Grow bag/raised bed question

10 years ago

I bought a fabric raised bed from the Dollarstore on a whim. I do not expect this product to be good, or last more than 1 season. But I said, hey, let's give it a try. it's a circular "raised bed" made out of a fabric, similar to grow bags I've seen but never used. it's 24 inches in diameter, and 10 inches high. I figure I could use it for a zucchini plant or even a couple of bush cucs.

My question: are you supposed to use potting mix or soil in these fabric bags? I use triple mix, manure, compost in my square standard raised beds and potting mix in my containers.

Thanks

Featured Answer

digdirt2

10 years ago

Potting mix. It is just a bigger container. You might look into the 5-1-1 mix recommended by so many on the Container Gardening forum here.

Dave

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Comments (8)

galinas
10 years ago
In my opinion it is too shallow. You will be a challenge to keep it moist even if you water it every day, at least not for cuces or zucchini. Some lettuce - may be. To your original question - there are many different recipes for container mix, but general rules are: it should be light enough and should keep moister and drain well in the same time.
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luaygh
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks. Potting mix it is.

I use drip irrigation in addition to daily watering if it hasn't rained.

I guess cucs and zucs are out. I thought about using it for beets and then, maybe bush beans as they don't need too deep of a container. Or just use it exclusively for herbs. it's somewhat of an experiment, so I don't have high expectations.
digdirt2
10 years ago
Daily watering??? Maybe small containers in the high heat of summer but otherwise nothing needs daily watering.

10" deep - if you fill it to the full 10" with mix - too many leave several inches of their containers unfilled - then I'd see no problem with cucs or zukes in it. They aren't tap root plants. Lots of folks grow just about anything in 10" deep raised beds

Dave
luaygh
Original Author
10 years ago
Dave, I mostly use containers (5-10 gals). Last summer they were drying up rather quickly.

The raised beds (I just have 2 beds that are 4ftx4ft in my small city backyard) got daily drip irrigation. Perhaps that's overkill? I've read that some plants benefit from getting a bit thirsty.
digdirt2
10 years ago
Yeah odds are it is over kill. If you are using surface drying as an indication for water then stop. It is the moisture level down at root level that counts so stick your finger/hand deep into the soil before watering. Learn to read the plant's signals it gives when it needs water.

Sure a 5 gallon bucket might need daily watering in high summer but for anything bigger the odds are slim and many of us deal with much hotter temps than you have to. :).

Over-watering stunts/kills more plants by drowning the roots than anything else. They need the oxygen in the dry air pockets in the soil just as much as they do water and they can't get the O2 when the soil is constantly wet.

Dave
luaygh
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for the advice. I'll resist the urge to water everyday and gauge what happens. On the plus side, my water bill won't be as high as last year!
nancyjane_gardener
10 years ago
Remember, if there are gophers anywhere near your plants, they WILL eat through your grow bags! Nancy