Top 5 Best Grow Bags for Vegetables and Plants

We have reviewed the top 5 best grow bags for gardening on the market, noted their features, and ranked them in terms of their efficiency, durability, and overall quality.
By
Nora Held
Nora Held
Research Writer
Apart from being our main writer, Nora also works for a number of gardening-related sites and magazines, sharing her experience as an owner of a small farm in North Carolina read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Bruce Williams
Bruce Williams
Expert Consultant
Bruce owns a small farm and loves to grill since his early childhood. He’s a professional cook, but hiking and enjoying the great outdoors is his no less favorite part of read more
Last updated: August 18, 2023
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As we constantly explore various options of cutting down shopping expenses, grow bags provide us with a means to grow our plants and save cost. While this sounds like a cool and cost-effective idea of growing food items, it’s difficult to spot the best grow bags when shopping.

Before now, people would rather go for the conventional plastic pot options for growing their tuber crops. Today, however, there are a few other innovative ways to achieve better yields from growing your plants at home, one of which grow bags top the list.

Without the right guidance from an expert, you could easily select a grow bag that doesn’t suit your potting preference. We have combed through several leading brands to get you the top 5 best grow bags suitable for your planting needs.

Quick Summary

Top 5 Best Grow Bags Review 2024

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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 7430 people in the past 30 days
9.8
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.3
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.7
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.6
9.8
Features
  • Material: Non-woven fabric
  • Colors: Black
  • Sizes (gal.): 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 100
  • Bags in a pack: 5

Other Features: Environmental-friendly, Reinforced handles, Soil oxygenated, anti-circling root structure, aids more vigorous growth.

Our editor’s choice for plant grow bags this season is the VIVOSUN 5-Pack 20 Gallon product. The moderately permeable structures of these bags make worrying about airflow be a thing of the past. With the excess drainage feature, users can rest assured of fabric grow bags that allow the roots to breathe healthily. With its anti-circling root structure, reinforced handles, and moderately permeable rugged fabric, you should have a grow bag to last for years.

As one of the most-demand models of this product, this modified version comes with handles made of serger stitches and aerated fabric that supports pruning and trimming roots.

    What do we love it for?
  • In this upgraded version, we loved how much styling and detail was invested into sewing the fabric pots using serger stitches. The sewing makes it difficult for the fabric grow bags to retain water for long without cutting down on the stylish look.
    What were we disappointed with?
  • So far, we've gotten disturbing feedback about these fabric pots promoting mold! A few users with these complaints have had to dispose of their plants due to the terrible smell from the mold. Another feature that could be improved on is the part where most of the soil bunches spill away when the pot is lifted.
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 4818 people in the past 30 days
9.7
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.3
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.2
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.4
9.7
Features
  • Material: Soft Plastic
  • Colors: Black & White
  • Sizes (gal.): 1, 2, 3, 5
  • Bags in a pack: 50

Other Features: Ideal for small gardens, excellent drainage stitching, great floor standing balance, easily transportable.

Our second and premium pick is the black-and-white VIVOSUN 50-Pack 5 Gallon product. The grow bags come with evenly spread holes on the sides and bottom, making them reliable potters. These black-and-white grow bags are easily transportable, provide the best supports for starting seedlings, and aid quick growing. They are also the perfect potato grow bags option suitable for all types of planting seasons.

The structure and sizes from this modified version now make the bags the right fit for potting taro, potatoes, carrots, radishes, and other tuber crops.

    What stands out?
  • For this product, we loved the fact that the bags come with visible aerated spaces that guarantee users of the breathability it provides the plants. You would love the multi-purpose option of these pots, allowing you to stand them in your sunrooms, balconies, or outdoor spaces just the way you like.
    What cons did we manage to find?
  • Even with the seemingly visible aerated spaces, many users still complain of the moisture-retaining defect from these grow bags leading to root rot. Apparently, the number of drainage holes doesn't match the amount of rainfall the bags store, especially when used in temperature areas. Also, if only the bags' durability could be improved on more because they are no more than upgraded garbage bags with a few holes on the sides.
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 2365 people in the past 30 days
9.3
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.8
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.1
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.0
9.3
Features
  • Material: 260g. Thickened non-woven fabric
  • Colors: Black & Green
  • Sizes (gal.): 3, 5, 7, 10
  • Bags in a pack: 5

Other Features: Heavy-duty thickened surface, supports spring planting, X-sewing serging stitching, Nursery cultivation for tender plants.

We have selected the VIVOSUN 5-Pack 7 Gallon product as our third choice due to its excellent air circulation system for succulent potting plants. The net pot of these plant grow bags comes with a wide lip that supports enough seedlings. Their absorbency feature enables them to grow strong and fibrous roots for cultivating basil, tomatoes, orchids, cilantro, and peppers.

We loved this pot, particularly for its stylish look, making it one of the best mushroom grow bags for transporting the plant. In this upgrade, we noticed a deliberate detail in the sizing and root zone features that make the grow bags perfect for indoor and outdoor gardening.

    What are its best features?
  • Our love for this VIVOSUN grow pot began when we felt a firm grip while pulling the bag with soil in it. The non-woven fabric feature allows the bags to hold the right amount of water needed to keep the plant healthy without over-watering. Users would love them for the beautification of their balconies, patios, and gardens.
    What could be improved?
  • While the little stakeholder loops on the side continue to draw the attention of many, the surface area of these bags could use a slight improvement. Sadly, when filled with dirt, that area of the bag sprouts out, making the bags look messy and entirely shapeless. Perhaps if the exact bags were reshaped to have round-looking structures, their surface area might not have this setback.
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 2011 people in the past 30 days
9.2
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.8
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.0
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.8
9.2
Features
  • Material: Felt fabric, nylon straps
  • Colors: Grey, navy, velvet & brown
  • Sizes (gal.): 3, 5, 7, 10
  • Bags in a pack: 7

Other Features: Aeration fabric bags, Environmental-friendly smart pots, Name tag bonus, Sales support help after purchase.

If you prefer your tomato grow bags to have a stylish and durable outward appearance to match the leaves of your plants, then go with this HAOWIN Colorful Plant product. These breathable smart fabric pots allow spontaneous aeration as well as enable excess water drainage for all plants. The 4-sizes-4-color package allows you to easily transfer the plants from one bag to another in easily identifiable pots.

This upgrade of the HAOWIN grow bags comes with high-density nylon handles that enable you to move the pots around to access adequate sunlight.

    Why are we impressed?
  • We love the fact that these plant grow bags come with name tags that allow users to add the names of each plant for easy identification. With the name tags, you could also easily date the time of seedling planting as well as other important notes like the plant species. We liked that the grow bags attract access to sales support that enables you to call the manufacturer to make your complaints.
    What negatives must you be aware of?
  • We have always had concerns about the coloration of these pots since users would have to pour water into them regularly. Like we feared, there’s been a few criticisms about the colors fading after a while, which makes the pots look like other regular grow pots. Aside from the coloration complaints, users fear that this product isn’t entirely durable and may not last as long as expected.
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 4396 people in the past 30 days
9.0
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.9
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.5
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.6
9.0
Features
  • Material: Soft plastic
  • Color: Black
  • Sizes (gal.): 10
  • Bags in a pack: 4

Other Features: Sturdy material, Ventilation-improved holes, light-resistant, access flap window.

Last on the list is our best potato grow bag product, the ANPHSIN 4-Pack 10 Gallon Garden beauty. Ventilation is everything when growing your plants indoors or outdoors, and this product comes with ventilation-improved holes for that purpose. The light-resistant feature helps to regulate the amount of sunlight compared to other polyvinyl grow bags. With the sturdy material feature, your potatoes can breathe healthily, producing enough yields.

This upgrade version comes in a neatly customized premium PE plastic material that supports adequate sunlight access to your potato plants.

    Why are we impressed?
  • With this product, we exceptionally loved how cool the big access flap window makes the potato grow bags look. The Velcro window attached to this product helps to reduce irrigation which often leads to excessive water in the soil. It’s cool that you can access the window to drain excess water through evaporation from the sun. The Velcro window also makes observing the growth of the crops possible from time to time.
    What negatives must you be aware of?
  • With how amazing these potato grow bags are, people constantly wish ANPHSIN would make customized bags for other tuber crops as well. The bags operate perfectly well when used to pot potatoes because of their customary features. However, they aren’t the best potting options for succulent plants that require less rigid or sturdy material to cultivate their seedlings.

Things to Consider

To get value on your money spent on grow bags, you need to know the features to look out for while shopping. As grow bags continue to gain popularity today, you should understand their benefits and how to use them. This would contribute to your knowledge about fabric pots or plant grow bags which helps with your expectations while shopping.

Benefits of Grow Bags

Many people all over the world are switching their gardening habits onto ones that involve grow bags. There are lots of advantages that help to ease the gardening process.

  1. Healthier Root System

Top 5 Best Grow Bags for Vegetables and PlantsGrowing your plants with regular pots tends to cause the root system to entangle, which is why grow bags are preferentially better for the roots. The entanglement between the roots leads to de-oxygenation of the seedlings and water stagnation problems. Grow bags help to solve this problem as the root grows towards the boundaries, they feel the soil exposure from dry air. The roots then realize they have to be air-pruned to eliminate girdling roots.

  1. Temperature Control

Another interesting and beneficial edge of fabric pots against plastic pots is that they help control temperature during intense sunlight exposure. Plastic pots are not designed to support breathability, a feature that is naturally provided when your plants are in the ground. With the VIVOSUN 10 gallon grow bags, for example, your plants would have enough air with the excess heat escaping through the sides of the fabric pots.

  1. Water Considerations

Your plants benefit greatly from the porous feature fabric grow bags come with. Plants generally required frequent but monitored watering, however, it’s pretty much easy to experience over-watering with plastic pots. On the other hand, it’s almost impossible to have over-watering with plant grow bags as they regulate the amount of water in them per time. Grow bags help you to eliminate mold or fungus concerns with traditional pots.

  1. Storage

Now there’s been a lasting setback of mismanagement and general storage issues of traditional planting pots when not in use. Many sometimes leave them unkempt that they wear out or get damaged after a long time. Fabric pots like the ANPHSIN 4-Pack 10 Gallon Garden Potato Grow bags can be easily stored in homes. By simply folding mushroom grow bags, you could have them in good shape for the next season to get good mushrooms.

  1. The Versatility Feature

Top 5 Best Grow Bags for Vegetables and PlantsThe majority of grow bags on the market are easy to move with built-in handles. Like the HAOWIN Colorful grow bag, many others also come in varying colors making the fabric pots look attractive and easy to carry around. Since they are also biodegradable, users can plant their crops directly into the ground. The best grow bags are of varying colors and sizes, making them more versatile than the regular traditional planting bag options.

How to Use Grow Bags

Alright, we have identified the benefits of grow bags, but how to use them efficiently? Without further ado, here is our quick step-by-step guide:

Step I: Get Your Grow Bag Ready!

Buying a growing bag that is compatible with the composition of your plant is the first step to take. You can easily get grow bags from nursery stores around you or reliable sources online. Pick your preferred fabric pots according to the sizes of the plants you intend to grow in your garden. For example, the 100 Gallon VIVOSUN non-woven bag would be suitable for planting something quite similar to the size of a grapefruit tree.

Step II: Add Your Soil

Top 5 Best Grow Bags for Vegetables and PlantsSince most grow bags nowadays are designed to aid drainage, we’d skip the step of adding clay pebbles to the fabric pots. Adding soil to your plant bags can be done in whichever way you find pleasing the most. You can either make your mix from scratch, use the regular gardening soil, or purchase soil compost specifically mixed for grow bags. The plant you intend to plant determines the level of the soil, however filling it almost all the way works.

Step III: Put Your Plant 

Adding your plant to the grow bag should be done appropriately following the type of crop you intend to plant. Read or learn about the ways to insert your plants into grow bags without restricting their growth in the process. You can plan to grow trees in your grow bags, provided you have the right fabric pot that is large enough to accommodate the tree plant.

Step IV: Place the Bag in the Right Position

One major benefit of growing your plants with grow bags is their versatility in moving them around. At first, clear out a section of your garden with adequate sunlight and easy access to water or rainfall. In the long run, you can always move the grow bag temporarily to positions with sunlight on less sunny days or seasons. If you can, place them in a greenhouse or your balcony area without exposing the plant to excess sunlight.

Step V: Water the Bag Regularly

Top 5 Best Grow Bags for Vegetables and PlantsUnlike traditional bags that retain water in them after a long time, grow bags need to be watered regularly. Fabric pots are designed to regulate water intake by the plants to prevent over-watering since they lose a significant amount of water per time.

Avoid situations that’d make the soil dry out by adding water regularly to the plant in the grow bag. A few fabric bags, like the tomato grow bags, require watering more than once daily.

Step VI: Fertilize the Plant

Just like with soil compost, you can choose to either make your fertilizer or purchase one suitable for your plant. You need to follow a slightly different approach when applying fertilizers for grow bags. Depending on the type of crop to be planted, you should make the layer of fertilizer a very thin one applied on the top of the grow bag. Ideally, you could leave about 5cm of space from the surface of the soil to get enough airflow.

Step VII: Reuse the Soil & Bag After One Planting Season

In most cases, you can reuse your soil after successfully getting your yields from one planting season. If the soil compost looks and feels healthy enough, store it to keep it in good shape for the next planting season. Plant grow bags are always reusable, which makes them the best option over traditional pots. You can easily reuse your 3-gallon grow bags after planting tomato yield for feeding your family for one season.

Features to Consider Before Buying Grow Bags

Before walking into a store or embarking on a shopping spree for grow bags, there are certain features you must keep in mind to look out for. With a wide variety of products in the market today, you want to be sure you get value on the money spent during purchase. Each feature is significant to the overall growth of your plant, how healthy they turn out, and the yield you get after harvesting. Let’s go through these features to help you get started.

Sizes & Dimensions

Sizes matter a lot when picking out plant grow bags for your planting project. The sizes of your fabric pots help to contribute to the airflow the plants get, which in turn reflects on the yields. You could go for smaller sizes like the 3 Gallon HAOWIN tomato grow bags to get a handful of tomato yield. Alternatively, you can explore the ANPHSIN 10 gallon size potato grow bags specifically crafted with customary features for potting potatoes.

Material

Top 5 Best Grow Bags for Vegetables and PlantsTo shop for the best grow bags, you should definitely check out the material while shopping. But would you know what to look out for? Check out the durability of the material used for the bags while ensuring it offers enough aeration to your plants. Aim to get long-lasting mushroom grow bags like the VIVOSUN thickened non-woven fabric product. Lastly, ensure the potato grow bags provide enough handle support from high-quality material.

Aeration & Drainage

The ability to get off as much water from your plants’ root system is a reason to go for fabric bags. However, you want to get plant grow bags that offer the right drainage features so you don’t over-water or under-water the plant. While you don’t wish to stuff the plant without adequate air, ensure you get the right tomato grow bags to get enough air for your tomatoes. Get any VIVOSUN fabric grow bags for optimal aeration and drainage features.

FAQ

Will Roots Grow Through Grow Bags?

This would have to be a “YES” and “NO” answer. Depending on the type of plant you are growing, you might have plants with vigorous roots trying to approach the bag’s ends. However, they would hardly burst through the bags because of the texture of the fabric. At most, they’d turn around to form a more coordinated root system to eliminate root girdling.

With the multiple drainage holes that come with fabric pots, you can expect the roots to grow healthily without interfering with the corners of the bags.  In the cases of growing trees with vigorous root systems, you might experience the root grow through the grow bags after a while. To prevent this from happening earlier, get bags with large gallon sizes.

How Do I Clean My Grow Bags?

Most fabric pots are washable. So all that’s needed is hosing them down and wash with as much water as you can. Ensure the holes and air spaces are thoroughly cleaned by eliminating every soil particle and dirt from the interior or exterior of the bag. After washing, simply spread inside out to have the water particles drip off the bag nicely under the sun. Reusing grow bags help you to save cost, but they have to be clean for proper storage.

Can Grow Bags Sit on the Ground?

Yes, they can be placed on just about any plain surface in your garden or balcony area. Some people prefer to support fabric pots with growing trays to provide balance and sometimes help to collect the drains. However, with the soil properly filled into the plant grow bags, you can place them on the ground without any worries.

Also, since grow bags allow you to manage space, they could be placed in one corner of your sunroom or greenhouse without taking much space. Ensure they have access to your water system and sunlight to enable the plant to grow healthy as you try to manage space. Even with poor quality soil, placing the bag on the ground helps the soil to breathe better.

How do I Keep My Grow Bag from Drying Out?

Grow bags generally support a good irrigation system in ensuring your plants get the right amount of water needed. Sadly, they drain out water three times as fast as the traditional pots. One way to keep your grow bag from drying out is by watering it as frequently as possible by starting with an early morning daily routine.

Another option would be to mulch the top of the grow bags with either barks or rocks to reduce the rate of evaporation from exposure to sunlight. Also, you can learn to water your plant deeply to get long-lasting watering results without having to over-water. Do not be afraid to soak plant grow bags with water to ensure they water beyond the top layers.

Our verdict

From our choices for the top 5 grow bags, we’ve provided a pro list of fabric pot options for you to explore today. We loved the first three VIVOSUN plant grow bags and rated them 9.8, 9.7, and 9.3 respectively, due to the versatility and essential features they offer. These bags often provide enough care for all types of plants, with very few exceptions.

Based on our observations and review, we believe ANPHSIN potato grow bags are the most suitable options for potting potatoes. Get HAOWIN tomato grow bags to get the succulent and tender care needed to grow the best set of tomato yields. The top three VIVOSUN fabric grow bags would always remain our “best for plants” choice.

For recommendations on the best grow bags to purchase for any planting season, we suggest you go for our Editor’s choice; VIVOSUN 5-Pack 20 Gallon Plant Grow Bags. These bags are environmental-friendly, have reinforced handles, support soil oxygenation, have an anti-circling root structure, and aid vigorous growth on plants.

9,8
Total Score
VIVOSUN 5-Pack 20 Gallon Plant Grow Bags - Editor’s Choice
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