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Permalink Reply by Richard Boyd on May 16, 2012 at 8:14

But...are grow bags really grow bags?

Personally I would not use them instead pay slightly more for a bigger and DEEPER bag of compost...much less hassle on the watering front.

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Permalink Reply by Rose Lennard on May 16, 2012 at 8:55

Hi Richard, have you tried using ordinary compost instead - does it perform as well? Last year was the first time I used grow bags as I have always been skeptical about them drying out too fast and having limited root room (one side of my greenhouse has a raised bed), but I tried them last year, with cut off plant pots set into the surface to help to water them thoroughly, and I was pleasantly surprised. Are grow bags just ordinary compost packaged differently?

Duncan, good point about the heating effect of black, I guess it could get a bit much!
 
Richard Boyd said:

But...are grow bags really grow bags?

Personally I would not use them instead pay slightly more for a bigger and DEEPER bag of compost...much less hassle on the watering front.

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by David Cox on May 16, 2012 at 9:00

I grow my tomatos and aubergenes in a mix of home made compost / soil in a raised bed in my poly tunnel - Never had a problem and found yeilds to be about the same from memory - with no risk of mass-death of plants if I forget to water them for 3-4 days. I dont cover the soil with any plastic, just a light mulch of grass-clippings.

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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Boyes on May 16, 2012 at 10:13

The problem I find with most of the retail ( bought from a garden centre ) reduced peat potting compost is what they have used to cut down the amount of peat. No consistency between bags , one bag I opened recently looked like it contained ground up kitchen work surface. Also in the buy 2 bags for £10 sections the bag sizes had decreased over the last few years from 70 litres down to 60 or even 50. Weights and Measures would have a field day over the stated contents most of the 50 litre bags coming nowhere close to filling a 43 litre pot. The storage often is not good , out in the carpark exposed to all weather conditions.

Rant over back to weeding in the sunshine

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Permalink Reply by Richard Boyd on May 17, 2012 at 0:31

Hi Rose

No. But I watched my black fingered wife try using grow bags and the results were...silly. This year I've set up some fairly large planters for her, hopefully they will reap decent results.

Rose Lennard said:

Hi Richard, have you tried using ordinary compost instead - does it perform as well?

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