Grow Bag Gardening: Grow Anywhere! WHY GROW BAGS? Grow bags might seem like yet another type of container to grow plants in, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Their portability, flexibility, and air pruning benefits effectively delete the downsides of growing in containers that many gardeners face. For this reason, they’ve become a mainstay of my urban garden, even as I grow in the ground and in raised beds. In this chapter, you’ll learn what makes grow bags so special as well as a few considerations on safety and portability. CHOOSING THE RIGHT GROW BAGS Like most containers, grow bags come in all different sizes. Unlike most containers, they also come in all different shapes. The flexible fabric construction means grow bag manufacturers can create square bags, deep bags, shallow bags—the sky is the limit. WHAT TO GROW IN GROW BAGS While you can grow any crop on earth in a grow bag, your success rate will skyrocket if you select the right crops, cultivars, and bags. This is where the hard work of the plant-breeding community comes into play. Plant breeders are constantly developing cultivars suited for small-space compact gardeners to provide more options in every growing environment. FILLING YOUR GROW BAGS Compared to other growing methods, soil in grow bags tends to dry out faster, so our soil mix must compensate for that. We also want to increase nutrition because increased drainage can lead to nutrients leaching from the bottom and sides of the grow bag during heavy rains or watering sessions. GROW BAG GARDEN MAINTENANCE Compared to most container gardens, grow bags require a bit more tender loving care. From proper watering techniques to strategies to prolong the life of your bags, these guidelines should help you manage your grow bag garden effectively without spending too much time or effort. GROW BAG PLANTING IDEAS The beauty of grow bags is their adaptability to whatever you want to grow in your garden. Fruits, vegetables, trees, shrubs, flowers . . . the only limitation to your success is your own imagination. In this chapter, I’ll share some creative planting ideas that you might not have otherwise considered to show you how far you can take this growing method. WHAT IS A CULTIVAR? Gardening terminology can seem opaque at times, and the word “cultivar” is a prime example. A cultivar is a cultivated variety of a plant, meaning specific human intervention led to the development of that particular plant. For example, there are over 7,500 cultivars of Malus pumila, or the common apple. Among them are superstars you’ll see at your local grocery store, such as ‘Granny Smith’, ‘Golden Delicious’, and ‘Fuji’. Almost all fruits, veggies, flowers, and herbs have cultivars bred for specific purposes, not just the fact that they work well in containers. For example, varieties of tomatoes exist that have a heavier fruit set, fruit earlier in the season, or have a boosted resistance to early blight. The world of plant cultivars runs deep, and I encourage you to explore it. PROTECTING YOUR GROW BAGS One clever way to improve water retention in your grow bags is to partially encase them in an outer shell. Using a wooden or plastic milk crate protects them from being blasted by sun and wind and thus decreases water loss. The gaps in these containers still allow air pruning of roots, preserving one of the principal benefits of grow bag gardening. You can also purposefully build a windrow or place your grow bags in an area of your garden that’s more protected. Placing grow bags at the ends of your raised bed rows is a great way to allow air circulation, but dramatically reduce sun and wind exposure on the sides of the bag.
✔ Author(s): Kevin Espiritu
✔ Title: Grow Bag Gardening: The Revolutionary Way to Grow Bountiful Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Flowers in Lightweight, Eco-friendly Fabric Pots - Perfect ... Gardens, Balconies & Rooftops. Grow Anywhere!
✔ Rating : 4.8 out of 5 base on (456 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 0760368686
✔ ISBN-13: 9780760368688
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about Grow Bag Gardening by Kevin Espiritu
Virginia Savage
I must confess, this book made me shed tears like never before. The themes of love, loss, and resilience struck a chord with my soul. It was an emotional journey I'm grateful to have taken.
Sarah Franklin
I loved the powerful messages hidden within the story. The book tackled important social issues and made me ponder the world we live in. It's a must-read for everyone.
Kara Snyder
The way the author handled complex emotions and relationships was remarkable. I felt deeply connected to the characters, and their growth throughout the story was both inspiring and moving.
