Grow bags are in!

**Telephus44** · 04-23-2005, 09:47 PM

Earlier I posted a thread about gow bags - I had ordered a package that came with 25 strawberry plants and 2 grow bags. I got this on Wednesday. I put them together Wed. night. According to the instructions, they need to lay flat for 1-2 weeks to let the roots catch hold and start growing, then they can be hung up. The ones I got are sturdy plastic (I thought that they could easily be re-used, and sure enough, that's what the instructions say!) and about a foot and a half long, plus a 6 inch handle. I will post pictures as soon as I get them hung up.

This is also my first year with strawberries - any advice? I did put in some slow release 19-5-20 fertilizer when I put the soil in the bag, and I am watering them every night right now. When they finally go outside, my desk is full sun.

**Mamawolf** · 04-23-2005, 10:01 PM

I had a hard time with a strawberry pot I had last year. It got some mold on it, but when it didn't have mold, it was too dry! I was so confused.

**Katybird** · 04-23-2005, 10:09 PM

I have never grown strawberries so I don't have any advice on growing them but I am anxious to hear how your grow bags do. They sound like such a good idea.

**forestdale** · 04-24-2005, 01:18 AM

I'm growing strawberries in the ground at the moment. They're really easy, they like water and no weeds - you'll have no trouble with weeds in a grow bag

I've cut holes in a weed mat to keep the weeds away from mine and they seem to like it. I've already had some luscious strawberries, although they are small.

I'm starting on an intensive fetilising program to endeavour to increase the size. I'm totally organic so I'm using bone meal scattered around them and sulphate of potash diluted in water and watered on every week. The potash increases flowering and you get more strawbs.

I'm not really up on chemical fetilising but you need one that has a high potash content. Your fertilizer 19-5-20 has a potassium (potash) content of 20 - it's N-P-K - nitrogen, phosophus, potassium. I'm guessing that's a fairly high level of potassium and if it is, that's good.

The only other thing you need to do is to give them plenty of sun and water, pick off the dead or dying leaves and get the ice cream ready.

Good luck Sara, I'm dying to see the pics.

**Telephus44** · 04-24-2005, 12:50 PM

Ice cream? Heck no, I'm growing them for strawberry shortcake!! 've got my Bisquick stockpiled

One more small thing I started doing, in case anyone else is interested in the grow bags - when I water them, I put a small funnel into each slit, and then pour water through the funnel to make sure that it gets in the bag. It took me two days to figure this out.