Grow Bag sizes

rolstherat

Hi

I usually buy Verve growbags from B&Q, but they are getting smaller!

They are now 27ltr, is that too small for 3 tomato/3 cucumber/4 pepper plants? Which is what I put in them!

They used to be 33lt and I thought that was on the verge of being too small.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks?

DaftyDuck

They have shrunk. The "standard" bags now seem to be 27 litres, and they don't hold enough moisture for 3 of anything in my opinion. There are fatter bags (44 and 47 litres seem common), and these do seem better. The smaller ones can be used for just 2 tomatoes, but I prefer the bigger ones.

Asda did them last year for a bargain price (£1.50 for the 44/47 variety) early in the season. Not seen them at that price anywhere this year.

One small bit of advice; when you plant into a grow bag, just cut the bottom off the tomato plant pot, and plant the whole thing, leaving the pot on as a collar. Shove the root system down a little into the grow bag, and you now have deeper soil, and an easy-water collar. You can also buy high-tech versions of this for stupid money.

rolstherat

I was going to try the collars. Its a good idea. Will look for larger grow bags that don't cost a fortune.

cyclonebri1

It's a simple answer, grow bags are just not suitable for tomatoes or similar vines. Do the job properly.


BUT, if they are good grow bags, and I discount B&Q here, there will be enough compost for 3 tom plants in a single growbag;);)

rolstherat

Think I will go with westlands 33l grow bags, you can pick them up for £2 each.

rolstherat

You my find this of interest

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4457227

Where which rated the verve B&Q grow bags.

safestored4

I use B&Qs Verve compost for growing tomatoes but not the growbags. I buy one of the large 125 litre sacks, which on a pence per litre basis works out much cheaper than growbags, and use this to grow the tomatoes in very large contaners.

rolstherat

Submitted on wrong thread

cyclonebri1

10 or 11" pot with or without the base removed, (doesn't seem to make any difference to me, the tap roots easily work through the holes) and sat on a standard sized hole less seed tray with washed pea gravel works for me.

B&Q verve compost is fine, the growbags I don't like.
The 125ltr bags are £6 but often 2 for £10, you have to pick your moment;)

For many uses I prefer peat free compost, that to is in the same size bags at B&Q but it's very variable, sometimes all coconut fibre or similar, and sometimes composted chippings, which is very prone to growing some weird looking fungi:D:D

Take advantage of the oap wednesday 10% option if you have any family that qualify for a card.

rolstherat

Will check out containers. Growbags fit nicely in the greenhouse

cyclonebri1

The best thing about growing on a gravel tray is that you can just about lift the water filled tray and 10"pot/plant.

Means you can shift them around or put another plant in place more easily than with bags, ;)