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Post by Lexica on Jul 9, 2024 17:40:57 GMT
I am thinking ahead on my raised vegetable beds since there are several types on sale right now. I definitely need to use raised vegetable beds. I keep going back and forth between galvanized metal, building my own from cedar, and then these strange little grow bags. The kind that I actually want are a galvanized metal and quite expensive, around $250 per planter bed. Since I don’t know how long I will be in this house, I really don’t want to put out a grand on just the containers, and that is without buying the high-quality soil for them. I know the cedar would last for several years, which may be the way to go. I did see premade metal corner kits on Amazon so I would just need to purchase the cedar planks. I then saw these fabric grow bags. While they are not attractive at all, I think they might be okay to start with, and then I could consider replacing them with either the same thing or using that first grow year to assemble a few galvanized type. Several people complained about how long it took to put the galvanized together, so if I was already growing vegetables in the bags, I wouldn’t be rushed to assemble the galvanized, which will undoubtedly not need yearly replacing. The grow bags look like they are made from tarp material with holes cut in the bottom of them for drainage. No assembly required. The price is beyond cheap, only $7.99 for two bags. I am wondering if anyone has tried these? I am assuming they would need to be replaced every year, which would be a hassle, but I am wondering if they will actually hold up for a solid year of sitting out in the elements without shredding in a couple of months of full sun. Has anyone used these and want to tell me your experience? Or tell me what your raised beds are constructed from. These are the grow bags: www.amazon.com/Planting-Compartments-Rectangle-Containers-Vegetables/dp/B091HRV66S/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3VG3HZ6NB3CQY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KBcY9OwG9mG49qig_aL1l3honRiC1hGvbyT3xfHswRtNwKVA6XbavfVi3ufyM2dFpVRTuFU9GpclsAp77oU8GeZsFN1hpl6TkCwqfFjNfH3DumMfkPSJkUpzpizQooKHeesnNIiioK2hHvxU75F5fVjbJ77EbaG2twRrk6UjjHItdOp1ZlV2dKzA9qDlPrpoO62iO8OzgPGWm4iMuJXZjxpfsP18M_jht5WFPcpt0mVPRKSGEwH_fM_nwZYRBaq9Tv2uQecdAkz89kC7FOigJgxrAMPb6TY3PGRnEU4BIlU.gJ2cTIGMScYGwIXt9PIKVxbxLEv7ZfSPL3Ny8BDQ5K4&dib_tag=se&keywords=Raised%2Bplanter%2Bbed&qid=1720545174&sprefix=raised%2Bplanter%2Bbed%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-2&th=1 |
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Post by teacherlisa on Jul 9, 2024 17:47:45 GMT
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,595 
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Jul 9, 2024 18:00:06 GMT
I have a set of 3 of the green tarp looking kind that is on their 3rd year and show no signs of needing replaced.
I grow potatoes in them since they can be folded down and then expanded up as the potatoes get taller.
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Post by Zee on Jul 9, 2024 18:13:34 GMT
I think they would be great for using where the soil quality is poor, but as far as being useful as a raised bed, they're not really "raised".
My usable yard is basically a thin layer of poor fill dirt over construction rubble and rocks, with sod. I would use these bags just to have a way to hold the planting soil and be quite happy with them.
But, my husband made me two raised beds this year and filled them with Miracle Gro soil. I also bought two more tomatoes and put them in large plastic buckets. He used a kit from Amazon and lined them with weed control fabric, which lets water drain but not too quickly. They are waist high on me.
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Post by Lexica on Jul 9, 2024 18:53:46 GMT
I think they would be great for using where the soil quality is poor, but as far as being useful as a raised bed, they're not really "raised". My usable yard is basically a thin layer of poor fill dirt over construction rubble and rocks, with sod. I would use these bags just to have a way to hold the planting soil and be quite happy with them. But, my husband made me two raised beds this year and filled them with Miracle Gro soil. I also bought two more tomatoes and put them in large plastic buckets. He used a kit from Amazon and lined them with weed control fabric, which lets water drain but not too quickly. They are waist high on me. I am not sure how good the soil is all across the property, but the existing flowers are amazing and I haven’t even fertilized them yet. My next door neighbor said our whole development was filled in and it looks to be good soil, but I think it is too heavy for vegetables. Like you, I want quality soil if I am going to bother with this at all. When my mom moved in with me, I knew how much she used to love her vegetable garden so when she was visiting my sister for a weekend, I built a raised bed like you described and put it on wheels. That way I could leave it in the sun until she wanted to work in it. I wheeled it over to the shade to allow her to work without being in direct sun. She loved it. And I know what you mean about the bags not being really raised. They are above ground, which allows me to create my own soil, but I will still need knee pads to work in the beds. The setup that I wanted was about 2 1/2 foot deep so that the dirt surface would be close enough to work in without bending much. But, that is really deeper than necessary for the roots so it is a waste of good soil. |
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Post by compeateropeator on Jul 9, 2024 19:07:36 GMT
I know people that used them for reasons other than vegetables and some for veggies. They worked great. 😄 There are a variety of sizes, so if you are looking for that big cherry tomato make sure it is a big bag, etc.
While in theory moving them around sounds good, unless they are on a moving cart they are heavy when filled with dirt, obviously size dependent.
I say go for it, try it. If you don’t like it it is not like you are out a lot or have a lot to do to dissemble. Good luck.
ETA - in my opinion the great thing about them was that you could get them a bit off the ground so it was easier to tend to.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,319
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Post by iowgirl on Jul 9, 2024 19:11:30 GMT
I wish you lived close to me - we use 250 pound mineral lick tubs to get mineral to our cattle. It comes in very large heavy black plastic tubs. Boy are they perfect for raised bed gardening! I could give you 50. LOL
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Post by Lexica on Jul 9, 2024 19:17:32 GMT
I wish you lived close to me - we use 250 pound mineral lick tubs to get mineral to our cattle. It comes in very large heavy black plastic tubs. Boy are they perfect for raised bed gardening! I could give you 50. LOL Those sound perfect for raised gardening with just adding drainage holes. You should sell them, pick up only, no shipping, to residential gardeners in your area. I bet they would sell quickly. |
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Post by Lexica on Jul 9, 2024 19:21:03 GMT
I bookmarked the site you recommended and will start checking it out. The blocks for building your own beds are interesting. I only saw thin metal ones the you screw into your own wood. The cement ones look like they would be nice and heavy. I will consider them if I end up building some. |
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Post by jamieson on Jul 9, 2024 19:23:08 GMT
My favorite source of gardening info is Epic Gardening on YouTube. Smart, helpful, down-to-earth (haha), and they have a great sense of humor. I have learned so much from them.
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Post by Linda on Jul 9, 2024 19:35:15 GMT
my son built raised beds for his garden - they are waist-ish high. He filled them with branches, then wood chippings that he got for free, and then did the manure and soil on top of that. The second year he did have to add more on top since the bottom bits did decay some. But it seemed to be working well for him. He was inspired by Hügelkultur
They are wood of some sort...from Lowes...
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Post by Basket1lady on Jul 9, 2024 20:04:15 GMT
DH built me two raised beds this year out of pallets. I know they won’t last that long, but I wasn’t really sure if I’d actually like gardening. I’ve always had some potted tomatoes and herbs in pots, but never an actual garden. He built a platform about 18” down. The rest is open under the platform. It seems to be holding well. I’ve also seen the tip to put wood and branches into a deep bed before adding soil. I have a separate raised bed on our deck for my herbs. I put them in fabric bags last year because we were buying a house and moving and I wanted to be able to take them with me. It worked well to pull the fabric cubes out, move, and plop them back into place. The ones that I chose are permeable and the water flows right through them. I will say that they don’t maintain their square shape when they are out of the raised bed and mine are much smaller. I planted the third week of May and I’ve already dried some herbs, they are growing so fast. They seem to like the setup. This is the raised bed that I bought for my herbs. I can’t say that it’s the greatest quality, but it has done well for two seasons and will definitely last through a third season. The identical one was $300 at our garden center. Nope! www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BDF2WVCQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1And here are the cubes that I bought. It fits 8. They do stick up over the top a little, so you could get shorter ones. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BQMPBDQ9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 |
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Post by papersilly on Jul 9, 2024 20:15:32 GMT
this is my second year using grow bags. i don't use the large ones you linked but these individual ones grow bags. they are made of heavy duty felt and have handles. i grow cucumber, tomatoes, and yellow squash in them. 3 cucumber per bag and one each of tomato or squash. so far so good. even when filled with soil, they are light and easy to move. when the season is done, i dump the soil around garden, fold the bags up and store them away. |
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,319
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Post by iowgirl on Jul 9, 2024 20:23:19 GMT
Those sound perfect for raised gardening with just adding drainage holes. You should sell them, pick up only, no shipping, to residential gardeners in your area. I bet they would sell quickly. They are perfect - we just drill some holes around the sides, at the bottom. I have mine setting up on a couple pallets (have LOADS of those also). People do sell them, but they don't move fast. If anyone wants some, we just tell them to stop by and pick some up. They become overwhelming after a while. We can get pretty big stacks of them in a years time. I wish you could return them for refill, but that is not an option. I also have some with trailing flowers planted in them. They are very attractive planters! |
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 10, 2024 0:14:50 GMT
We used grow bags for our first year of gardening. They were fine, it was very easy to put in, the plants didn't grow too terribly big, and it was convenient to have the bags on the patio.
The next year, DH and I built a 4x8 bed with the concrete blocks from Lowe's that you stack at the corners and slide 2x6" boards in the slots for the sides.
We put the ground cloth on the bottom before placing the bricks and boards to block weeds. Put a layer of cardboard boxes down, then several inches of leaves, and then topped it with a combination of raised bed aoil and regular garden soil.
The plants had so much room to grow and we had lots more tomatoes and peppers.
This year, we added a 6x6 bed up next to the patio for herbs and peppers. We added two tomato plants and darn, they have exploded. I am eating a tomato sandwich everyday and am as happy as can be about that.
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Post by Alexxussss on Jul 10, 2024 1:15:01 GMT
Beginner gardener here, but I’m using very large grow bags for tomato plants and slightly smaller ones for “mammoth sunflowers”. I grew all of them from seed under grow lights, then transplanted them to grow bags once the weather got warm ( zone 7a). I didn’t want to invest too much into raised beds yet, but they are growing like crazy! Would highly recommend the grow bags for anyone who would like a more economical alternative (at least for the shorter term!).
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Jul 10, 2024 2:16:12 GMT
Buy what works for you now and makes you happy. If you decide to move you can sell them or they can be an added feature of the property. We went to a Vita white raised garden bed from Costco in 2/3 of our garden. It is much easier to weed and tend to. We also have Maxikap self watering planters with onions, herbs, tomatoes etc in them. We have three mesh fabric pots that we have potatoes planted in the sun and use them from one year to the next. Ds has over seventy hills of potatoes at his place. We bought the raised beds, fabric bags and Maxikap systems from Facebook Marketplace. We just harvested the scapes from the tops of the garlic. Ready to trim the parsley, wash then freeze it. We also de-hydrate it. So nice to grow your own produce.
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Post by chaosisapony on Jul 10, 2024 4:30:32 GMT
I have used the black fabric grow bags. Like you said, they aren't pretty but they get the job done. Things actually grew really well for me in them, I just had a hard time keeping them watered in the hottest parts of the summer. They lasted 2 to 3 seasons.
The galvanized metal planters I don't like. Maybe it's different where you are but where I live it regularly gets to be 110+ in the summer. The metal beds just get too hot. The plants actually get burned when they touch the edge.
Of the three choices I would definitely go with the cedar beds. They'll be nice to look at and functional for a long time.
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