Under trial this season was a new type of growbag from the Miracle-Gro people. This was the Organic Choice Giant Peat Free Planter.
Growbag
s are available from a number of manufacturers, starting from as little as around £2 to as much as over £3.
These new growbags came in at the top end of the market – but, by the results obtained, they were well worth the extra.
These new Organic Choice bags are made from 100 per cent naturally occurring ingredients and no peat, so they are what you would term 'green'.
Even at first glance you see why they are a little dearer –they are twice the size and weight of others.
Cucumbers was the crop planted and the recommended three plants to a bag produced a continuous harvest.
Another growbag on trial was the recently introduced Levington Giant Tomato Planter, again larger than many growbags on the market.
As well as added seaweed as feeding for the plants, the manufacturers claim was: easy watering, better root growth and extra yield. It can be said that I was able to 'tick the boxes' for all three.
Of course, plants to grow in bags are not confined to tomatoes and cucumbers, one can also have peppers, aubergines, courgettes and marrows – even melons if you can provide premium conditions.
One of the pests associated with plants in a greenhouse is the dreaded whitefly. There are products on the market but a method used by many gardeners is to have some marigolds growing in the greenhouse.
Whether it was coincidence or a deterrent, the African marigolds under planted this season kept the greenhouse free of these troublesome pests.
