Another way to re-use those reusable bags
By now you've probably seen the numerous ads for the "topsy turvy" upside down tomato plant hangers on the boob tube. With a small bit of effort it is easy to turn re-usable shopping bags into upside down (or even right side up) growing containers. Besides tomatos, cucumbers, squash, peas, beans and more can be grown in the hanging bags. So can many flowers, which you will mostly want to grow right side up. If you want, you can use a sturdy plate type divider for the top third or so of the bag and have veggies coming out the bottom and flowering plants blooming in the top (be sure to make some small holes in the plate/divider so that you can water the top flowers and the bottom vegetables all from the top of the bag).
You will definitely want to use some type of plate, perhaps a sturdy disposable one, at the bottom with an "X" cut in the middle (the same as you must do with the bottom of the bag), that you can push the soil and roots of the seedling through and keep it from falling out. You may also want to line the porous bag with an inner bag to keep it from drying out and keep from having to water as frequently.
Just an idea for those who may have limited space, no prepared garden spot, want to avoid any residual pesticide and herbicide contamination lingering in your soil, or just want to try something new. If you have trees or an overhanging roof, you also may be able to position the plants where they get ample sunshine most of the day but are shaded from the most withering sunshine in the afternoon.
When it comes to tomato plants, the sturdy types such as patio tomatos work best if your green thumb produces a really abundant crop of tomatoes.
All the best,
DQ