VERTICAL BAG FARMS

Big solutions | For small holder farmers

Big Solutions | for Small Holder Farmers

Realipm www.realipm.com @Realipm
 VERTICAL BAG FARMS
Revolutionary vertical bag farming improve
food security by increasing the number of leafy
vegetables that can be grown
per metre square - by at least six fold.

This makes good business sense for

urban farmers, rural farmers and families.

BAG SIZES

for @ less than @ more than

100 plants = =
Ksh. 1000/- 10 bags Ksh. 900/- 10 bags

LARGE BAGS

for @ less than @

= = more than
80 plants Ksh. 800/- 10 bags Ksh. 720/- 10 bags

MEDIUM BAGS

for @ less than @ more than

= =
40 plants Ksh. 650/- 10 bags Ksh. 585/- 10 bags

SMALL BAGS

1 plant @ less than @ more than

= =
per bag Ksh. /- 10 bags Ksh. /- 10 bags

BAGS FOR TUNNEL TOMATOES

NO GARDEN?
@ You can still grow your own vegetables
for Ksh. /- even on a balcony with our
40 plants per bag ready planted balcony bags
collection from Mixture of plants: strawberries, tomato,
READY PLANTED BALCONY BAG SMALL HOLDER ENTERPRISE CENTRE corriander, sukuma, spinach, herbs, lettuce,
carrots and much more.
 10 BAG FARM DRIP KIT (MODULAR)
Bag farming is a very productive way to farm small areas of land. The Ten-bag Farm Kit has an
integrated drip irrigation system made from 16 mm PE pipes (tubes) with button drippers,
connected to a 25 mm PE pipe (header pipe).
10 BAG FARM DRIP KIT (MODULAR)
COMPONENTS
Water tank
Water tank 25 mm header Header pipe
filter pipe end cap Extension joint

( N OT
INCLUDED IN KIT)
Connection from
tank
1.5 metres
above ground

T junction

16 mm pipe with
button drippers

Button dripper
on pipe
Riser pipe
valve

Button dripper
on pipe
1 metre apart

Header pipe to
16mm pipe Underground
connection 25 mm header
(BAG FARM NOT INCLUDED IN KIT) with endcap
Vertical Bag Gardening

UV light protected bag gardens

www.realipm.com 2.
 10 BAG FARM SET UP INSTRUCTIONS
For instructions on how to set up the bag farms refer to our the Real IPM Bag Farming Booklet.
It can be downloaded from our website www.realipm.com/Resources

Step 1: Two lines of five large bag gardens need to be set up according to the diagram below.
The bags should be 1 meter apart within the row and the two rows need to be two meters
apart. The bags should be positioned in a zigzag pattern.

Step 2: Dig a trench about 30 cm (1 foot) deep, along the centre of the two rows of bags - so
that the central header pipe can be buried and out of the way - after the 16 mm risers have
been connected. This makes it easier to move between the bags to spray and pick the crop
without tripping up on the pipework.

Step 3: The 16 mm PE riser pipes for the bags are cut into equal lengths of 3 meters. One riser
for each bag garden, taking the water from the central header to the bag.

Step 4: The last one-meter of the riser will have the ten button drippers. The riser is curled
around the top of the bag on the outside edge. Make the holes with a hot stiff wire. The hole
must be smaller than the plug for the button dripper - so that the button fits tightly into the
holes without leaks. Drippers face UPWARDS on the pipes. Fix 10 button drippers per bag -
spaced 15 cm apart.

Step 5: Use the ties at the top of the bag to secure the riser and button drippers to the outside
of the top of the bag. The roots of the plants DO NOT GROW into the centre of the bag - all the
water needs to be focused on the outer 10 inches of the bag.

Step 6: Use the T junction (25 mm) to fix the central header pipe (from between the two lines
of bags) to the top 25 mm header pipe. Attach the two 25mm end caps to either end of the top
header pipe.

Step 7: The top header pipe is connected to the water tank (via elbows and T junctions) to the
water tank in the same way as described for the Quarter Acre Drip Kit. If more header pipe,
T junctions or elbows are needed - please order these from our website ON LINE SHOP.

www.realipm.com 3.
HOW TO IRRIGATE A BAG FARM
Before transplanting the seedlings the compost in the bag must be thoroughly wetted. The
button drippers deliver 4 litres of water per dripper per hour. There are ten drippers per bag -
delivering a total of 40 litres of water per hour. If the water pressure is low - then less water
will be delivered per hour.

The drip irrigation may need to be on for at least 3 hours per day (120 Litres of water) for the
first 10 days after planting. Check the planting holes to see if the soil is getting wet enough.
It may be necessary to also use a watering can to water the planting holes from the outside
during this critical plant
establishment phase.

After the seedlings have established, daily irrigations of about one hour per day will be needed.
At least 30L of water per day per bag will be needed. In hot weather there may be more
irrigation needed. Plants must not look wilted. During the rains - less irrigation may be
required.

Make regular checks that all the drip holes and button drippers are working properly.

If any of the holes in the drip tape in the Quarter Acre Drip Kit are blocked - hold the tape
above the soil and sharply tap the tape to dislodge any soil that may be in the hole.
DO NOT poke the holes with wire to remove the dirt. If the holes are damaged they will
not work properly.
Check that all the fittings are well secured to stop any more soil getting into the system
at the connectors.
FLUSH the system occasionally by taking off the end caps
form the drip lines and allowing the water to flush out of the
end - clearing any mud from the drip lines.
Clear the filter at the water tank on a regular basis. If water
used is very dirty - the filter may need to be cleaned every day

Check that the water tank is not filling up with settled mud. Clean it out if necessary.

www.realipm.com 5.
Clearing the button drippers
Check regularly that all ten, button drippers per bag are working well.

If any button drippers are blocked – pick the pipe up off the soil and
sharply tap the button dripper directly several times.
If necessary, remove the button dripper from the 16 mm pipe and
wash out the soil with water in a bucket. Gently remove dirt with a needle.

Extending the Ten-Bag Farm Drip Kit

Extending the ten-bag farm kit is just as easy.
Simply replace the end cap on the header with a connector and
Add the second set of ten bags.

TIPS
In semi-arid areas - it may be helpful to reduce solar radiation and water evaporation
from the crop leaves by adding a shade net tunnel.

In areas where there are strong winds this will also remove water form the crop
leaves - a windbreak would be helpful.

VERTICAL BAG FARM SET UP REQUIREMENTS

INPUTS LARGE BAG STANDARD BAG SMALL BAG

MANURE 8 Wheel 6 Wheelbarrows 1.5

barrows Wheelbarrows
SOIL 8 Wheel 6 Wheelbarrows 1.5
barrows Wheelbarrows

LIME 3 kgs 2 kgs 1 kg

DAP 3 kg 2 kg 1 kg

Tricoderma 1 satchet 1 satchet 1 satchet

www.realipm.com 5.
 VERTICAL BAG FARM SET UP INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix the soil and manure. 2. Add DAP (3 kg) and lime to 3. Thoroughly mix the bag
the mixture. media ingredients.

4. Spread the bag to identify 5. Turn the bag inside out and 6. Place the bag on the ground
the top, bottom and outer gather it in the middle part right side out.
sections. of the bottom part.

7. Start filling the bag with the 8. Ensure you have a stable 9. Continue filling your bag untill
mixed media. base at the bottom and that you have a well filled upright
all holes are visible. bag.

10. Wet the bag with 30 litres 11. Place the curled section of 12. Plant leeks, corriander,
of water and start planting the 16 mm riser pipe fitted lettuce, carrots etc on the
on the sides of the bag. with button drippers on the top section and you have
top of your bag. your very own bag garden.

www.realipm.com 6.
 TOMATO PRODUCTION IN BAGS
Farmers all over East Africa seem to be
struggling to keep growing tomatoes and
pepper in the soil in greenhouse tunnels.

The tomatoes are dying of bacterial wilt if

more than two consequtive tomato crops
are grown in the soil.

To help overcome this problem, tomato

grown bags are designed to grow plants in
compost away from the soil.

Check out our DRIP KITS for Tomato Tunnels

Enroll on our IPM TOMATO One-day training
At our SMALL HOLDER ENTERPRICE CENTRE demo farm in Thika,
2000/- per person per day

TUNNEL TOMATO (GREEN HOUSE) DRIP KIT

TUNNEL TOMATO / GREEN HOUSE DRIP KIT
COMPONENTS

T junction connector
Drip tape connection

Drip tape on tomato bag

25 mm pipe end cap

Water tank
Connection from the tank
( N OT
INCLUDED IN KIT)

Tunnel
1 metre
apart Tomato bag
zig zag arrangement
How to irrigate
Bacterial wilt with the Tomato Tunnel Drip Kit
It is recommended
Tomatoes thatsuffer
and peppers farmers combine
from blossomthisend
withrotthe Realirrigation
when IPM tomato grow bags
is irregular and
or not that
enough.
the tomatoes
There arefor
is no cure grown
this. out of the irrigation
Optimum soil. Thisiswill help to protect the plants from bacterial wilt
needed.
(Ralstonia). Real IPM biological control agents can be applied down the drip-lines into the
The amount of water applied will depend on the weather. During hot weather it may be
compost bags surrounding the plant roots.
necessary to apply water two times per day for 15 minutes in each irrigation cycle.
With a button dripper that applies 4 litres of water per hour this will apply about two
Download the Real Insight on Ralstonia form our Resources page www.realipm.com
litres of water per plant per day.
During cool or overcast weather - It may be necessary to apply water only once per day
Setting up the Tomato Drip Kit
for about 20 minutes.
The header pipe (25 mm) is connected to the water tank and the 16 mm PE drip lines, in the
Check the wetness of the compost in the bags and adjust the irrigation cycles
same way as described for the Ten-Bag Farm Drip Kit.
according to the needs of the crop. If the compost is too wet - reduce the irrigation.
Step 1: Measure
If the theisdistance
compost from the the
too dry increase water tank to the position of the header pipe inside
irrigation.
the tunnel. Cut the 25 mm header pipe to the required length.

Five meters for the header pipe inside the tunnel.

Plus the header pipe needed to get the water from the water tank to the header pipe
inside the tunnel.

Use the elbows and connectors provided according to the route needed to get the 25 mm pipe
from the water source to the tunnel. Fit the tunnel header pipe with end caps.

Step 2: Decide on the layout of tomato pants in the tunnel. If the plants are to be set out in
6 double rows of bags - there will be 12 lines of plants in total. To optimize space and light, the
plant bags in each double row should be in a zigzag pattern.
Cut the 16 mm PE drip pipes into the required lengths according to the layout. IN THE ABOVE
option, the pipes will be cut into twelve lengths of 17 meters.

Step 3: Connect the 16 mm drip pipes to the header pipe and line the pipes up to lie on top of
the bags. Place sticks into some of the bags to hold the pipes in position.
Connect one button dripper over the centre of each of the bags so that one dripper serves one
plant. Attach end caps to every 16 mm drip line.

www.realipm.com 8.
How to irrigate with the Tomato Tunnel Drip Kit
Tomatoes and peppers suffer from blossom end rot when irrigation is irregular or not enough.
There is no cure for this. Optimum irrigation is needed.

The amount of water applied will depend on the weather. During hot weather it may be
necessary to apply water two times per day for 15 minutes in each irrigation cycle.
With a button dripper that applies 4 litres of water per hour this will apply about two
litres of water per plant per day.
During cool or overcast weather - It may be necessary to apply water only once per day
for about 20 minutes.

Check the wetness of the compost in the bags and adjust the irrigation cycles
according to the needs of the crop. If the compost is too wet - reduce the irrigation.
If the compost is too dry increase the irrigation.

Bacterial wilt on tomatoes Blossom end rot on tomatoes

www.realipm.com 9.
 Big solutions | For small holder farmers

SMALL HOLDER ENTERPRISE CENTRE

All these drip kits are demonstrated at the Real IPM Smallholder Enterprise Centre in Thika Kenya
Here we have a two-hectare demonstration farm where we provide One-day Practical Training
courses and offer Educational Farm Walks of two hours duration.

Download a map www.realipm.com | Contact us for more information 0725 806086

What can you see on the Educational Farm Walk?

Take a tour with our experienced farm managers and see:

Ten-bag farm units, Quarter Acre field vegetable drip kits,

tunnel tomato production, dairy goats, dairy cows,
poultry for eggs, rabbits, biogas, insect protein
production for animal fodder, vermi-culture,
compost making, propagation of transplants,
kitchen gardening, commercial horticulture
production and hydroponic fodder.

Group of less than 10 people - 500 Ksh per person (for two-hour tour)
Groups of more than 10 people - 250 Ksh per person (for two-hour tour)

One Day Practical Training

We offer a range of training courses. www.realipm.com

If the training you need is not listed – ask us – we may be able
to devise something to meet your needs.
The following one-day trainings relate to the Drip Kits

Drip Irrigation management (1 day)

Bag Farming (1 day)
IPM for Tomato Production (1 day)
IPM for Field Vegetables (1 day)

Course Fees: 2,000/- per person (inc. light refreshment and lunch)

SMALL HOLDER ENTERPRISE CENTRE (THIKA)

Call Centre: 0725 806 086
www.realipm.com 10.
 ORDER ONLINE
www.realipm.com

Step 1 Step 5

Go to www.realipm.com and click on ONLINE SHOP.

Step 2

Click on the BUY tab at the bottom of each product.

Step 3 Fill in your billing details, check the terms and

conditions icon and place your order.

Step 6

Click on ‘Add to cart’ with the quantity you wish to

purchase.

Step 4

Choose your preffered mode of payment, follow the

instructions and click on ‘Complete’.

Upon confirmation of payment your order

Key in the coupon code (for Real IPM Distributors)
will be processed and delivered to your
or proceed to checkout. nearest Fargo Courier depot.
You will be alerted via SMS once your
order has been delivered to the depot.
TOTAL ORDER VALUES MUST BE ATLEAST 1000/- FOR FREE DELIVERY

(+254) 725 806 086 SHOP ONLINE

[email protected]
www.realipm.com 0725 806 086 Realipm @Realipm