One Guys Journey into Modern Gardening.

How the quest began.

Hello fellow growers.

Around mid-December my plans tend to include the garden for the upcoming season. Then again in February those plans are set in motion all the way through to harvest.  This has been the process for many years.

The trouble has always been the poor soil that I have to work with.  Some years have been better than others, but the last three years gave been lackluster and 2023 was the worse.

December came around and instead of planning, it came down to if putting out a garden was worth it at all.  Keeping in mind that I’ve always been a traditional gardener.  A novice one at that, never have I nor am I now claiming to be an expert gardener.

While considering whether or not to plant anything in 2024.  I decided to watch a few videos and read a few books on gardening, looking for inspiration to fork out $100.00 to grow a tomato plant which would produce two tomatoes.  (Only a slight exaggeration here, and that is only in the cost)

Well one book sparked interest by moving away from a traditional in ground garden to a container garden.  As I navigated the methodology of growing in containers.  I found the inspiration I had been seeking.

So I delved deep into non-traditional types.  Learning all I could about raised bed, hydroponic, container, fabric bags, and various tips & tricks for each.

When the smoke cleared (from the burning gears in my mind) I made new plans for 2024.  This blog is my newest garden journey and I’m sharing it with you as the story unfolds.

To start the risk factor was evaluated.  But since the ROI over the last three seasons had deminished to almost nothing.  It seemed logical that attempting a new alternative garden project could easily match or exceed the traditional methods ROI.

The budget for the project was the next consideration.  After careful analysis of options.  Fabric grow bags made the most since since this project is as much experimental as it is a test lab to see if I can successfully grow a garden using this new method.

I set only two personal goals for the project. 

1) To grow only the vegetables which is most desirable. (Not placing any focus or effort into exotic or a gimmic variety.)

2) The project had to fit KIS, keeping it simple.

Both were reasons I chose to go with fabric grow bags.

So with the method  then being decided. I wanted a kind fail safe in the event that the whole project was not something to repeat in the future.  So since the traditional garden will be rested for at least 2024.  It made since to put back or invest into the soil that provided all the previous years.  Also by attempting to rest and improve the old traditional garden, if one day it would be called upon for growing again.  Maybe it would produce muvh better once again.

Therefore I added the DIY compost, Organic fertilizer from my chicken brood, and workef the soil.  I will be planting nothing but beans throughout the entire garden, in attempt to lift the bactetia and nitrate levels, hopefully giving it a well needed boost.

There it is the failsafe part of the project is planned and is a WIP.

With that out of the way exactly what to grow in the grow bags was next up in the planning.  

Root bearing: Carrots, Radishes, and Potatoes, sweet potatoes all made the list. 

Leaf bearing: Tomatoes, Zuchinni & 

 Rhubarb, and strawberries were selected.

As part of risk managment for the project four grow bags are prepped and reserved to mediate unknows and/or expend if deemed neccesary.

Next up was the selection of the size/s of fabric grow bags needed.  This was a somewhat difficult task as there are many factors involved.  Plant requirements, amount of target harvest goals, space available, fabric bag type (Windowed/non-windowed), volume of soil required to fulfill the plant requirements.

After analysis it was decided to use the same size fabric bags for the entire project however the types of fabric bags would be divided based on plant product.  

1) The root bearing plants would be planted into the deeper windowed fabric grow bags.

2) The leaf bearing plants would be planted into the wider non-windowed fabric grow bags.

Both types were accquired in the seven gallon size. Eighteen in total of which six are of the windowed version.

Soil selection and volume haf to be determined and by by far was the single most expense of the project.

To maintain the project goal of KIS it was determined to use the same type of soil for all fabric grow bags regardless of the suggested planting tips.

Each seven gallon container would get 1.2 cubic feet of potting mix.  Initially the purchase of two 1.2 cubic feet bags of soil was made.  

This was used to fill two non-windowed bags.  The cost was excessive and would have quickly put the project beyond budget limits.  

Additional research found a more cost effective source and the remaining containers were filled well under budget.

With the analysis, planning, acqusitions,  and matetials in place.  

February 1st was project kick off time.  The first two fabric grow bags were planted with Rhubarb crowns.  The next three weeks were spent, preparing the remaining fabric bags and  germinating seeds.

March Week 2: The Planting Continues.

This week more root plants were added to the fabric bag farm.  It was time to get the carrots and radishes started.  Both of which I’ve had very little if any success of growing in the traditional garden. 

Inspired by the dozens of YouTube videos, where gardeners display carrots as long as my leg, and radishes as big as a pumpkin… ok slight exaggeration, but still their successes were appealing. I too decided to give it a go.

So I prepared and sowed seeds of both vegetables.  To my understanding carrots are slower to germinate, so not surprised to say that I see no growth yet.

However, with the radishes.  I am totally amazed. The seeds germinated in 48 hours and in just three days they are tiny, sprouted plants.  Other than mold, I’ve never grown anything that fast.

One other thing to add on this weeks update.  I had planted two of my favorite flowers in the yard.  Something ate one almost immediately.  I put a wire cage around the secomd one and staked it down.  Two days later, the cage was pulled away and that flower had been destroyed, too.

I used one of the fabrics grow bags to pot another flower start.  Keeping it off the ground.  So far it is doing great also.

Today, I began working on sprouting pepper seeds.  Looking forward to adding the remaining plants soon.

One note to share.  We’ve had days in the mid to upper 70’s and it became quite obvious that watering or water managment is going to be a key learni g point with fabric bag gardening.  It is a balancing act since these drain very quickly and the soil dries fast, too.

That brings this blog up to date, more insight on this project will be added as the season progresses.  Thanks for hanging out here this far.

End of March Wrap up

Spring is definitely under way. Wild birds, building nests all around. Raccoons, and other critters tending to their young. Amid all the activity that gardening continues. Since that last update two weeks ago, and just like spring, changes are happening quickly.

A quick update on the successes first. The radishes are a full two inches tall and doing extremely well. The carrots are not far behind. They are around an inch in height and nearly ready for thinning.

I’ve added peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes to the 7-gallon garden as well. Some peppers and tomatoes have been started by seed. I did purchase two pepper and one tomato plant to three grow bags, just to add to the experience.

I also added some potatoes to two grow bags, more on that later.

The grow rate and success of germination and starts continues to surprise me. Thus far into the garden season, I’m very happy with the results.

Now, let’s discuss some setbacks which have occurred. Beginning with the two Rhubarb plants. When initially researching growing Rhubarb in containers and grow bags. I watched a lot of videos and visited dozens of gardening sites. There didn’t seem to be definitive answer to how often you should water Rhubarb when growing in fabric grow bags. One gardener who seemed to have the fabric garden thing down pretty well, stated that you simply cannot over water your Rhubarb when using grow bags.

Upon seeing how well and quickly the grow bags drained off water. I hopped on the wagon of watering often, no less than every other day. Well, I now can tell you from my own experience that you can over water Rhubarb, even in fabric grow bags. When I began seeing spots on the leaves of the plants, I freaked. Immediately going into troubleshooting mode and soon finding out that this was mold from overwatering. So, after learning a DIY natural remedy for treatment, I’ve also backed way off on the watering. So far so good. The mold has stopped progression, and the plants are looking healthy. This is still disturbing, and I continue to monitor it closely.

Overdue April Update