Jessica ZanderContents
In this article, you’ll learn how to make your own potato grow bag.
Grow bags don’t cost anything to buy – some are even as cheap as a box of pizza. However, the DIY spirit is still alive in many of us, and we tend to want to try out new things – things like making a potato grow bag.
We reviewed some of the best and most affordable potato grow bags here. See this other article if you’re interested in grow bags for tomatoes.
Let’s get started, shall we?
How do you make a potato grow bag?
To make your own potato grow bag, you need the following.
- Grow bag material.
- Nylon sewing thread and needle – if you’d like to do it manually. (Sewing machine will be better).
- Marker or chalk.
- Measuring tape.
- Gum/glue (optional).
- Velcro flaps.
A quick question…
What material are grow bags made of?
Grow bags can be made from different materials – fabric, polyethylene, plastic, felt materials etc. The fabric grow bags are arguably the most common.
For this tutorial, we will use a fabric material. It’s not the thickest material out there, but it’ll be fine for our activities.
We have divided this how-to guide into different steps.
Step 1
At this stage you’ve chosen the material you’d like to use – in this case, we chose the fabric material.
The first thing we do is to take a look at the materials and see if they’re ready to come under the knife. Then, we measure out the material we’ll need. A rectangular shape will be just fine.
Step 2
Next, we sew the bag from one side to the other in an L shape, leaving only an opening on the top. At this point, we want to give our bag a solid base so it can stand on its own.
Step 3
Fold down about 2cm of the two corners on the bottom of the bag and hold them in place with a needle and thread. You can also fasten with a pin. The 2cm is determined by the size of the cloth material you cut. If the bag is bigger, then you should measure more than 2cm.
Step 4
Turn the bag face down and mark two points. The two points must fall between the points of the folding of the corners. They should be evenly spaced. Mark the points under and unfold the corners.
Step 5
Next, make the marks on the unfolded side. Do this for the two sides.
Use a sewing machine or the needle & thread to sew along the line you marked on both corners.
Step 6
You can sew handles onto the top if you wish or you can leave it that way. It is better to sew handles if you’ll be moving it around a little more often.
Step 7
Use a hot soldering iron or a screwdriver to perforate holes by the side of the bag. Small holes will be just fine. Don’t perforate holes on the bottom if you don’t want worms coming into the bag.
Step 8
Get your Velcro flaps and take its measurement. Choose one side of the bag and mark a square shape on it. Use a razor blade or a sharp knife to cut out the part you marked.
Make sure the hole you are cutting out is a few “cm” smaller than the Velcro flaps. Then, sew the Velcro flaps onto the bag.
Note 1: You can do this in after step 2 above i.e. after cutting out the material you need.
Note 2: If you’re making a grow bag for other purposes, you should stop at step 7 above.
Your grow bag is now ready. It’s a time-consuming process, but it’s worth it.
If you’re buying a large number of grow bags, this can be a cost saver. Buy one-third of the grow bags you need, and make the rest. Quality of the grow bags is important.
Turn the bag inside out and wash it if necessary.
Resources: Anna, Northern Homestead.
I've been passionate about gardening since the early 1990s, and in 2022, I launched You Can Do It Gardening to empower individuals to feel more confident in their gardening endeavors.
Following a 30-year career in nonprofit finance and operations, I transitioned out of that field in mid-June of 2023 due to the growing demand for coaching services. Interestingly, my years of presenting financial statements to boards and finance committees proved to be valuable experience for teaching people about gardening! I enjoy sharing skills, providing guidance and suggestions, and collaborating efficiently with clients to make significant improvements to their outdoor spaces, both small and large. I also regularly teach at the Arlington Continuing Education and Cambridge Adult Education.
My approach is direct and practical, akin to Mary Poppins, but tailored to your garden. Clients find satisfaction in saving money and taking pride in their own gardening achievements.
- How to Get Potatoes to Sprout Eyes: Detailed Growing Guide with 3 Options - July 31, 2023
- Weight of a Medium Potato: Revealed in Detailed Guide - July 29, 2023
- Maris Piper Potatoes: 9 Substitutes You Should Know About - July 27, 2023
Hello! I’m Jessica Zander, a garden coach and consultant based in the Boston area (zone 6b), offering virtual consultations across the country and Canada.
I’ve been passionate about gardening since the early 1990s, and in 2022, I launched You Can Do It Gardening to empower individuals to feel more confident in their gardening endeavors.
Following a 30-year career in nonprofit finance and operations, I transitioned out of that field in mid-June of 2023 due to the growing demand for coaching services. Interestingly, my years of presenting financial statements to boards and finance committees proved to be valuable experience for teaching people about gardening! I enjoy sharing skills, providing guidance and suggestions, and collaborating efficiently with clients to make significant improvements to their outdoor spaces, both small and large. I also regularly teach at the Arlington Continuing Education and Cambridge Adult Education.
My approach is direct and practical, akin to Mary Poppins, but tailored to your garden. Clients find satisfaction in saving money and taking pride in their own gardening achievements.
Add comment