Smart Pots are a Smart Choice for Fruit Trees
Since The Giving Grove’s earliest days, Smart Pots have played a vital role in our mission to establish thriving urban orchards. Known for their high-quality cloth grow bags, Smart Pots has been a trusted partner, helping us grow resilient, healthy fruit trees in communities across the country. In fact, our horticulturist Matt Bunch, who has a deep appreciation for all things orchard-related, often praises the beautiful, robust root structures these grow bags foster. Here, we’re excited to share insights directly from Smart Pots, delving into why their innovative containers are such a perfect fit for our mission of expanding urban fruit tree access.
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Growing fruit trees in High Caliper Growing Root Control Bags and Smart Pot products offer numerous benefits that can significantly enhance orchard productivity and profitability. Based on research conducted by Dr. Tom Yeager at the University of Florida, our innovative fabric containers provide several advantages over traditional plastic containers. Here’s why you should consider making the switch, especially if you are growing fruit trees:
Enhanced Root Development
One of the primary benefits of using High Caliper Growing Root Control Bags and Smart Pots is the superior root development they promote. Have you ever pulled a nursery plant out of its pot and noticed a tangled mess of roots? Unlike conventional plastic containers, fabric containers prevent root circling and encourage a more fibrous root system. This results in healthier, more robust trees that can better absorb water and nutrients, leading to improved growth and fruit production.
Self- Pruned Root Structure using Smart Pots
Matt Bunch removes Smart Pot from fruit tree to be reused
Faster Growth and Marketability
Research by Yeager and Gardner demonstrated that plants grown in fabric containers reached marketable size significantly faster than those grown in plastic containers. For instance, Viburnum Suspensum, a densely branched broadleaf shrub with fragrant blooms, grown in Smart Pots achieved marketable size three months earlier than those in plastic containers. Plants were finished in 5 months in a Smart Pot vs 8 months in plastic. A 40% reduction in growing time! Obviously, the growth cycle of fruit-bearing trees is longer than Vibernum, but it’s easy to see the possibility of accelerated growth that a Smart Pot provides translates to earlier fruit production and quicker returns on investment for Giving Grove programs and their orchard nursery managers.
Environmental Benefits
High Caliper Growing Root Control Bags and Smart Pots are also more environmentally friendly than traditional plastic containers. They are reusable and made from durable, breathable fabric that reduces the need for frequent replacements. In fact, the Kansas City Community Gardens Giving Grove program has been reusing their grow bags for over 11 years! Additionally, the improved root structure and health of trees grown in fabric containers can lead to more efficient water and nutrient use, further reducing the environmental footprint of orchard operations.
Practical Considerations
While fabric containers require more frequent irrigation due to increased evaporation, the benefits they offer in terms of root health, growth rate, and waste reduction far outweigh this minor drawback. Orchard operators can easily adjust their irrigation practices to accommodate the needs of trees grown in fabric containers. Trees grown in-ground, in our Root Control Bags, however, offer the advantages of more targeted irrigation versus trees grown in-ground and harvested by a tree spade (ball & burlap).
Kansas City Community Garden’s Giving Grove fruit tree nursery
The Giving Grove and High Caliper Growing
For 40 years, High Caliper Growing has been making products in Oklahoma City, OK. We are long-time supporters of The Giving Grove and their network of orchard programs. We offer wholesale pricing to The Giving Grove on our Root Control Bags and Smart Pots, helping to fund the establishment and maintenance of community orchards. Support like this helps The Giving Grove expand access to fresh fruit and sustainable orchards in communities where resources for green spaces are limited.
Also, as we collaborate with The Giving Grove, we are always ready to provide educational resources and training for community volunteers. This includes best practices for planting, maintaining, and harvesting fruit trees, ensuring that volunteers have the knowledge and skills needed to care for the orchards effectively.
For more detailed information on the benefits of fabric containers, refer to the research conducted by Dr. Tom Yeager at the University of Florida. His findings provide valuable insights into how these containers can revolutionize plant production in nurseries and orchards alike. https://smartpots.com/trees-market-ready-3-months-earlier/
We invented the fabric grow bag 40 years ago and we appreciate your consideration of using our USA-made products.