Flower Tubes

Wonderful space saving way to grow, I use these for herbs and strawberries, a very ecconomical way to grow on fences, easy to use and attach, love these!

I set the tubes like this. Firstly check the slits are open, if not gently cut. Then fill with compost to first holes. With the bag flat, wrap the roots with stiff plastic or card to reduce the size and, using one hand inside the bag to pull, thread through the holes, then remove the plastic. Fill with compost to next set of holes and repeat to the top. I put a plant in the top as well -leave 1inch approx to allow for watering. Place on a fence post etc do not remove. Dead head seed pods regularly - the display should last from planting - May to Sept. Stunning display when several are used. I do 14 tubes every summer, 4 in the winter. Single colour per tube or mixed. Good with Busy Lizzie in summer and winter pansies.

I was quite disappointed with these when I went to plant them up. The slots for the plants are very small and I had to make them bigger to get the root through. If you put a plant in every slot then it doesn't leave much room for compost and then for the roots to grow.Still look quite pretty on my fence though...I will give them another go with maybe with less in and smaller root balls.

Although these have really brightened up my fence, I did find the several of the pockets split while I was planting them. I managed to mend this with packing tape (so the plants don't fall out) but it looks a little untidy (I am waiting til the plants spread to hide it) and means these are unlikely to be reusable next year as the description suggested. Perhaps I was too heavy handed or did it wrong - I planted roots first, but the root balls of the plants I purchased were around the same size as the holes, making them fiddly to plant.