Topic: What would be best in a hippo bag?

[chriscross1966]

I might well be able to spring a couple of hippo bags of topsoil/manure. WOuld I be better off plating them with squash/3-sisters or spuds or outdoor peppers and chillis or what?....

chrisc

[caroline7758]

Carrots, as they would hopefully be high enough to avoid the carrot fly?
But I would say itwould be a waste to use a whole bag-depth of either topsoil or manure. I would empty one of them (use it onyour plot wherever you need it) ,half fill it with old soil or whatever you've got around (I used clumps of dug-out grass inthe bottomof a dustbin last year) then the good stuff, thenplant. Then do the same with the other one. Just my idea, I'm sure others will be along soon!

[SMP1704]

I was thinking the same as Caroline.  Half depth would be fine, just remember to keep them watered.

When the bags are empty (if that is the plan) they make great compost makers.

[chriscross1966]

Might have a go then.... does depend on getting at least another hippo of soil though, I told them I'd be along to pick up another one Tuesday if it hadn't all gone by then though I might try for tomorrow evening after work...... Not that fussed about carrots this year.... trying them in tubes and plan on punching them in through holee in the weed mulch fabric......

chrisc

[zigzig]

For the benefit of us lesser mortals.
May one ask what is a hippo bag?

[tonybloke]

the one cubic metre bags that builders merchants sell sand, gravel, etc in!

[GlentoranMark]

Probably smaller than what your on about but my local recycling centre give these away for free, I have spuds in mine:

[img=http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/5783/dsc00042x.th.jpg]

[Lottie103]

My first thought on reading the title was of the `hippo bags' that are put in toilet cisterns to reduce water consumption (could be used as planters for tomatoes perhaps.... but rather expensive). Then I read the post & realised I must be wrong - buying cistern sized bags of topsoil can't be economical  ;D