Maximize Your Garden Space Using Grow Bags:
Are you passionate about vegetable gardening, but have limited garden space? Then you should look into using Grow Bags to maximize your garden area!
A Grow Bag is a type of container gardening that can be used to increase garden space in small areas. It is easy to use, relatively inexpensive and an excellent way to enjoy a wide variety of vegetables. With Grow Bags, you can maximize the amount of produce that you can grow in a small space. I have four raised garden beds that I garden in. While it produces enough seasonal vegetables for me, I’m hesitant to commit a lot of space to vegetables such as potatoes that take up a lot of space or require a long growing period. Last year I decided to give grow bags a try and loved how well they worked. The picture above shows the potatoes I grew last year. I had 5 grow bags and harvested several pounds of new potatoes.
Why Choose Grow Bags?
Grow bags are made of breathable fabric which allows for better drainage. Unlike the pots that you may have been considering growing in, grow bags have better aeration. In a plastic, ceramic, or terracotta pot the roots grow, then they hit the hard side of the pot. This tells the roots to make even more roots and results in them becoming “root bound” I’m sure you’ve removed plants from containers and find roots that have wound around themselves, creating a big mass of roots. Eventually it smothers itself. This is a major reason many plants die.
With grow bags, the roots do not hit a hard surface. Instead they are “air pruned”. this means the roots are burned off. The plant now produces new healthy roots that branch of the original ones. root bound” or “pot bound,”
Grow bags also offer better drainage for your plants due to the porous material. They will dry out a little faster than regular pots, so they may need more frequent watering. Over watering is usually a bigger problem when growing vegetables in pots rather than underwatering.
Using grow pots give you extra space to rotate vegetables. Vegetables benefit from being planted in a different area, breaking the cycle of pests and disease that can occur when you plant a vegetable in the same place every year.
You can use grow bags to plant full of herbs and flowers that attract pollinators and beneficial insects. This opens up space to grow more vegetables. Set them at the corner of your raised bed, or among other grow pots with vegetables.
Grow bags are also a good choice when you need to maximize the sun in your yard. Vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers require at least 6 hours of sunlight. If you grow them in a grow bag, you can place them on a wheeled plant dolly and chase the sun in your space. Or, you can easily move them around your deck or patio.
Tips for Gardening in Grow Bags
- A 1O gallon grow bag can weigh 2O pounds when it is filled with soil so choose the spot you want to place it before you plant it. If you plan on moving it around, choose one with strong handles, or place it on a plant dolly on your desk or patio.
- Choose a good quality bag that will last for several years. Check the handles to see if they are sewn on separately or part of the bag. Handles that are made as part of the bag are stronger.
- Grow bags come in various sizes from small 2-3 gallon bags all the way to bags that can be used as a raised bed. The small sizes are good for single herbs such as chamomile, thyme, or sage, but if you want to grow larger vegetables you need to choose 1O gallon bags.
This squash plant will spread and fill up the pot. But when planting a vegetable like a pepper plant, you can tuck in a few green onions, or plant sweet alyssum seeds around the perimeter to attract beneficial insects. Tuck basil in with a tomato plant to deter tomato hornworms.
For tomatoes, cucumbers, or beans add a trellis in the grow bag.
- Check the grow bag more frequently to see if you need to water. They are porous and will drain water more easily than when in a plastic container.
- Fruiting vegetables will need fertilizing more often since nutrients will be drained away.
- Mulch with compost then shredded bark or a soil conditioner.
- Grow bags can be placed directly on the ground, but should be placed on a dolly or elevated stand on your deck to prevent staining.
These smart pots are a good choice for a good quality bag, but there are other options. These are sold on Amazon and I have seen at Walmart. When purchasing online, check the reviews. Remember, you get what you pay for, and if they are very inexpensive there is a reason for that. If you are purchasing in person check the bags seams, handles, and material it is made from.
You can click on the bag above to be directed to Amazon.
Use a good quality raised bed garden soil to fill your bags. The graph below will tell you how much soil you will need according to the size grow bag you choose.
Imagine turning your garden dreams into reality with a few easy steps. In my online course, “The No Fuss Vegetable Garden”, I’ll guide you through everything from choosing the best spot for your garden to harvesting your very first crop. Designed for busy beginners and small spaces, each module simplifies gardening so you can focus on enjoying the journey—and the harvest. Enroll today, and you will be garden ready this spring.
Happy Gardening
Karen