So, you're itching to grow some peppers and want them close to the house, but not sure where to put them?
Feed bags may just be your new best friend.
Stick around, because in this article, I'm about to spill the dirt on how to grow peppers in feed bags, while reaping the benefits of it.
Why use Feed Bags? The Perks You Didn't Know About
I personally started using feed bags, because I was actually curious to know if they would work.
That, and I had a ton lying around, so I thought, why not try them?
Below are three reasons why feed bags aren't bad to use:
Space-Saving
First of all, feed bags are great for trying to save space. They can be easily tuck into any nook—be it a balcony, a corner of your patio, or even alongside your driveway.
The point here is that even if you don't have a large garden (or any garden at all), you can still grow peppers or any other plants, because you can literally put these feed bags where ever you can find the space for them.
Cost-Effective
Second good thing about feed bags is they are budget-friendly too.
Like I said above, I personally use them because I have them on hand, plus they are free. there are a lot of farmers that just leaved them lying around not sure of what to do with them.
So what you can do is either ask for them, or just buy them for a couple of bucks? and the best part?
You can reuse them for several seasons. which promotes recycling. That's sustainability, recycling, and savings rolled into one.
Better Air Circulation and Drainage (Which Peppers specifically Love)
When it comes to air circulation and drainage, most feed bags will usually help with both of those.
The fabric (or weave that is used) is breathable, which allows the roots to get the oxygen they crave. This will lead to healthier, more robust pepper plants on down the road.
Plus, the only things that you need to do is just poke a hole on the bottom of it so that the water can flow out of the bag naturally (to avoid any water-log).
Preparing your Pepper plant For transplanting
Before we jump straight into the planting, there's some groundwork to be done.
Literally.
From germinating your seeds to choosing the perfect feed bag, let's go through all the essential prep steps to set you up for success.
Germinate Your Seeds First!
One of the first things that you need to do when transplanting a pepper in a feed bag is to germinate your pepper seeds.
Germination is a process when the seed starts to grow into a plant. This occur when the seed gets water, warmth, and (sometimes) light.
If this happen, the seeds then “wakes up” and begins to sprout, sending out tiny roots and a shoot.
To do this, the first thing you need to do is to soak the pepper seeds in the water for at least 24 hours.
After that, place them in a damp paper towel to help break down the outer coating of the seeds.
Just make sure to always keep them in a warm, dark place. (i.e. a drawer or a cupboard would work) and try to check daily for those tiny green sprouts every now and then.
Which Type Of Feed Bag Should You Use?
Not all feed bags are the same.
I personally used what I had lying around and worked with it, which is probably what most of those reading this are going to do.
However, if you have a choice in types of feed bags, what you want to look for are bags made of breathable fabric like burlap or woven polypropylene.
These types of fabrics and weaves help with better air circulation compared to other types of feed bags.
But, like I said above, most any type of feed bag will work, as long as you're willing to figure out how best to work with them.
Step-by-Step Guide to Transplanting a pepper Plant into feed bags
Now that you've got your sprouted seeds and your feed bags ready to go, what's next?
Putting The Soil Into The Bag (Obviously)
If you are like me, then you probably either live on a farm, or have a farming friend nearby that you can get good quality compost from for free.
That will work to fill your bags with. You really don't need to be that fancy when it comes to the dirt that you grow your soil in.
However, if you don't have that type of resource and need something to fill your feed bags with, then I would recommend a high-quality potting mix like a mixture of one part peat moss, and one part perlite or sand.
If you can find some, I would also add some good natural compost like worms casting for an extra nutrient boost.
This natural compost will help enrich the soil, and will provide your pepper plants with essential minerals that it needs (like nitrogen and potassium).
Putting the Sprouts in the feed bags
Once your seeds have sprouted, the next thing that you will do is to gently put them into the soil about an inch deep. This depth is ideal for root development in seeds that have just germinated.
After doing that, the next things that you need to do is to water the plants and place your feed bag in a sunny spot. Sunlight is obviously crucial for photosynthesis (the process that helps your plants grow).
I personally grew my pepper plants in 2 gallon pots before transferring them (as you can see in the image above), so if your doing something like that, then you may not want to fill your feed bag up with too much dirt from the start.
I personally had to take about a third of the dirt out of the bag (since I filled it almost all the way up) just to put the pepper transplant in the bag.
But if you're using seeds you just germinated, then the method above (1 inch into the soil) will work fine.
A Note About Watering Your pepper plants
Over-watering is your enemy when it comes to pepper plants. It can lead to waterlogged soil, and most of the time root rot.
Something we do not want.
However, since we are using feedbags and already put holes them, it's okay to initially go crazy watering them in, since they'll have excellent drainage.
Once they're watered in though, make sure to monitor the soil moisture by sticking your finger about an inch deep into the soil—and when it feels dry, it's time to water.
Watch Your peppers Grow And Enjoy!
And there you have it!
Growing peppers in feed bags is not just doable, it's downright smart.
You'll save space, cut costs, and enjoy the fresh harvest while helping keep the earth cleaner through recycling.
So why wait?
Get those seeds germinating and let's grow some peppers!
Got some insights about growing peppers in feed bags? I'd love to hear them. Leave your thoughts in the comments section below, and I'll be more than happen to get back to you.