Gardener Transforms Old Feed Bags To Make A More Functional Tomato Growing Station

If you don't have a big garden but you're craving some homegrown tomatoes, this hack will change everything. For those who are surrounded by concrete, a vegetable garden can feel far out of reach. But even if you have a small balcony or patio, Terrace Garden on YouTube proved that you can successfully grow tomatoes in old feed bags. There are some big cons and downsides to growing tomatoes indoors, so this self-contained garden can help, even if you're limited on outdoor space.

The first step is to fill some plastic beverage cups with soil. Then, add your tomato seeds and grow your starter plant. To get more tomato plants, you can actually root and propagate more tomatoes from cuttings. Simply snip the tomato sucker that grows from the leaf axil, where the leaf joins with the main stem. That little shoot is the sucker you'll want to replant. Repeat this process until you have as many tomato plants as you desire. Then, you'll want to gather your feed bags and replace the feed with proper soil that doesn't contain treated seed, pesticides, or herbicides. For each medium-size feed bag, you can fit one tomato plant on each side with a hole in the middle for your DIY irrigation system. Make sure to cut the holes a little larger than the cup that's housing your tomato plants. Finally, replant the adolescent plants in the feed bag by digging a hole deep enough for the root ball to be properly covered.

Once your tomatoes are planted in the feed bags, there are a few elements you can include to ensure they thrive. First, add stakes to prop up your plants as they grow. You can use zip ties or twine to secure them. Then, you'll want to create your irrigation system. Take a large plastic water bottle and drill about four 1-2mm size holds into the bottom. Bury your water bottle — cap facing upward — about halfway under the soil, in the hole between the two tomato plants. Always check your soil regularly to make sure it is not soggy nor completely dry. 

Last but not least, You can build a horizontal trellis to keep your tomato plants from growing into each other. If you don't have space for this on your balcony or patio, this isn't totally necessary for success. Although it can give your tomatoes some room to breathe, a simple vertical stake system is usually sufficient. No matter what, make sure your tomatoes have physical support. Keep in mind that your feed bags should have proper drainage holes if they are made of plastic to prevent waterlogging. Proper drainage is one of the handiest hacks to remember when growing tomatoes. Burlap feed bags already have natural ventilation, so they can be preferable for the tomato's health. Overall, this is a great way to repurpose bags of leftover feed or soil that might otherwise go to waste. To ensure a healthy harvest, don't forget to review our best tips for growing tomatoes in your garden.