Fabric pots, how well do they work, smart pot alternatives?

[gallaure]

The fabric reminds me of higher quality landscape fabric. I assume you could get a roll and cut/sew to size. Maybe I should try that out...

[newatthiskat]

What a great idea!! I have some landscape fabric at home. I think it is time to bring out the sewing machine! Would solve the issue of where to put my bush cucumbers and extra crookneck squash. Now any ideas as to dimensions to equal say a 5 gallon container? I am thinking square vs round.
Kat

[dice]

Now any ideas as to dimensions to equal say a 5 gallon container?

You probably do not need to match the volume exactly.
You could make it as high as a 5-gallon paint bucket, make
4 sides about the same as the diameter across the top
of the bucket, and have a little more than 5 gallons volume.

[outsiders71]

I'm really thinking about the landscape fabric idea, and instead of sewing using UV resistant zip-ties to keep it together.

Now if I recall I can figure out the volume of the container by multiplying the width x length x height correct? So if I have a container that is 1' x 1' x 2' that would be the equivalent of a 14 gallon container?

[newatthiskat]

I am going to be working on one as well. I am using nylon thread to sew the seams. I have found a few links converting cubic inches to gallons. formula to find cubic inches would be lengthX width X height

to convert cubic inches to figure out how many gallons I owuld use a website like this http://www.conversion-metric.org/vol...conversion.php

Can you tell I have been thinking aout this? Almost takes me back to trig and calculus class. ALMOST

I got a call from work today and looks like I can only work light duty the rest of the week maybe then I am going to be convolesing at home. I will have to do something to keep from going crazy!
Kat

[mdvpc]

I got 3 of the 5 gallon and 3 of the 10 gallon yesterday. Going to try them with the fall plant out. I will post my results.

[outsiders71]

Originally Posted by newatthiskat

I am going to be working on one as well. I am using nylon thread to sew the seams. I have found a few links converting cubic inches to gallons. formula to find cubic inches would be lengthX width X height

to convert cubic inches to figure out how many gallons I owuld use a website like this http://www.conversion-metric.org/vol...conversion.php

Can you tell I have been thinking aout this? Almost takes me back to trig and calculus class. ALMOST

I got a call from work today and looks like I can only work light duty the rest of the week maybe then I am going to be convolesing at home. I will have to do something to keep from going crazy!
Kat

Thanks for the link. Careful with the nylon though, it breaks down with UV exposure.

[Gardenrube]

I am going to try those "green" grocery bags for some Tiny Tim and Patio Hybrid in those. You can get those for about 1.00. What do you suppose the gallon size is for those? I was thinking 2.5 or so.

[phkat]

Brilliant, Gardenrube! I have a bunch of those bags and they should be close enough for me. Awesome idea. I was on here searching for pros and cons of buying the SmartPots or Air Pots or just fabric bags in general for my tomatoes this year. This is definitely worth a try. Thanks for mentioning it!

[Gardenrube]

Originally Posted by phkat

Brilliant, Gardenrube! I have a bunch of those bags and they should be close enough for me. Awesome idea. I was on here searching for pros and cons of buying the SmartPots or Air Pots or just fabric bags in general for my tomatoes this year. This is definitely worth a try. Thanks for mentioning it!

No Problem. I put one Pation hybrid in there about a month ago and it seemed to be doing pretty good until I dropped a cardboard box on it and snapped the stem off below the dirt! I added more dirt and it has been holding on for a week now so maybe it will live.

The only complaint is that it really doesn't hold it's shape...but that doesn't really seem to matter.

[Earl]

I think I'll use Dice's laundry basket idea by lining the sides with some landscape fabric. May need to punch a few holes in bottom of basket for water to drain. Now if someone will come up with a mini-soaker hose idea? How about a straight line of containers with a hose [with end plugged] running across top of containers and a few small holes drilled in hose at each container. Or use a drip kit or whatever they are.

[Earl]

After reading that plant roots do better in fabric pots because of the roots stay away from the sides and disperse more evenly throughout the potting mix instead of circling the pot I decided to make a couple and see how they preformed. It was a very simple task. Bought a couple laundry type baskets, already had the landscape fabric and ducktape.

Punch a few holes in the bottom of the basket. Cut the fabric to circumference of basket [plus 4-6 inches extra for overlap.] You'll also want about an inch of fabric will extend onto the bottom. Put fabric into basket. Tape the fabric to top of basket and you'll need to pleat fabric in a few places [so fabric hugs the sides] where you tape as you can see in the picture.

That's it. Fill with mix and plant. I may try square baskets next. Let us know if you give it a try.

You could even use a net type bag like a large onion bag or etc. as long as it would support the fabric. Cut a piece of fabric to fit the bottom and a piece for the sides.

[Jeannine Anne]

Sears do a bag here same fabric as the grocery store bags but about three times the size,it cost $1, too big for everyday shopping but might work as a larger fabric bag.

Friends in the UK are planting in Ikea shopping bags, they are certainly big and porous.

I intended doing salad poatoes in them

XX Jeannine

[mushrooms]

What about those those fabric totes that are suppose to be an alternative to plastic bags? I think they;re like under a buck each... Does it seem like they might be able to hold soil and watering without falling apart?

[BlackestKrim]

I was going to try to make these with my cousin:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Tate...ato-grow-bags/