to arrange than hard plastic grow pots.

Using grow bags will allow you to create the illusion of having a raised bag. Simply place a set of grow bags in a rectangle. Unlike a raised bed, grow bags do not require any type of construction and they can be shaped to fit your needs. Grow bag garden systems make it easy to create a small or large garden. Simply add grow bags wherever you need them.

 

History Of Grow Bags

During the 1970s, grow bags took the gardening world by storm. These bags were invented in order to solve a single problem. People who liked to grow tomatoes were tired of having to replace the soil around their greenhouse borders each year.

 

To many people this may seem like it is not a big deal. However, at that time many avid gardeners had greenhouses and they typically grew tomatoes. Since you had to grow your plants in the same space each year, diseases and root pests would build up and each year your tomato plants would not do as well.

This is when the grow bag was first introduced. Each spring you could place your tomato plants into the root pouch. The roots of the plants no longer could get to the soil that was infected. Each year simply restock your greenhouse with a new set of tomato grow bags. No digging is necessary.

The bags were cheap to use and provided superior crops. Sales of grow bags skyrocketed during this time. What stopped the popularity of grow bags was the Hurricane in 1987. Most of the nation’s greenhouses were destroyed during this time and during the cleanup process most were not replaced.

Currently, the grow your own food craze has given growing bag systems a new found popularity. These grow bags have a great potential when it comes to creating mini veg patches on properties where space is an issue.

 

Grow bags offer the perfect solution for growing your own food. With more and more people looking to create a healthier lifestyle, it is important to know where your food is coming from. Using these bags is suitable for any household as they provide a way to grow your own food without taking up much space and without having to dig up your entire back yard.

 

How To Use Grow Bags

Grow bags work really well with tomato plants, after all this is what they were designed for. However, it is possible to grow all sorts of things in a grow bag.

The compost that is used in grow bags is specially designed to work without any type of drainage holes for the bottom. Simply plant your vegetables like you normally would in regular soil. Some vegetables that do well in grow bags besides tomatoes are, lettuce, kohlrabi, courgettes, and french or green beans.

Short root crops such as potatoes, radishes, stump rooted carrots, and spring onions do well in garden grow bags as well. You can also create an herb garden using a grow bag. If you are not into growing vegetables and herbs, you can also use grow bags for flowers.

Each grow bag should be treated like a large container. You can place several grow bags in a row in order to create the effect of a continuous garden bed or flower garden. Growing flowers or vegetables in a growing bag is not much different than growing them in other container types. You do need to keep in mind that there are no drainage holes, so be careful with watering or you could end up with a mushy mess.

When you first plant your garden in your fabric grow bags you will want to water them sparingly. As your plants start to grow you will need to provide them with more water, especially if the weather is fairly hot and sunny. If you let your tomato plants dry out the tomatoes may start to show signs of end rot.

On the same note, if you are having a rainy summer it is important to make sure that your grow bags are draining properly. Proper drainage is important because if the soil becomes too wet your plants can get root rot. When this develops in your plant it will stop producing fruit and becomes relatively useless.

It is also important to feed your plants regularly. Since a growing bag only holds a small amount of compost, when the plants have used up these original nutrients they will need more. Giving your plants a general purpose feed like phostrogen weekly will help provide them with the nutrients they need to grow.

If you use the right type of grow bag combined with the right type of soil, you will quickly discover that your plants will grow at a fairly fast rate. Grow bags promote growth and production.

Why Use Grow Bags?

There are several distinct advantages of using grow bags over other types of growing methods. A plant that is grown in a plastic pot will become root bound as the roots will simply circle around the pot. A plant that is grown in a grow bag will receive oxygen through the walls of the pot.

This is important as a plant that has access to more oxygen will grow roots that are stronger and more fibrous. Plants that have a larger mass will have more surface area to absorb the water and minerals that it needs in order to grow.

Grow bags also let water out, which prevents issues with overwatering. These are just some of the reasons that many hydroponic farms and commercial nurseries have started to use grow bags more and more.

 

However, the real reason that you should consider using grow bags for your garden is quite simple, they work. Grow bags are perfect for growing vegetables and fruits, and even flowers. You can quickly set them up and place them just about anywhere, from in your yard to on your patio or deck. They are even great for people who live in apartments and have a balcony.

One of the biggest problems people have when they are starting a garden in their yard is aerating the ground in their yard to create a suitable growing environment. Planter bags take away this frustration as you will simply add soil to the bag and then plant your seeds. No digging is necessary.

The soil found in most back yards is simply not suitable for growing plants. The grow bag will solve this problem as you can choose the type of soil that you use. In addition, when you are not using the grow bags they can be rolled up and put away.

Some people think that they can use any type of pot to grow their vegetables in. However, this is not the case. Grow bags are designed with production and growth in mind, which is why they are breathable and provide a way for the soil to drain. This is different than growing plants in a commercial planter or other type of hard pot as these do not allow proper aeration and because of this it is difficult for the roots of the plant to become stronger.

Economic Value Of Using Grow Bags

Grow bags are more economical than you may think. Once you have used the grow bag for your spring crops you can remove the remains of the spring plants and there will be enough compost left to grow some of your favorite autumn crops such as spinach and other lettuces.

When you have cut your fall crops you can use what is left of the compost as a spread on your garden between perennials and shrubs or brush it onto your lawn as a fertilizer of sorts.

 

In addition, there are grow bags available that are reusable. You simply empty them out at the end of the season, clean them, and then store them until you are ready to use them again in the spring.

Sizes Of Grow Bags

There are many different sizes of grow bags available. You can choose the size of grow bag based on your particular gardening needs. Sizes range from as small as 5 gallons up to larger 150 gallon bags.

The size of grow bag that you need will really depend on what you are planning to grow. A larger 100 or 150 gallon grow bag is great for a nice flower bed. It can also be used to plant several of the same type of plant together.

 

Lining up smaller grow bags is another option. This will provide you with separate soil for each of your plants, but will still give you the look and feel of having a regular garden. Below you will find more information about several types and sizes of grow bags available.

 

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