[Elcie]

What is the main difference between grow bags and bags of compost?

I am planning on planting lots of tomato, melon, chilli and cucumber in my greenhouse adn wondered whether to go the grow bag route or pot filled with compost route.  Any advice?

[JulesJ]

I haven't had great success with growbags as they dry out (and the cats love them as litter trays), so I'm planning big pots but using the growbag contents because they have the nutrients that tomatoes etc need.

[celjaci]

Grow bags are so cheap the compost in them can be the floor sweepings and general rubbish. They don't have much in the way of nutrients either and you will need to feed after 6 weeks.
See also the thread on peat-free compost because most people have had bad experiences with these as well.
Best solution is to mix your own

[argaric]

I only use grow bags for toms, I use tom watering pots that do a good job but you do need to feed them a lot. For other stuff I use the best compost I can find and put in pots.

Regards,
  Argaric

[beestie-crawlies]

I bought a veg grow bag last week, to use for potting on my seeds.
One of the bags at the garden centre was split, so I had the chance to have a look at the contents before buying. Very dark and felt nice in the hand.

This was 3.99 for 60L. I noticed on saturday that they do normal grow bags of the same stuff for 1.79??? and they are 33L bags.

Could have bought two for cheaper. Will be getting a few this weekend for my carrot bins.

[Elcie]

Best solution is to mix your own

I wouldn't mind having a go at that.  Any advice on what goes into the mixture?

[mumofstig]

Munty's compost mixes:-
http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=8533.0

[celjaci]

For a general potting mix - equal parts by volume of:

Sterilized loam    (balances nutrients and helps re-wetting )
Composted Green Waste  ( retains moisture and gives some nutrients )
Composted bark 1-5mm ( improves air-filled porosity/ drainage )

Add some compound organic feed or Blood Fish and Bone
Plus Hoof and Horn ( balances nitrogen draw down by Bark )
Plus Dolomitic Lime if Loam is acid

You could of course use Osmocote slow release fertilizer if you were not organic