Gardening as a hobby opens up new ways of growing plants and vegetables. If you are a hobbyist gardener, this blog is for you. Whether you are a beginner or a pro at gardening, here are the best 10 vegetables to grow in grow bags.
Grow bags are like plant baskets. You can plant your vegetables in these bags and keep them inside or move them as and when required. Grow bags are a modern tool for growing plants. In traditional gardening, you directly sow the seed or plant in the soil. Here, you sow the plant in the grow bags.
Not everyone has a huge garden at their place. Modern homes are compact and have less space for plantations. This is why using grow bags is a better alternative to traditional gardening. You can place these grow bags inside your home or on a small balcony. This is a great space-saver and yet it harvests good vegetables.
1. Tomato
Let us begin with a vegetable that is used across the globe in almost all cuisines. Tomatoes need healthy roots to grow better. You can grow patio tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and even Roma tomatoes in the grow bags.
Along with healthy roots, these also require proper aeration and drainage. Grow bags are an excellent choice for growing tomatoes. We suggest you use big grow bags to plant tomatoes. This will help the roots expand. And hence, tomatoes will grow well.
The tomato plant may bend due to the weight of the tomatoes. Therefore, you will have to use a stick to tie the plant to it. 15-20 gallons of grow bags will work best to grow around 2 tomato plants.
2. Potato
Another versatile vegetable is the potato. You can make delicious recipes with potatoes. This one will easily grow in a grow bag. You need to choose a grow bag of around 10-15 gallons. The potato roots need space, so you will need a large grow bag.
Over watering may damage the roots. But potato plant growth requires a good amount of sunlight. The varieties of early-season potatoes mature faster. It takes approximately 60-90 days to grow. None the less, you can grow all the potato varieties in a grow bag.
Provide some shade for the potato. Cool areas are a good place to keep your potato grow bags. These generally grow well in cooler temperatures with little frost. You can plant 4-5 seed potatoes in a grow bag of 10-15 gallons.
Pro Tip- Plant the seed potatoes in sandy soil to help them grow better.
3. Spinach
Spinach is a vegetable of the colder seasons. This green leafy vegetable is the most nourishing and super healthy one. From staying fit to recovering from illness, spinach is a good option. The growth of spinach is compact, and it has a shallow root system.
This is the reason why spinach is a wonderful option for grow bags. You can grow different types of spinach, like baby spinach, in the grow bags. This vegetable enjoys sunlight. Even then, we recommend you allow it some shade.
A grow bag that is 6-9 inches deep is a good choice for spinach growth. Do not water the plant a lot in a day. Keep watering little by little every day to maintain the moisture. To make it grow faster, plant it either during early spring or late winter.
4. Cauliflower
Cauliflower is another vegetable that you can easily plant in a grow bag. You will need a grow bag of about 5-10 gallons to grow this healthy vegetable. Large grow bags will help the roots develop well.
Give the plant a lot of water, but prevent water logging. Proper drainage will allow the roots to stay healthy and fresh. Cauliflower growth requires a good amount of sunlight, but it cannot tolerate extreme temperatures. Water retention is essential for this plant, so choose a grow bag accordingly.
Cover the garden area with a shade to avoid direct sunlight. Blanching is an important step here. You can cover the cauliflower head with its big leaves to protect it from harsh sunlight. You should plant only one seed in the grow bag, as the leaves of this one are denser.
5. Sweet Potatoes
Growing sweet potatoes in a grow bag is simple. This vegetable can grow well in a controlled environment. The only point to note is that each variety needs a particular climate. So, ensure you plant the sweet potatoes as per the climate in your region.
Planting the sweet potato slips in a grow bag of 10-15 gallons is what we recommend. Direct sunlight is beneficial for sweet potatoes. They grow well in hot areas.
This vegetable also requires proper air circulation. If the vines of your plant sprawl, you can adjust them to the vertical position. We suggest you use stakes to train the vines of sweet potatoes. This way, they will keep growing systematically.
Sweet potatoes also need more space. So, you will have to get a good, big grow bag, tall and wide, for this one.
6. Zucchini
For all the health-conscious people, Zucchini is a go-to vegetable. Zucchini is a summer plant and thus requires a lot of water and sunlight. Do not allow this plant to dry, as it would then result in bitter fruits. Keep watering the zucchini plant daily.
You will have to grow this one in a bigger grow bag as the roots will need more space. Use a 10-30 gallon grow bag to plant Zucchini. Add more soil to make your plant happy. Spring is the best season to plant zucchini.
The zucchini plant has large leaves. Hence, you should plant a single zucchini in each pot. To allow healthy growth for zucchini, sow some flowering plants around it. Protect your plant from squash bugs, as they may eat your zucchini.
7. Brinjal
Brinjal, or eggplant, is capable of growing in any space. Even in smaller spaces, these grow well. If you are new to bag gardening, you can plant brinjal to make a start. You can plant this one in smaller grow bags.
The brinjal plant requires ample amounts of sunlight and water. 6-8 hours of direct sunlight is good. But that may lead to dry soil, so keep watering the plant. Place a stick and tie the plant to give it some support.
Brinjal fruits are heavy, so the stems need support. Use a stake and tie the plant to the stake. This will keep the stem straight and prevent the plant from dying. To have a long-lasting brinjal plant, use a grow bag that is around 15 inches tall. You may buy a grow bag of 25 gallons.
8. Beetroot
Beetroot is another versatile vegetable. Apart from the kitchen, it is also useful for beauty treatments. Like sweet potatoes, beetroot varieties also require a suitable climate and temperature. Select the one that will grow well in your region.
Even if beetroots grow well in cool temperatures, they equally love sunlight. The most essential is a deeper grow bag. We all know from the name that beetroot exists because of its roots. The deeper the roots, the more delicious the beet.
Therefore, allow the roots to develop well and let there be a good amount of air and water flow. You can use a 15-2o gallon grow bag to plant the beetroot. Place them at least 3-4 inches apart if you are planting more than 1 beetroot in a grow bag.
9. Radish
If you are a beginner and confused about which plant to grow first, try Radish. It takes less time to grow in comparison to other vegetables. You can also start with a small grow bag, as radish does not require a lot of space.
In one bag, you can grow multiple radish plants. Keep watering the plant so that the moist soil gives you tender radishes.
10. Carrot
Growing carrots in a grow bag can be a little tacky, but there’s a solution. Choose the right kind of carrot variety, and you’re good to go. The roots of carrots grow deeper, and hence you will need a deep grow bag.
The compact category of carrots, like Paris Market, grows well in grow bags. The seeds of carrots overcrowd with time, so ensure you make the seeds thin before sowing.
There are a lot more vegetables that you can plant in a grow bag. To harvest healthy vegetables at home, you need a good grow bag. These grow bags come in a variety of materials, and they play a huge role in a plant’s health.
Ensure that your grow bags are neither too thick nor too thin. The material should be breathable. They must have holes in the bottom for proper drainage. Make a list of plants that you want to grow, and then buy grow bags for each plant. The size of the grow bags will develop the roots well.
Contact Earth Scape a coir grow bag exporter to buy coir grow bags in bulk.
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Editorial Staff
Editorial Staff at Earthscape who are experts about coir products.