What container soil mix recipe do you use?
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8 years ago
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Laura LaRosa (7b)
8 years agoUser
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoRelated Discussions
What Soil Mixes Do You Use For Container Tomatoes?
Comments (3)I use a mix of about one third to one half municipal compost to the remainder Pro-Mix BX, plus some time release fertilizer. You could add some lime too, but the municipal compost around here has a good amount of both calcium and magnesium. I think an 18-20 gallon toteful is about $1.25, a scoop dumped into the back of your pickup truck is $13.00. Pro-Mix BX w/mycco is around $18 for a 3.8 compressed bale, which expands to about 7.5 cu ft, or about 60 1-gallon pots. Hope this helps. Mark...See MoreWhat planting mix/medium/soil do you use?
Comments (2)Hard to avoid a peat-based mix since 99% of them are nothing more than peat, perlite or vermiculite, and some lime to neutralize the pH. To that, some manufacturers will add various forms of fertilizers to their growing mixes (not the seed starting mixes). But I would also disagree that it is the peat based mediums that increase the likely hood of damp-off. Soil/dirt based mixes have a far greater incidence of damp-off associated with them. But primarily, damp-off is caused by excess moisture and that lies in the hands of the gardener. ;) Here are several previous discussions on various mixes - note the distinction between sterile seed starting mixes and growing/potting mixes. My personal preference is ProMix BX, recommended by many, but it is not available everywhere. What brand of potting soil do you prefer? Seed starting mix? The BEST seed starting mix? Good seed starting mix? There are many more that a search here will pull up for you but these should get you started. Dave...See Morecontainer newbie needs input for soil/container mix
Comments (4)We planted tomatoes in "earth pots" that we made using Home Depot 5 gallon buckets and for other plants used plastic bins. We got the idea online. We drilled holes in the bottom of the bucket and took cotton clothesline from Dollar General, cut it into lengths and pushed them through the holes. We knotted the ends so they wouldn't fall out. Sat a brick in the bottom of another bucket that had drain holes drilled into it around the sides at a certain height and then sat the first bucket into it. Filled it with a mix of Jungle Soil and garden soil. Tomatoes went nuts! One place to see directions is www.instructables.com Hope this helps! Good luck! Val...See MoreDo Commercial Potting Mix Contain Regular Soil?
Comments (19)I still think that some manure is added as fertilizer and manure is mainly regular soil. I can carry a 50 lbs bag of rice or other food easily. But that bag is very heavy. More than 50 lbs for sure. I think that bag is marked as 64 quart. With manure, small rocks make sense. I do not care about the $14 or so. But if I start many seeds over winter, I want the seeds to grow. I do not want to waste my entire winter just to save a few dollars. Here is what stated by the Lowe's reviewer. He is a 70 year old man, trying to lift this bag to his car. Then he had to drag it out again to return it.... Bad.... "The particular bag that I bought had been stored on a pallet exposed to rain. I first noticed that it seemed extremely heavy when I loaded it in my cart. ( I'm seventy years old and everything is heavier than it use to.) The next thing I noticed as I went to check out was an unpleasant odor that I assumed was from a broken sewer line nearby. I loaded the bag with great difficulty in my SUV. As I drove off I was overwhelmed with that same odor except stronger. Being quite sure I had not stepped in something, I associated the smell with the bag of potting soil. I returned to the store and with the same difficulty unloaded the bag and proceeded to seek an exchange. From the look on the sale associate's face I suspect that the reason for return is not often given as it stinks. From that point everything was very nice, I received a replacement bag from a different pallet and loaded it with ease (I felt young again) and later found the product to be of good quality as expected. Only point, bags can leak and potting soil left to soak in water tend to ferment..Be selective. " Remember, even composted tree barks, wood chips, etc, do not smell as stink. There has to be some animal content involved. And it smells when exposed to rain. This post was edited by RedSun on Mon, Dec 22, 14 at 12:25...See MoreLaura LaRosa (7b)
8 years agomyermike_1micha
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoLaura LaRosa (7b)
8 years agoBrad Edwards
8 years agoDave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoNick (9b) Modesto Area
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoLaura LaRosa (7b)
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8 years agoLaura LaRosa (7b)
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8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoSilica
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8 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
8 years agoLaura LaRosa (7b)
8 years agoUser
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8 years agoLaura LaRosa (7b)
8 years agomyermike_1micha
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoBrad Edwards
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8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoLaura LaRosa (7b)
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7 years agoLaura LaRosa (7b)
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7 years agoLaura LaRosa (7b)
7 years agoLaura LaRosa (7b)
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