Specialty Gardening: Grow bag experiences, 1 by Lollisa

Lollisa wrote:
I live in Southeast Florida zone 10 a/b and used a grow bag just recently for the first time. I grew sweet potatoes in one large "potato" bag that has the velcro side flap. I have mixed feelings on how well the side flap works. I kept the directions but unfortunately they and the bag do not have the name or manufacturer listed.
It's like a contractor grade weed block about 20" tall and 14" diameter. I used it for 5-6 months outside in the sun and rain and its in as good as new condition - I imagine it would last at least a couple of years if not more. I'll upload picture to this post showing bag next to chair for size reference - took this today after it has already been used. (Sorry it appears sideways.)
I actually planted a bunch of red potatoes in the same bag. Tried to harvest too soon and only yielded a few very small red ones at first and a few more and a bit bigger sweet potatoes. Potted up a little more soil in the bag and several weeks later yielded about 5 red potatoes and at least 35 sweet potatoes, at least 5 large, 15 or so medium and a variety of small to tiny ones that I threw to my dog because I decided to be done rather than pot up again. I'd rather concentrate on my succulents than veggies plus I don't like the added/different bug issues (spiraling white fly, etc)
I didn't want my bag anchored into the ground with roots so I tried a couple of things. With all the rain we get (even in the "dry season") I found the pan with gravel placed underneath the bag to be a very bad thing - kept everything way too wet - there's a lot of soil in the bag and it was perpetually soaked.
Best solution I found was to set it on top of 3 bricks, like "pot feet," that allowed for great drainage and I could still rotate the bag for best sun exposure. Bag was plenty sturdy for sweet potatoes and vine.
I'll post a picture of the sweet potato vine and red potato plant at about 4-5 weeks, forgot to take a picture before final harvest. Sweet potato vines were at least 5times the length and fullness of the ones pictured.
Oh and by the way I know someone who had a lot of luck here with a hanging tomato bag.
Good luck meadowyck,
Your fellow Florida gardener - Lisa