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Garden Gate:  Bag gardens - have you tried it?  |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 12 2010 : 2:22:40 PM
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The newest Mother Earth News has an article on a type of raised bed where you just plant in bags of topsoil. This seems like a low-maintenance project that could really work for me. Has anybody tried this? Does it really work?
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2010 : 8:05:44 PM
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It works fine if you remember to put holes in the bottom for drainage and fertilize often. I forgot to put holes in one of mine one year and it root rotted my plants. The other three grew well though.
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2010 : 3:53:13 PM
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I will make sure to do that - what did you grow in yours Angela?
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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4HMom
True Blue Farmgirl
720 Posts
Kelly
Montana
720 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2010 : 10:21:53 PM
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I grow my potatoes in empty feed sacks...LOVE it! Easy to manage, lessons critter damage, I can control pH better, super easy harvest, and I am reusing something that I would otherwise throw out. We have the plasticy sort of "burlap" style feedbags so drainage isn't a problem.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
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southerncrossgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
631 Posts
Gena
Harmony
NC
USA
631 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2010 : 05:02:21 AM
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I am so glad I read this. I love it! What a great idea. I am going to try it. What else could you grow in them?
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2010 : 08:15:00 AM
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I grew tomato plants in 2 bags, 1 in each, 2 pepper plants in 1 bag, and lettuce and green onions in one bag. I forgot the holes in the lettuce/green onion bag and lost everything. When my DH figured it out he fixed it and restarted it all. Then I forgot to fertilize for a few weeks and everything yellowed pretty quickly, but perked back up with fertilizer.
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4860 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4860 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2010 : 6:55:04 PM
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I just planted potatoes in a "potato bag" from Gardener's Supply Company. I am very curious to see how it will go. I have a wooded lot with only a few spots of near full sun. I thought trying the bag for potatoes would be a good idea since there isn't room for them in my vegetable patch.
Dawn in IL |
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SassyCasie
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Casie
Canonsburg
Pennsylvania
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2010 : 8:15:40 PM
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I love this idea and have never thought of this before. I am going to try planting potatoes in a bag. Is there anything in certain I need to do? What types of bags are you using? I will probably use feed sacks like Kelly does but what other types of bags could I use? I might try to plant some other things in bags also but are there any special instructions? I hope someone can help me and I thank you for such a great idea. Thanks!
Sassy Casie |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2010 : 08:29:13 AM
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Casie - the article I saw just called for using bags of topsoil that you had cut the plastic off the top of, then poked drainage holes in the bottom. You can put it right on top of sod or whatever because the weight of the bag smothers weeds or grass that is underneath - that is the appeal for me as I am trying to add garden space in the front yard. I am going to look for organic topsoil. Then I figure I'll just pull the remains of the plastic out next garden season. Anybody else with ideas for potatoes?
Oh and welcome to the forum Casie - glad you are here!!
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2010 : 09:26:44 AM
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We grew ours in buckets and 55 gal drums cut in half. Then we got manure and sawdust and mixed them to make the 'soil'. You only need about 6 inches in the bottom to plant in, then add more as it grows to 'mound up' over the plant. It works amazingly well and we dumped ours out into my flower beds to harvest. Easy to harvest and extra fertilizer for the flowers. The potatoes do tend to get very large in the manure/sawdust soil, my DH likes baby potatoes and we had none.
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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SassyCasie
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Casie
Canonsburg
Pennsylvania
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2010 : 11:09:46 AM
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I will definately have to try this. However I am like your DH Angela, I like the small baby potatoes because they are so much yummier, well at least I like to say they are. Thanks for the help with this!
Sassy Casie |
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sw80689
True Blue Farmgirl
207 Posts
Sharon
Papillion
Nebraska
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2010 : 11:12:39 AM
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This is such a good idea, I am going to try it this weekend when I plant! Thank you for sharing your wisdom, who would have thunk??
Smiles,
Sharon
Farmgirl Sister #1393
*We are all angels with one wing, the only way to fly, therefore is to embrace one another* |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4860 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4860 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2010 : 3:38:27 PM
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The directions for my potato sack says, "Start with 4"s of organic potting soil in bag. As plant grows every 8"s, keeping adding potting soil until eventually the bag is full".
Have fun and let's report our results later this summer.
Dawn in IL |
Edited by - ddmashayekhi on Apr 18 2010 5:29:02 PM |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 08:57:39 AM
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Definitely !!
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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KanMogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
349 Posts
Katherine
Rock
Kansas
USA
349 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 5:48:27 PM
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I saw the bag idea and decided to try it. We are still do some work on the back of our house so I don't want anything permanent yet. Also, the soil back there needs nourishing alot so I thought this would be a way to do that a little.
I would rather wear out than rust out.----Richard Cumberland |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 6:12:12 PM
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That's why it appealed to me Katherine - I can try it without committing a lot of time/$/energy. My husband always says he'll be around to help with all my gardening projects but then trout season starts and he ends up fishing so I wanted something I could do myself.
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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carolbrigid
True Blue Farmgirl
263 Posts
Carol
Glen Burnie
Maryland
USA
263 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 9:05:02 PM
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I want to try this too. What a super idea! Perfect for urban farmgirls like me!! I have a small yard and this could work great.... but I do have squirrels and bunnies in my yard...
Farmgirl Hugs,
Carol
Farmgirl Sister #222
Member, Crafty Bay Farmgirl Chapter |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 9:12:10 PM
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HOT DIGGITY! I love the potato bag idea! I have thought about the garbage can, a friend did it once with good success. I have a small yard as well, and a bag or can would fit perfect between my little garden bed and my compost bin. Can wait!
For tomorrow and its needs I do not pray, but keep me, guide me, love me, Lord just for today.
St. Augustine
#440
http://www.iglitteredthecat.blogspot.com/
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17476 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17476 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 9:41:31 PM
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hey AmyGrace,
I have seen the "plant in a plastic bag" several years ago and have wanted to try it...hmm, maybe this will be the perfect year to do it....
Thanx for re-reminding me.
Time for our Dirt Manicures!
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
"I've never met a sewing machine I didn't like!"
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://www.graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2010 : 08:18:38 AM
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tee-hee- dirt manicure:)
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2010 : 11:06:59 AM
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I like the dirt manicures. A few years back my mom, a couple of my sisters, one of my girls and I wrote gardening letters to each other. I always signed mine, 'with dirty fingernails'. I always say I don't have nice hands till November, once the gardening starts.
I wear my cap around my waist.
#440
http://www.iglitteredthecat.blogspot.com/
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Garden Gate: Bag gardens - have you tried it? |
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Bag gardens - have you tried it?
