How to Make an Easy Soil Bag Garden

The tools and materials you’ll need to make an easy soil bag garden are:

• Bag of garden soil
• Clear plastic storage container with lid (Note: The container should be large enough to hold the bag of soil)
• Garden tools
• Garden scissors or snips
• Seedlings or plant seeds
• Organic fertilizer
• Watering can with nozzle or garden hose with watering wand

For a soil bag garden, a 2-cubic-foot bag of soil works well. Use a smaller bag if that would work better for your space. A smaller soil bag garden will be more portable, but it will need to be watered more often.

No matter what size bag you use, pay attention to the spacing requirements of the plants. Also consider how big they will be when they’re mature. You don’t want to overcrowd your easy soil bag garden.

Pick a spot for your soil bag garden. It should get plenty of sun. Once you know where you’ll place your easy soil bag garden, set it on top of the storage container lid. The lid will catch the drainage underneath. Having the lid underneath the soil bag will prevent water stains on decks, balconies or patios.

To create drainage holes, lift one side of the soil bag. Use your garden scissors or snips to poke drainage holes in the bottom of the bag.

After you make the drainage holes, lay the bag flat on top of the storage container lid. Use a utility knife to cut a square out of the top of the bag out to make room for your garden. As you cut, stay two to three inches away from the edge of the bag Leaving space on the sides will help keep the soil from spilling out of the bag.

Arrange the seedlings with taller plants in the back and smaller plants in the front. For this project garden, the plants included butter lettuces, “Prizm” kale and “Miz America” mustard greens. They all need full sun.

If you prefer to plant seeds instead, know your region’s frost date and growing season length. Plant accordingly.

To figure out how to space out the plants your soil bag garden, read the tags of the plants or the seed packets to find the requirements for each one.

Dig holes in your soil bag garden and start planting. Be sure to save any extra potting soil you dug out of the bag. Set it aside so you can use it in other planters.

If unexpected cold weather creeps into the forecast, keep your soil bag garden warm with a plastic storage tote. Make sure to use a storage bin that’s big enough for your soil bag garden.

With the lid underneath the bag, place the storage tote on top so it acts like a cold frame. Tuck in the sides and snap it closed on cold nights below 47 degrees Fahrenheit.

As a general rule, prop open the tote with a stick when day temperatures reach between 35 degrees to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. You can pull the storage tote off entirely if temperatures reach above 40 degrees.

Lettuce and other leafy greens grow best in cooler temperatures during spring and fall in most regions. Temperatures above 45 degrees Fahrenheit and below 65 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal.

When seedlings emerge in your soil bag garden, give your lettuce a boost with an organic fertilizer. Plan to apply fertilizer about once a month since leafy greens will likely be harvested again.

If the lettuces look like they’re wilting, add water. Lettuce needs a steady supply of water.

When harvesting, it’s best to pick the lettuce before it matures for the best taste. Be sure to harvest lettuce in the early morning. Pick outer leaves on butter and romaine lettuces or cut the plant to about an inch above the soil's surface. For crisphead lettuce, pick when the center is firm.

You can plant herb seedlings in a soil bag for an instant herb garden. In warm weather, plant moisture-loving herbs like basil, oregano, chamomile and thyme. You can start drought-tolerant herbs like rosemary and lavender in soil bags and transfer them to containers or garden beds later in the season.

You can even plant a pizza garden in a soil bag. Start with a patio-sized cherry tomato plant and surround it with basil seedlings. You'll have most of the ingredients for a tasty tomato, basil and mozzarella Caprese salad in no time.

Tip: Most edibles need frequent light watering to support steady growth. Use a watering can with a nozzle or hose with a watering wand to shower plants.