Tomatoes in bags

Short of money? Lots of Tomato seedlings but no pots? Planting directly into potting mix bags could be your answer. It reduces plastic use too – what else do you do with your potting mix bags?

All you’re doing with a pot is to change the container for the potting mix and improve the drainage a bit. If you don’t have a container, why not use the bag that your potting mix came in. The better the potting mix, the better the results, of course!

The process is so easy that I won’t even give it a heading!

Many potting mix bags already have a lot of small holes in to drain them should they get wet plus to allow air out if them so they don’t balloon up and burst during transport. Those holes are enough to drain the bag if it gets rained on but won’t be enough for regular watering such as tomato plants need.

Turn the bag on its side so the roots can grow deeper than the shallow depth that a flat bag allows. Make some holes on what will be the bottom.

Flip the bag and cut a hole in the top about as wide as your palm.

Plant your tomato seedlings directly into the potting mix through this hole. Add a little crushed eggshells to promote healthy cell walls.

Pat it all down so that everything is firm and give the bag a good water.

There! You have a simple container I which to grow your tomato plants. From now on, just water and fertilize it as you would any garden pot. As the plant grows, it’s best to open the planting hole a little so that more water, air and nutrients can get to all of the roots.

As the tomato plant grows, you’ll need to stake it somehow and open the planting hole a bit wider so that you can add more water as the plant grows.

…and guess what? This technique is not just for tomatoes, any shallow rooted vegetable will thrive in bags. Lettuces love it!