Growing in a growbag - suggestions please!

[moleylfc]

Looking to start a few veg crops up this month but have limited space in the garden so will be using growbags and potato planters. I am a complete newbie to gardening in general, nevermind growing your own fruit/veg, so any helpful tips would be much appreciated!

I am planning on starting with lettuce, onion, broccoli, radish, and peas in the growbags.
I am worried that the broccoli will be quite top heavy though, does anyone have any suggestions on how to support growth in that scenario?

What other veg can be successfully grown in a grow bag?

Thanks in advance!
L.

[Kristen]

I don't know much about container growing, but I think you might find "containers" a lot better than "growbags", which are notoriously hard to get the watering amounts right. The compost in the grow bag is fine, if they are your cheapest source of compost you could probably use those, I just think you might be better tipping them into containers instead of using the rather skinny growbags themselves.

Potstubsdustbins is probably the oracle on container growing on this forum:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ntainers..html

[maverick451]

When you get your grow bag bash it around to loosen up the soil, also Id use one of the thicker size growbags as oppose to those grow bags that are about 1" thick

Watering can be a problem with growbags so bare that in mind.

Cut and come again salad leafs are good in grow bags, tomatoes are good but I prefer to use the plant halos to give more soil depth.

Strawberrys are good

[maverick451]

I don't know much about container growing, but I think you might find "containers" a lot better than "growbags", which are notoriously hard to get the watering amounts right. The compost in the grow bag is fine, if they are your cheapest source of compost you could probably use those, I just think you might be better tipping them into containers instead of using the rather skinny growbags themselves.

Potstubsdustbins is probably the oracle on container growing on this forum:

Grow Your Own Magazine - GYO Growing & How To Grow Vegetables tomatoes & fruit from your garden - Tips on Growing

Just to add you can now get reusable growbags which is basically a platic container in the growbag shape that you fill with soil, I prefer to use these now as they each take more soil and watering much easier.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I haven't used growbags for some time due to the difficulties stated above. One way is to cut the bag in half stand it on end and have two deep containers.

If you mean broccoli and not calabrese which is the correct term for what the supermarkets call broccoli then it is very certain you will not grow that successfully in grow bags. Mine go in dustbins after I have lifted my main crop spuds.

[Jungle Jane]

I used grow bags once,found that slugs could hide easily amongst the plastic,easier to manage in a pot. I've turned grow bags inside out (so it's black to attract heat) & grown potatoes in a few,drainage a bit difficult-holes got blocked I think I'd add a lot more holes. They did alright but the top growth is heavy,they fall over/need balancing against something. It makes good use of the empty bag?

[Bigmallly]

One way is to cut the bag in half stand it on end and have two deep containers.

You stole my thunder Potty................I was also going to suggest holding the bag over your arm so you have 2 equal parts of compost then just cut along the fold......

[moleylfc]

I haven't used growbags for some time due to the difficulties stated above. One way is to cut the bag in half stand it on end and have two deep containers.

If you mean broccoli and not calabrese which is the correct term for what the supermarkets call broccoli then it is very certain you will not grow that successfully in grow bags. Mine go in dustbins after I have lifted my main crop spuds.

Sorry, I meant calabrese (after googling the difference!).

I also forgot to mention I am growing on a patio, I don't have a greenhouse.

Thanks for all the helpful hints/suggestions so far!

[Potstubsdustbins]

First can I ask you to put your location on your profile it will make the answer you get more relevant to you.

How much sun does your patio get as this to will be important to suggest what you can grow successfully.

Growing in containers can with very little effort and a little advice be very successful.

These may give you some idea.

BM ...........BOOM! BOOM!

[Spunky]

Try kabuki for Calabrese moley I had plants in 10litres of soil each and had a decent crop, maybe you'd get away with 2 in a growbag

[Beanz]

Rather than Growbags I tend to use "greenhouse Gro-Beds". They are made from the same material as potato Gro-sacks but are approx 3 foot x 2 foot x 10 inches deep and are ideal for early crops of carrots, salad crops in the greenhouse and the like. I fill them up 3/4 with garden soil and top up with compost.
Today I planted 12 strawberry plants in one, should give an earlier crop than outside.