Best Grow Bags For Vegetables in 2023
In recent years, the container garden trend has changed a lot. In the past, the main users were patio gardeners and those with poor soil, but now gardeners with large plots have also turned to containers. Read on as we discuss the best grow bags for vegetables.
We prefer these plastic grow bags. Don’t worry, this is a BPA free and food grade plastic. They are very durable, made from a thick 4 mil plastic. After several years of reuse, most of ours are still going strong. They hold their shape well once filled and the large drain holes prevent overwatering. Requires much less watering compared to fabric grow bags.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Material | BPA free, food grade plastic |
| Size/Volume | 5 gallons per bag, available in 1-30 gallon sizes |
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What Are The Benefits of Using Grow Bags For Vegetables?
My personal opinion on the biggest benefit of using grow bags is the cost. Compared to a pot of the same size, the cost of grow bags always beats it. Even a plastic pot has a limited lifespan. If you eventually need to replace your grow bags, you’ll still save money.
No more root bound with fabric grow bags
Air pruning of the roots is another draw for many gardeners. When using a rigid plastic container, the roots of the plant eventually start spiraling around the inside of the pot. The idea behind using a fabric pot is that the roots will get the dry outer edge of the grow bag and cease growing.
Find the right size bag for your needs
Grow bags come in many shapes and sizes. No matter what kind of vegetables you want to grow, you can get the right size grow bag. They come in a range of volumes from less than one gallon to 100 gallons or more. However, the average home gardener will find that the best grow bags for vegetables are between 3 and 10 gallons in size.
Grow bags versus growing in ground
Grow bags can be moved if necessary. If you find that the plant is getting too much or too little sun, you can easily adjust its location. Additionally, you can fill them with quality potting soil. You can also eliminate the worries about overly wet or poor-quality soil in your yard. As an added bonus, you can easily bring them indoors and save plants that won’t survive the frost or harsh winter temperatures.
Summary of the Best Grow Bags For Vegetables
Budget Friendly Plastic – Viagrow Grow Bags (25 Pack)
Best Square – Vivosun Square Fabric Bags (5 Pack)
Budget Friendly Fabric – Gardzen Fabric Grow Bags (20 Pack)
Best For Potatoes – Homyhoo Bags With Flaps (4 Pack)
Large Grow Bags – Bekith 50 Gallon Grow Bags (2-Pack)
Best For Seed Starting – Belit Growing Pouches (100 pcs)
Features Of The Best Grow Bags For Vegetables
Material: Plastic vs Fabric
Grow bags come in two different varieties, plastic or fabric. Both types of grow bags should stay upright and hold their shape when filled with potting soil. Personally, I prefer plastic grow bags because they require much less watering.
Fabric grow bags
Fabric grow bags should be made from breathable, non-woven material. Non-woven material is less dense than woven fabric and allows air to pass through easier. Some bags also include grommeted holes around the top of the bag. These can be useful for supporting a leaning plant by anchoring the plant with twine to one of the grommets.
The downside to fabric grow bags, they require a lot of water. They dry out quickly and, in our experience, need to be watered daily once the plants grow to mature size.
Plastic grow bags
Plastic grow bags should be made from BPA free, food safe plastic that’s at least 3 mil thick. They should also include plenty of drain holes. Once filled, quality plastic grow bags should hold their shape when filled with soil. They should also be made of thick plastic that is resistant to tearing. In our experience, the plastic grow bags need much less watering compared to the fabric bags,
The fact that most plastic grow bags don’t have handles for transporting is the only real downside that we point out. In reality, this is a non-issue since they usually remain in one place when using them to grow vegetables.
Size/Volume
Grow bags can be purchased for just about any volume. You’ll need to decide what vegetables you’ll be growing before deciding on the best size grow bag. Peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant need at least a 5-gallon grow bag but would benefit from a 7 or 10 gallon. Things like beets or onion don’t need much depth so you could use shallower bags of a larger diameter. Lettuce and other leafy greens can be grown in smaller 1 to 3-gallon bags.
Windows or Flaps
You may have seen grow bags with flaps or windows. These are primarily used for growing root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. The Velcro openings allow you to check on the status of the root vegetables without having to dig down from above. Another great use is the ability to pull out a couple new potatoes without disturbing the plant so it can continue producing.
Mobility
The best fabric grow bags will have loop handles stitched on opposing sides. These handles can be useful if you need to relocate the plant to a different area of the yard or to the indoors for winter. Handles are not common on plastic grow bags.
Color
I feel like this is worth mentioning. Dark or black grow bags will attract the heat of the sun and accelerate the drying of the soil. Lighter color materials are best for reflecting the heat of the sun and keeping the roots cool.
How We Evaluate the Best Grow Bags For Vegetables
We feel that the best grow bags for vegetables will last for many seasons, drain well, and cost a reasonable price. Functionality and mobility are important as well. You’ll notice that we listed the heat mats by best-in-class, everything from best value to best quality. This way we can ensure that everyone can find the best vegetable grow bags to suit their needs.
Vivosun Square Fabric Bags (5 Pack)
For those seeking a more uniform look in the garden, these may suit your needs. Arrange these side by side and build a square foot garden arrangement. The green accent material brings a little pop to the garden.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Material | Nonwoven fabric |
| Size/Volume | 5-gallons per bag |
Gardzen Fabric Grow Bags (20 Pack)
These bags are a steal. Gardzen makes some of our favorite products, including these 5-gallon fabric grown bags. If you’re looking to fill your garden you can’t go wrong with this 20 pack.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Material | Nonwoven fabric |
| Size/Volume | 5-gallon |
Homyhoo Grow Bags with Flaps (4 Pack)
Interested in growing potatoes? These grow bags have a Velcro flap so you can check and see whether your root veggies are ready for harvest. You can even sneak out a few new potatoes without disturbing the plant.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Material | Double layer nonwoven fabric |
| Size/Volume | 10-gallon |
Bekith 50 Gallon Grow Bags (2 Pack)
The 50 gallon grow bags are excellent for growing leafy greens or several large pepper plants. They are sturdy when filled and can take the place of several smaller fabric grow bags.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Material | Non-woven fabric |
| Size/Volume | 36″x12″ when filled |
Belit Growing Pouches (100 pcs)
These are smaller grow bags used for seed starting. The non-woven fiber provides excellent drainage. When it’s time to move your seedlings to the garden you can just plant them bag and all. Material allows roots to grow through the bag.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Material | 7.3″ x 6.9″ |
| Size/Volume | Comes with full spectrum 6500k bulbs |
Final Thoughts
We’ve tried both fabric and plastic grow bags. While both have their merits, we believe that the best grow bags for vegetables are plastic, such as the Viagrow. To start with, the cost of the plastic grow bags is much more budget friendly. In addition, plastic bags do a much better job of retaining moisture and we’ve had excellent results with them, especially with our outdoor hydroponic drip system. If you’re opposed to the use of plastic, the fabric grow bags will produce good results as well provided you keep up with the large amount of water they require. For the price, you can’t beat the price of the Gardzen fabric grow bags.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best size grow bag for vegetables?
Large vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant will benefit from a 5-10 gallon grow bag, the larger the better. If you’ll be growing basil or other herbs, a 1-3 gallon grow bag per plant would suffice. For growing leafy greens, consider a large diameter bag such as the Bekith 50 gallon grow bags.
What vegetables are good to grow in bags?
There really is no limit to the type of vegetable you can plant in grow bags. So long as the bag is sufficiently sized you can grow any type of vegetables. Just be sure to fill with good soil and water properly.
What should I put under grow bags?
Using a plastic saucer under fabric grow bags is never a bad idea. Since the non-woven material is permeable to water, some will run off before the soil can absorb it when watering. The tray allows you to capture some runoff and allow it to wick back into the bag.
Do you need to put holes in the bottom of grow bags?
Non-woven fabric grow bags do not require drain hole. The material will allow excess water to drain freely. If using plastic grow bags, be sure there are several drain hole near the bottom of the bag, if no you can add some.
Can you overwater plants in grow bags?
You can overwater a plant in any container. However, the fabric grow bags are difficult to overwater. In fact, you’ll more likely have trouble keeping the plants watered enough with fabric grow bags since they dry out very quickly in the heat of summer.
Should I use potting soil in grow bags?
Yes, any good quality potting soil will work great in grow bags.
Can you leave grow bags out all winter?
Sure, grow bags can be left out all winter. We use a lot of grow bags, the hassle of refilling them every year would be a huge hassle. However, for the longevity of the bag it’s probably better to empty the bags and put them in storage when not in use.
How many years do grow bags last? How many times can you use a grow bag?
We have some fabric grow bags more than 5 years old that work as good as the day we purchased them. The plastic grow bags we purchased two years ago are still holding up strong as well.
Are grow bags better than plastic pots?
Fabric grow bags prevent plants from getting root bound by air pruning. In this regard, grow bags are better than plastic pots. Here’s a post on how to make a DIY air-pruning container.
Can you grow peppers and tomatoes in a grow bag?
Absolutely, just be sure to use at least a 5-gallon grow bag for peppers. For tomatoes, we recommend at least a 7-gallon grow bag, with a 10-gallon grow bag being optimal.
How do you sanitize grow bags?
Non-woven fabric grow bags can be sanitized by soaking them in a mix of 1/4 hydrogen peroxide to one gallon of water for about 20 minutes. Do not use bleach, it will reduce the lifespan of your bags by breaking down the fibers.
I hope this review has been helpful in finding the best grow bags for vegetables. If you are looking for seeds to fill your garden, visit our seed store.