Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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February 12, 2011 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 682
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reusable shopping bags as a grow bag?
Anyone tried using the reusable shopping bags to grow plants in yet. Seems like they would work well and pretty cheap at 0.50 to 1.00 a piece.
If you buy in bulk heard the price can be as low as 0.25 each. The Sun leaves Grow bags I can get 5 gal ones for about 0.53 with shipping cost included. Anyways wondering if anyone here has tried it yet. Here is a link to a non profit group that uses them in their growing projects. http://www.globalbuckets.org/p/grow-bags.html
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February 12, 2011 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NY z5
Posts: 1,205
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Some of those reusable bags have lead in them. They've been in the news for the past few months. You just need to be careful which reusable bags you buy.
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February 12, 2011 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 682
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Ahh Guess its good I ordered a 50 pk of the sun leaves plastic grow bags already. I was planning to test out the reusable shopping bags but I guess I will have to wait and see what the grocery stores do.
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February 12, 2011 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 180
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Do the sunleaves plastic grow bags breathe like fabric pots/bags?
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February 12, 2011 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 682
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No they have holes for drainage but they do not breathe
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February 12, 2011 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: England
Posts: 512
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Here is a report from the Center for Consumer Freedom giving the lead and cadmium content of various reusable bags (pdf format): http://www.consumerfreedom.com/downl...bag_report.pdf
I was going to use some Ikea bags next year so good to know they are low in lead. Another good idea, if you have any leftover landscaping fabric you can sew or staple it into a pot shape for an even cheaper (ie free) grow bag. |
February 12, 2011 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Wisc. 5A
Posts: 197
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I did read in Jerry Baker's book that you could plant in paper grocery bag and while plant is still small the bag can be folded shut to protect it from a cold spell.
Plant the paper grocery bag into ground in the tomato hole. |
February 13, 2011 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Zone 8B or 9? Castaic, CA 91384
Posts: 122
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Some of those reusable grocery bags are also made out of a cloth like paper (which tear rather easily) and I'm sure they wouldn't last a whole season. Also I wouldn't count on the fabric ones to last a full season either as I doubt they have UV blockers and the Sun can be a harsh mistress. But who knows--I could be wrong as I'm just making a semi-educated guess.
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happy growing, Theo |
February 14, 2011 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 147
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Has anyone tried bags like these before?
They seem pretty inexpensive, but I've never tried them. I am thinking of getting some to try dwarfs in. I was thinking that since they were for indoor use, they might not hold up well to outside weather... but then again, they are meant to be filled with water, so how bad could they be? |
February 14, 2011 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Allen, TX
Posts: 398
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Wow, those are cheap!! Nice find! And close by too!
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February 14, 2011 | #11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 682
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Quote:
Those are cheaper in lower quantities though I guess.
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February 14, 2011 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seattle
Posts: 581
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White (or black) poly 5 gal. grow bags are available in 10 packs for $3.80
Hydro-Gardens They also sell 5 gal grow bags with enough coco coir to fill them for under $3 each, but are out of them until May...must be waiting for the ship to come in from Sri Lanka. |
February 14, 2011 | #13 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 682
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Quote:
My cost per bag ended up being 0.53 (including shipping) theirs is 0.38 (plus shipping) so without knowing the shipping rate its hard to compare the prices.
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February 15, 2011 | #14 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 147
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Quote:
Did get some 5gal plastic pots and spray painted the outside white. |
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April 1, 2011 | #15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada!
Posts: 37
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What are you guys using to support the tomatoes in these plastic grow bags?
I was thinking of buying 10gal [for single tomatoes] and 25gal [for two tomatoes] - in bulk. I would imagine that cages inserted into the mix wouldn't work too well . |
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