The Best Potato Grow Bag Buying Guide
These days, almost anything can be bought pre-cooked and pre-packaged. Although we have to admit that these frozen meals are incredibly convenient, it is also true that they are very processed and unhealthy. By using a potato grow bag to grow your vegetables at home, you can achieve a much healthier diet with a lot less work. Instead of tending to an entire garden, you only need to keep track of the vegetables you have planted in your potato grow bag.
However, deciding what to look for when buying a potato grow bag can be a confusing task. To help you make this decision, we have prepared this comprehensive buying guide highlighting the key features of the best potato grow bags in 2021.
What Is a Potato Grow Bag?
A potato grow bag is a container made up of cloth or plastic in which vegetables can be grown. The bag has enough space to allow produce to spread its roots as well as layer a large amount of soil. It typically features a transparent flap to allow ease in harvesting potatoes once they are ready. Although the name suggests this bag be used to grow potatoes, other salad crops like tomatoes, onions, and carrots can be grown in it as well.
To learn how to use a potato grow bag, you can check out this video from HortTube with Jim Putnam:
Why Should I Use a Potato Grow Bag?
Potato grow bags are much more convenient than a traditional garden setup. They are both portable and universal to any setting, so you can easily move them indoors and outdoors if you desire. They also resist overwatering and root bounding by design. All in all, they are a great time-saving alternative to a traditional garden.
What To Look for When Buying a Potato Grow Bag?
Potato grow bags are relatively simple in design but can come in tons of variations in terms of size, material, and quality of potato grow bags on the market. This can make it even more difficult for a beginner, in particular, to decide what aspects to keep in mind when shopping for a potato grow bag.
In this case, the best thing to do is break down the core features of a typical potato grow bag, studying each category individually before setting out to buy one. Below is a list of the most important aspects to look for to avoid a disappointing purchase.
Material
Potato grow bags are essentially large containers in which vegetables are grown. The material of this container can have a big impact on the experience of growing your plant.
Potato grow bags are typically made up of either Polyethylene, plastic, nonwoven cloth, or even felt. Each material offers different benefits to the user. For example, if you prefer easiness in cleaning, using a potato grow bag made up of PE or plastic is a better choice. However, if you would rather your potato grow bag be eco-friendly, the biodegradable cloth or felt material offers much more.
Capacity
Potato grow bags come in all different shapes and sizes, with one of the most important features being the capacity of the bag. This is typically specified in gallons, with the most common size being about 10 gallons to grow potatoes and carrots. Not paying attention to the capacity of a potato grow bag before buying can lead to unnecessary inconvenience.
Extra features for convenience
Oftentimes people buy potato grow bags as a way to avoid the maintenance and cleaning that comes with tending to a traditional home garden. However, not all potato grow bags offer the extra features necessary to provide this convenience. These features include strong side handles, a transparent flap for harvesting, and ventilated holes on the bottom of the potato grow bag. Being aware of these features before purchasing your potato grow bag can aid you in making the right choice.
What Is the Average Lifetime of Potato Grow Bag?
Depending on its material and quality, the lifetime of potato grows bag can vary greatly. If the potato grows bag is made up of a harsher material like PE or plastic, it can last anywhere between 5 and 10 years. You can reuse the potato grow bag after every season, even using it to grow a different crop each time.
If a potato grows bag is made up of biodegradable material like cloth or felt, however, the lifespan will be much lower. On average, they last about 2 to 3 seasons. This is because the material used in manufacturing the potato grow bag is much softer and can be more difficult to clean and maintain during harsh weather conditions.
FAQs
While it is possible to purchase ready-made potato towers or special growing bags, any opaque container with drainage holes will do, including barrels, garbage bins, plastic storage tubs and chimney flues. An ideal container will be about 2-3 feet tall with a 10-15 gallon capacity.
Which type of grow bag is best? ›
Fabric Grow Bags: Fabric grow bags are made from natural materials such as cotton, jute, hemp, or wool. They are breathable, which means that they allow air and water to flow through them easily. This makes them ideal for growing vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers.
What size bag is best for growing potatoes? ›
As a general rule each potato plant needs about 2.5 gallons. Therefore a 10 gallon bag will support four potatoes while a 5 gallon bag will accommodate 2 potato plants. If you want to grow a large number of potato crops, it is best growing them in separate bags rather than one huge bag.
Do potato grow bags really work? ›
However, there are plenty of foods that can grow in bags, like potatoes. If you've got a spot that gets a lot of sun (yes, even a patio or balcony will do), you can grow up to 15 pounds of fresh, delicious potatoes to enjoy -- without a real garden!
What is the best fertilizer for potatoes? ›
Ammonium polyphosphate (10-34-0) is the most commonly used liquid P fertilizer and is suitable for banded application in potatoes. A variety of related liquid products are available and suitable, although they have lower P contents. Orthophosphate P, as found in MAP and DAP, is the form of P taken up by plants.
How many potatoes can you grow in a 5 gallon bucket? ›
You want a high yield, so 2 seed potatoes per 5 gallon bucket is perfect. Once you have them in the bucket, add about 2 more inches of soil to completely cover the potatoes. Two weeks later, you will see the magic happen.
How many potatoes can you plant in a 20 gallon grow bag? ›
You can plant between 5 and 7 potato seeds in a 20-gallon bag. Each seed can yield you from 3 to 6 potatoes depending on how many eyes it has to sprout from.
How many years do grow bags last? ›
Mobility and Durability
You can start a plant in a smaller grow bag and move it to a larger grow bag as the plant reaches maturity. Grow bags are predicted to last 7 to 8 seasons, but with good care, they can last for much longer. Grow bags' fabric is pressed together, not woven, which increases their durability.
What do you put in the bottom of a grow bag? ›
Grow bags require well-draining soil that retains just enough moisture so the root mass will not dry out between waterings. Bagged products labeled as potting soil or container mix are ideal. Many potting soils contain peat moss but more and more mixes are now using coir (coconut fiber) instead.
Are grow bags worth the money? ›
Grow bags are not only better than pots when it comes to developing root structures of trees. Pots also negatively affect plants that grow in them in other ways. For one thing, roots tend to grow in tight circles inside of pots.
Place about 6in of good quality potting soil in the bottom of the bag. You can mix in 3-4 quarts of compost or aged manure ahead of planting, or top dress afterwards. Too much nitrogen will cause lush top growth at the expense of tubers. Do not use fresh manure as it can cause potato scab.
What are the best potatoes to grow in a grow bag? ›
Before you begin it is crucial to choose the correct potato variety for bag cultivation. Some of the best options include Charlotte, Pentland and Maris Pipers potatoes. These varieties are well-suited for container gardening due to their compact growth habits and adaptability to different soil types.
What is the best container for growing potatoes? ›
Containers that are between 2 and 3 feet deep are ideal. Fabric potato grow bags are a popular choice. These bags are easy to find and they come in a range of different sizes. They are also made of material that drains well, so you won't need to worry about waterlogged soil.
What is the best bag to store potatoes in? ›
A basket, bowl, or paper bag is better than a plastic bag. A paper bag, basket, or large bowl are ideal for storing a pile of potatoes since they allow for plenty of air circulation. If you carried potatoes home from the store in a plastic bag, it's best to remove them for longer-term storage.
How many potatoes can you grow in a 5 gallon grow bag? ›
You can plant five seed potatoes into a 10-gallon bucket and about three into a 7-gallon. If you've only got 5-gallon buckets, plan on using only two potatoes. Expect a 5-gallon bucket to yield a couple of pounds of potatoes. So if you're feeding a family or just love potatoes, do more containers or bigger ones.
How do you pick a good bag of potatoes? ›
Try to avoid potatoes with many cuts, dark spots, or bruises. Potatoes should have a natural color for their variety. When potatoes are exposed to sunlight they will start turning green. While you can cut away minor greening, try sticking to potatoes with natural color.
