SmartPots - A Raised Bed Solution

Planted the first week of April This is my first year of planting vegetables at the townhouse. I planted in pots and window boxes,...

Planted the first week of April

This is my first year of planting vegetables at the townhouse. I planted in pots and window boxes, but my preferred method was in fiber bags called "SmartPots".

I looked at many solutions such as building wooden raised beds, or using pre-made kits, but in the end they were expensive for the size and had draw backs.

I went big, literally with the 50" bag from SmartPots. It took 100 gallons of potting soil to fill. No easy feat, as there is no street access to the back patio. Remembering my geometry class with Mr. Kasmerski at Rubidoux High School, the area it is almost 15 square feet of growing space. One of the advantages of the fiber bag is drainage. The soil stays moist, but not soggy. As all of the soil is a quality potting mix from Miracle Grow, some of the advice on space of the plants can be thrown out. But using the advice of Monty Don, I spaced the seeds just a hand span apart.

What to plant? In a nod to the "Three Sisters" tradition of Native American cultures, I filled the bag with corn, squash, and beans, a combination that also gets a nod from the Burpee Companion Planting guide. Not only are the plants nutritious, but the combination work well together in the soil. Learn more about the Three Sisters here.

No need to think linear. Why rows when you are working with a circle? Be creative. The fiber bag is also good for planting right to the edge of your container. I'm writing this while in Nepal, and in the neighborhood gardens I see corn growing in clumps, not neat rows. It really makes sense if you measure your garden in square feet, not acres. Corn ears requires pollination from nearby corn plants.

Here's what I planted for my first attempt at bag'n it.



As can seen from the large picture at the top of this post, after 6 weeks, the garden is thriving.