Hey everyone! I'm new to container gardening and I'm hoping to get some advice. Since I live in an apartment and only have a small, paved patio for gardening, I'm thinking of using grow bags this year. I have some old sheets from a previous roommate that I'm considering turning into grow bags. They feel durable, but I can't tell for sure if they're polyester or a cotton blend since the tags are missing. I'm also curious about using burlap rice sacks I have lying around. Do you think these will work, or are they not sturdy enough for gardening? Any ideas or experiences would be really helpful!
3 Answers
Using sheets might not be the best idea. They tend to be pretty thin and won't hold their shape well, plus they'll likely break down before the season's over. Natural fibers like cotton can rot, and synthetic fabrics like polyester degrade under UV exposure. I'd steer clear of those for grow bags.
I say give the sheets a shot! Just be prepared that watering might be trickier. Have you thought about plastic bags instead? Heavy-duty cat food bags or even sturdier grocery bags could work too! Kudos for wanting to recycle what you have, it's a great way to help out the planet!
Grow bags are a solid choice for your setup! However, just a heads-up, even thicker non-woven bags typically last about five years. If you can stash them somewhere dry over the winter, they can last a bit longer. Also, consider using 5-gallon buckets with drainage holes; delis often have pickle buckets you can snag for free! By the way, did you know a university once tested soil health by burying cotton underwear? If all you dug up was the waistband, it meant you had healthy soil—sheets definitely wouldn't survive that!