My partial solution to container gardening

[javaMan]

My criteria: Living in rented house, with no where but containers to grow plants. Needed some containers, preferably light (as the intention was to move in short term), large enough to grow vegetables in, and cheap. Also needed them fairly quickly.

Didn't like idea of clay/terracotta pots as expensive and heavy. Didn't like idea of standard plastic pots, as also quite expensive for my short term needs.

Noticed that T***o's value range had quite cheap, large containers in the utilities cleaning section. Bought three washing up basins; thought about a large pedal bin. Then had a piece of inspiration, which is the main focus of this photo.



Yes, a T***o (well I actually bought 3) wine bag. It seemed to fit all the criteria: cheap, large and light. It had a couple of other advantages: collapsible when I no longer needed it and divested it of compost (so could use it for its original purpose), and it had handles, which makes it easy to move around the garden.

The experiment proved a qualified success, as you can see from the Swede crop I have growing in it. I originally had Parsnips (six, one for each wine hole) but had a miserable germination rate. I also did not feed the Swede as much as I should have done, and they didn't get enough sun. They also got decimated by Cabbage White caterpillars.

As it is, I have a reasonable crop, and will keep pulling well into January, and possibly February. They range in size from tennis ball to bowling ball. Unlike the shop ones, they are not fibrous. They are, however, extremely firm. Please note, I am growing Swedes as I wanted to explore how self sufficient in vegies one can be over winter. It's not that I have an overwhelming love of the root.

Peeking behind the T***o wine bag is one of their washing up basins. I had a bit of a disaster with these: I didn't knock drainage holes in them; since rectified. The Swedes in these kind of struggled during the summer downpours, plus I don't think I had enough depth of soil to suit them.

Next year, I shall grow Swedes in the wine bags. In the basins I shall grow Ginger and radish.

Way back behind the wine bag and basins, you can see an assortment of pots in which are growing yet more Swedes.

Now some would say that using these bags and basins ain't exactly environmentally friendly (especially as I have no idea if they are UV stabilised), and that one should scavenge for various containers. Well, for your exo-warrior this is fine. But for your average Joe, in your average urban setting, this may not be feasible. Large, suitable containers are surprisingly difficult to find, especially at short notice.

Plus, I would say that your average urbanite would not like a motley collection of pots, and cans, and containers and all sorts. At least with the T***o wine bags there is a degree of consistency, and they do not look too bad, especially if turned edge on.

For balcony or roof gardeners they do have the advantage of being light. Plus they have those handles for easy movement. I just don't know how long they will last.

Hey ho, they will have to suffice until I move and get a proper garden.

Angus
PS. My garlic are coming up a treat, as are the shallots/onions I forgot to harvest this year. Should have a reasonable, if somewhat small bulbs, next year.

[Martina]

As a container gardner, myself, I think your idea is wonderful JavaMan. Way to go .

Martina

[spitfire]

great use of offbeat containers homegrown gave me a great idea for my strawberry plants canvas shoe holders, the kind you hang over the door. if you want i can e-mail you the info that he sent me.

[mrsmiggins]

Great, I have some of those bags that I mistakenly bought and never use because I prefer fabric ones. I've seen people use all sorts of plastic sacks, etc but hadn't thought about the UV stability, does anyone know?

[john]

Hi javaMan it's nice to see your system works too.
May you and yours and what you grow live long and happy. John. JRP recycling.

[Millymollymandy]

Excellent, that bag is brilliant and what a good idea for root veg which need a good depth of soil. Our French shopping bags are like that; however at the moment I have plenty of veg patch space so will keep them for the shopping.

[fran]

I think this is a great idea. I too am on the move in the near future and would like to use these bags. Do you think that garlic would grow in them?

[javaMan]

I should see no problems growing garlic. The wine bag (as shown in the photo) has good depth of soil. You might be able to get about 9 cloves in; say 3 rows of 3. The RHS recommend about 4 inches apart, with rows 6 to 8 inches apart. There is more than sufficient depth to the bags, so the roots will have no problem growing.

I never punched any holes in the bottom of the bags for drainage. They seemed to be self draining - but not as fast as if I had put drainage holes in them. The swedes never suffered, and seemed to do excellently well in the bags.

You could use their other 'Bag for life' bags. Their small one is a couple of inches bigger all round than their 'Bag for life' wine bags. While their large bag is positively huge.

The one advantage with the wine bags is that it has built in dividers. This helps the bag keep its shape when you fill it with compost. Not sure what the regular shopping bags will do. One suspects they would bulge somewhat.

Angus

[fran]

Thanks, I am definitely going to try the bag with garlic and perhaps even a few other veg. Have ordered turnip seeds, so they could be worth trying too.

[javaMan]

I would say you should easily get 6 turnip plants into the wine bag for life; one for each of the wine bottle dividers. Turnips tend to be smaller than Swede, and some of my Swedes grew quite large. Would have been larger had I tended them better.

Leaving it a bit late for garlic, I believe. I generally get mine into the ground in November. Come January you can get shallots into the bags.

[JillStephens7]

Suberb! Well done

I have grown stuff in bags before but have been so convinced it won't work properly I have over watered in a frenzied state and constantly kept digging things up to check if they are ok !

Nice to see that if I calm down and just let the plants grow this time all should be well! Thanks for the pics, Jill

[fran]

Javaman,

Have so far planted garlic and red onions and will be planting out a lot more once all my nice little seedlings are big enough (and weather good enough)!!! Once I work out how to post pictures, will show you the lovely portable veg garden on the drive at the side of the house, all using your great idea.

[pelmetman]

In the past I have used the large 1 ton builders bags that they use to deliver sand or gravel in.
I found they make useful compost bins and if you fill them with soil instant raised bed If you contact a local small buider they might be able to let you have some.

[fran]

Thank you for that idea, hubby a builder will ask him.

[bonniethomas06]

Wow what a fab idea! Very ingenious and very practical. And those sweedes look much better than the ones I have grown in the past, in 'proper' soil!