Grow bags

[shirlthegirl43]

Thank you Shirley. Now I understand.

James

As they say locally here - dim problem It becomes obvious when you start growing them - they get little knobbly bits on the stem which become roots if you 'earth up'. Tomatoes are fun to grow, easy, cheap and good to learn with. I don't eat toms as I have an allergy but grow them every year for my hubby Madmax to enjoy. He says his favourite is a variety called Shirley (dunno why)

[Protea]

Hi Protea

Thanks for the advice. I must say it seems a very unusual way of growing toms.You say to put the plant at the very bottom of the pot, which i presume means the plant must be quite tall when you plant it, which to me, means the roots are already at the bottom of the pot, or am I missing something. Please enlighten this sad novice.

James

Sorry for the confusion James - I didn't explain it very well at all! Glad Shirl has sorted you out

[moggssue]

Well - I never knew you could earth up tomatoes! My lesson for today

[Flummery]

Does them good to plant them deep Sue. They are stem rooters and they are far better anchored when you give them a chance.

[NSB]

I've learned something new as well

[Storming Norman]

Hi Workhorse,

Can I suggest another way of making your growbags work better for you? It's an expense to start with but something I have found worthwhile.

I bought Grow Pots from Hampton Court Flower show around 6 or 7 years ago [when they were cheap]. Type grow pots or grow bag pots into google and you will see what I mean. I saw them in use and understood immediately the possibility for improvement. I started with 6 and now have 12. I bought more because they made my grow bags so much better, productive, easier to use and a great solution to the watering problem.

They have lasted well and have many more years use left. The extra soil used to plant in works well with a tomatoes need to be topped up with soil. The watering tray around the outside holds lots of water and allows you to water far less frequently in fact since I have bought these I have not needed to water every day, whatever the weather [twice a week is fine]. The only issue is the size of the weep holes in the newer pots - they are far too large and water flows out far too quickly. I tape up the holes to reduce the size, and keep the water in the tray.

Use of these means that you don't have to buy the bigger and more expensive growbags year after year. It also means that you can take a weekend [or more] away in the summer without having arrange for someone to water for you.

However do beware about too many plants in growbags - it's easily done. The extra growth from these plants is lush and three tomatoes in one growbag may be too much. I had botrytis in my greenhouse for the first time last year due to trying this out and was warned by a tomato expert that I was trying to get too much in the space available. To be honest I was being greedy as there are always plenty of extra tomatoes to give away.

Just an additional opinion for you.

Ann

[Two_Sheds]

I think Growbags on their own are a bit of a con ... they are much to shallow to be useful (for tomatoes at least).
Last year I grew mine in those Morrisons black pots, with multi-purpose compost.

This is how they grow tomatoes at the Eden Project:

[Campobello]

Grow Bag Gardening flickr group

I'm the admin for a flickr group dedicated to Grow Bag Gardening. Lots of photos with great ideas for your small garden have a look:Flickr: Grow Bag Gardening

[Spangles]

I had no idea you could earth up tomatoes.

Have learnt lots from this thread

[TEB]

I think Growbags on their own are a bit of a con ... they are much to shallow to be useful (for tomatoes at least).
Last year I grew mine in those Morrisons black pots, with multi-purpose compost.

This is how they grow tomatoes at the Eden Project:

I grow this way as I dont like the shallow rooted growbags (mind you I didnt know about the cutting a grow bag in half tip) and even in flower buckets the roots still poke through the bottom and dive into the soil underneath.

Woops sorry thought this was a current thread what with the above unsolicted spam

[fleegle]

Hi Guys,

thought I'de add my twopeneth if that's ok. I have successfully grown cucumbers tomatoes, little gem lettuce and another which was a purple/green wrinkly variety (apologies to the experts for not knowing variety). Currently experimenting with mint, lemongrass and have allowed some lettuce to grow to seed just for the fun of it!

I to have used the 8 for £1 morrisons buckets and I have had peas, carrots, beetroot,tomatoes and brussel sprouts growing in them. My first year growing under cover so all somewhat experimental.

Call me 'new age' but I am very much growing organically,no harmful chemicals, lots of TLC and watching the wildlife for hints and tips as well as on this site!

[biddy]

grow bags

can anyone tell me what to do with the soil from grow bags after you have used them. I grow tomatoes in mine and now i am not sure what to do now all the tomatoes are done. .

[Stacey Steve]

You can clear out the roots, add some fertiliser and use them for something else.

Or you can use the compost from them in other containers.

[biddy]

thanks I will do this