Where do I get LOTS of really cheap potting soil?

16 years ago

I want to put 10 tomatoes on my deck this year. I know that means I need an 18 gallon container for each.

Each bag of soil is $10 at Walmart/Costco/Wherever.

Is there a cheaper place to get massive quantities of potting soil?

Or, is it possible to EASILY make potting soil myself? Please not that I stress the word EASY because I don't have alot of spare time at the moment.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7

8 years ago

You want CHEAP potting mix ? Make your own !

Most potting mixes are PEAT moss based . They add few things :

=== perlite

== vermiculite

== Pine bark fine

If you buy those ingredients separately and mix your own, your cost will be reduced by 2/3.

If you visit "Container Gardening" forum you can learn more. Look for Al's 5-1-1 potting mix. You can modify it to fit your climate and growing needs.

I make my own and it costs me about 30 cents/gallon or under $3 per cu-ft.

Sey

Comments (10)

jwr6404
16 years ago
I bought large bags of Kellogs Potting soil at Walmart for $4.97. If you have access to a P/U truck you can get compost very cheap if you don't need it delivered.
tomatoes4ever
Original Author
16 years ago
Which is better for container growing? Compost or potting soil?
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jwr6404
16 years ago
I only grow tomatoes in pots. I mix the compost and potting soil in equal amounts.
digit
16 years ago
Tomatoes4ever, I make potting soil for some of our potted perennials - mostly mints.

About 3 or 4 years ago, I purchased a small roll of 1/4" hardware cloth and attached it to a board frame with lathe. I use this screen to remove stones from garden soil and to mix in the other ingredients as I go along. The frame fits over a wheelbarrow.

A local farmer will load a pick-up with well-aged manure for $4. It is a mix from cows and horses and pretty good stuff. I purchase compressed peat moss at wholesale for $11/3.8 cu ft. Garden soil is obtained from a fertile location. These 3 ingredients are mixed in equal amounts and run thru the screen 3 shovelfuls at a time.

The mix will have weed seed but if I don't count labor and garden soil what do you suppose . . . my cost is maybe a dollar for every time I fill the 1/4 yard wheelbarrow. This year I added vermiculite but I'm going to need to find a less expensive source and prefer perlite, anyway. It certainly improved the weight of the mix, however. I've also used sand in the past but my garden soil has plenty of sand in it and that component wouldn't reduce the weight. With or without vermiculite/perlite, the mix has worked well.

ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, has "Recipes for Growing Media" information. Mixing your own doesn't take long and if you can find a nearly free source of composted manure, is a great deal cheaper than purchasing potting soil. At the price of bagged potting soil, it may be a little cheaper just to buy all the ingredients in the bag and mix them yourself. Or, a reasonable alternative may lie somewhere between these 2 approaches. Check out the recipes.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: Recipes for Growing Media
jwr6404
16 years ago
The compost I get is from a Dairy Farm and he began his compost sideline after he developed a blend for his wifes Roses. She is a Rosarian as well a a Rose judge.
hemnancy
16 years ago
Local nurseries sell potting soil mixes for around $20-25 a yard. If you have a truck, trailer, or way to pick it up it's way cheaper than bagged stuff. Having a big compost pile and working it right could be the way to go, good info on the /soil forum here.
Jim L
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Espoma is good http://www.amazon.com/
lartomato
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
There is organic and then there is organic. If you don't heat the stuff to rid the bad. I used to be certified organic -- i still try but sometimes you need the good stuff like Hudson uses. Now mind you -- you only have to be 70% organic to be legal which I never could understand. I may have to delete this post or if the moderator wishes to do so as it could be a can of worms-- everyone has their own opinions.
fireduck
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
A couple of comments above are right on the money. Large quantity (bulk) buying...is always a great idea. Never use native soil in a pot. Never use the "moisture control" variety...touted by one manufacturer. Mixing your own (as sey says) is a fun thing to do if you have the time, and you like the "scientific experiment" angle.