Bag Growing

AlittleSalt · April 17, 2016

A few years ago, my ex-sister-in-law wanted to plant some tomato transplants. She told me she bought some bags of planting dirt, cut off the top of the bag and planted the transplants directly in the bag. (Planting dirt = Mix or soil I guess?) I have no idea what she bought.

I was curious to how well they would grow in a bag of potting mix or potting soil, but she moved and left them there at the rent house.

While I personally don't have a need to try this, I am still kind of curious - does it work?

My Foot Smells · April 18, 2016

HA!! The original grow bag. Sure, why not? A few drainage holes, good to go. Bags do get hot if left in sun.

I once had the dubious pleasurable task of cleaning out a compost toilet holding tank, which didn't stink if you can believe that. Sawdust was used to cut the smell after each use. I piled up the decomposed waste in the woods and tomatoes galore. The tomato seed was still viable through the human digestive system.

So, I believe a tomato plant can grow almost anywhere; but how well is to TBD.

garyjr · April 18, 2016

Type in grow bags on youtube and you will come up with some interesting videos on people doing that. Seems to be a common practice in Great Britain. They have the bags designed just for that. There are 3 squares with dotted lines on the front of the bag that show you where to cut out. They also have a pot made specifically for that with a serrated bottom that scores the plastic. You cut it out, put the plant in then put the pot over top. As it grows up you can fill in more soil/ compost, and the outer rim has holes and is used for watering. Interesting but not real sure how well it works or how economic it is.

gary

PureHarvest · April 19, 2016

I have 200 bags I'm growing in this year.
I am loading the bags myself with plain potting mix (promix HP). And the bags are magde to stand up like container, and have holes in the bottom.

So, a pre-bagged bag of potting mix (not soil) is the same difference.
You might have an issue standing the bag up, but you can also lay it flat and grow out of that way too as long as you have holes on whatever will be the bottom

FOR ME growing bags is great IF:
the mix drains well
you supply the fertilizer via your watering
you can supply the nutrients/water DAILY

I'm sure you can use heavier mixes to hold more water/reduce daily watering.
You can also pre-load the mix with granular or time-release fertilizer. That is not my cup of tea, so I could not tell you the details on that.
I never got that method to work, and have hit a home run using the daily feed method through my irrigation.
I have a nutrient tank with a pump that delivers the solution through 1/2 tubing that has smaller tubes attached to a spray stake in each bag. A timer automates the daily watering, so all I have to do is mix up a tank of nutrients every few days.

MrSalvage · April 19, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureHarvest

I have 200 bags I'm growing in this year.
I am loading the bags myself with plain potting mix (promix HP). And the bags are magde to stand up like container, and have holes in the bottom.

So, a pre-bagged bag of potting mix (not soil) is the same difference.
You might have an issue standing the bag up, but you can also lay it flat and grow out of that way too as long as you have holes on whatever will be the bottom

FOR ME growing bags is great IF:
the mix drains well
you supply the fertilizer via your watering
you can supply the nutrients/water DAILY

I'm sure you can use heavier mixes to hold more water/reduce daily watering.
You can also pre-load the mix with granular or time-release fertilizer. That is not my cup of tea, so I could not tell you the details on that.
I never got that method to work, and have hit a home run using the daily feed method through my irrigation.
I have a nutrient tank with a pump that delivers the solution through 1/2 tubing that has smaller tubes attached to a spray stake in each bag. A timer automates the daily watering, so all I have to do is mix up a tank of nutrients every few days.

Can we get some pictures? Sounds fantastic!

fonseca · April 19, 2016

Black Kow has a video where they plant directly in a bag. I have some neighbors that do this every year with tomatoes.

Straight compost does not have the drainage and aeration characteristics that help ensure a successful harvest IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureHarvest

You can also pre-load the mix with granular or time-release fertilizer. That is not my cup of tea, so I could not tell you the details on that.

I'm currently working on filling 50 growbags. My mix has all the (organic) nutrients needed to get my plants through the year. I rarely have to correct any nutrient deficiencies, and by the time they appear the season is already over.

luigiwu · April 19, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by fonseca

My mix has all the (organic) nutrients needed to get my plants through the year.

I want to go more organic going forward, do you mind sharing your organic nutrients formula?

Jeannine Anne · April 22, 2016

Everybody in THE Uk uses these for everything, very popular, they have the soil and added nutrients to feed e the plants. I used to put them in my greenhouse with 2 bottomless 3 gallon pots sunk in them I filled the pot and used them for tomatoes, the roots gre down and into the soil, they worked very well, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THERE HERE THOUGH

Starlight · April 29, 2016

Many years back a veggie grower had showed pics of her driveway. All up it she had bag after bag of potting soil and had a squash plant in each one. I thought it was so neat. Like said up above, just make drainage holes in bottom, flip over, cut ya a hole and put your plant in. Reminds me kind of like planting in hilled rows covered with plastic, but without all the work.

dustyrivergarden · April 29, 2016

http://dustyrivergardens.blogspot.co...s-in-bags.html I really enjoy growing in bags. Had great success with no weed problems

April 17, 2016	#1
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Bag Growing A few years ago, my ex-sister-in-law wanted to plant some tomato transplants. She told me she bought some bags of planting dirt, cut off the top of the bag and planted the transplants directly in the bag. (Planting dirt = Mix or soil I guess?) I have no idea what she bought. I was curious to how well they would grow in a bag of potting mix or potting soil, but she moved and left them there at the rent house. While I personally don't have a need to try this, I am still kind of curious - does it work?

April 19, 2016	#4
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	I have 200 bags I'm growing in this year. I am loading the bags myself with plain potting mix (promix HP). And the bags are magde to stand up like container, and have holes in the bottom. So, a pre-bagged bag of potting mix (not soil) is the same difference. You might have an issue standing the bag up, but you can also lay it flat and grow out of that way too as long as you have holes on whatever will be the bottom FOR ME growing bags is great IF: the mix drains well you supply the fertilizer via your watering you can supply the nutrients/water DAILY I'm sure you can use heavier mixes to hold more water/reduce daily watering. You can also pre-load the mix with granular or time-release fertilizer. That is not my cup of tea, so I could not tell you the details on that. I never got that method to work, and have hit a home run using the daily feed method through my irrigation. I have a nutrient tank with a pump that delivers the solution through 1/2 tubing that has smaller tubes attached to a spray stake in each bag. A timer automates the daily watering, so all I have to do is mix up a tank of nutrients every few days. Last edited by PureHarvest; April 19, 2016 at 11:11 AM.

April 29, 2016	#10
dustyrivergarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Holbrook, Az zone 5 Posts: 157	http://dustyrivergardens.blogspot.co...s-in-bags.html I really enjoy growing in bags. Had great success with no weed problems __________________ “The yield of a crop is LIMITED by the deficiency of any one element even though all of the other necessary elements are present in adequate amounts”. J. Von Liebig's law of the minimum.

April 18, 2016	#2
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	HA!! The original grow bag. Sure, why not? A few drainage holes, good to go. Bags do get hot if left in sun. I once had the dubious pleasurable task of cleaning out a compost toilet holding tank, which didn't stink if you can believe that. Sawdust was used to cut the smell after each use. I piled up the decomposed waste in the woods and tomatoes galore. The tomato seed was still viable through the human digestive system. So, I believe a tomato plant can grow almost anywhere; but how well is to TBD.

April 18, 2016	#3
garyjr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Mechanicsville, VA zone 7a Posts: 97	Type in grow bags on youtube and you will come up with some interesting videos on people doing that. Seems to be a common practice in Great Britain. They have the bags designed just for that. There are 3 squares with dotted lines on the front of the bag that show you where to cut out. They also have a pot made specifically for that with a serrated bottom that scores the plastic. You cut it out, put the plant in then put the pot over top. As it grows up you can fill in more soil/ compost, and the outer rim has holes and is used for watering. Interesting but not real sure how well it works or how economic it is. gary

April 22, 2016	#8
Jeannine Anne Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,553	Everybody in THE Uk uses these for everything, very popular, they have the soil and added nutrients to feed e the plants. I used to put them in my greenhouse with 2 bottomless 3 gallon pots sunk in them I filled the pot and used them for tomatoes, the roots gre down and into the soil, they worked very well, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THERE HERE THOUGH

April 29, 2016	#9
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	Many years back a veggie grower had showed pics of her driveway. All up it she had bag after bag of potting soil and had a squash plant in each one. I thought it was so neat. Like said up above, just make drainage holes in bottom, flip over, cut ya a hole and put your plant in. Reminds me kind of like planting in hilled rows covered with plastic, but without all the work.