Re: [gardeners] Can I make my own potting soil?
William McKay (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Wed, 12 May 1999 06:20:07 PDT
There are a bunch of formulas in Eliot Coleman's Book, The New Organic
Growere. I have made it out of just about everything and most worked. My
favorite is screened compost, screened peat (both through a 1/4 inch mesh)
in a 50/50 mix with some perlite if I have it. If it looks too heavy, I'll
add some sand. Usually throw in a handful of lime per wheelbarrow load
along with some fertilizer(I used pelletized chicken manure they sell at the
local farm store, but in a pinch I have used 5-10-5.) The mix works well at
starting seedlings also; never have a problem with damping off. Later in
the spring when I start to run out of mix, I'll usually add some sandy
garden soil.
For my container plants (mostly flowers) I just mix half soil, half compost
or well broken down horse manure(unscreened and usually a bit rough)and they
thrive.
B McKay in E. Mass
>
>Last fall I emptied out all of my soil from the window boxes and planters.
>Most of the soil that I see at the garden centres for containers is mostly
>peat moss. I am wondering if I can make up my own mixture of peat moss,
>some garden soil, compost and perlite/vermiculite. I have a lot of
>containers to fill and would rather spend the money on plants. I already
>have the peat moss and either perlite or vermiculite.
>
>Any suggestions, along with ratios, would be really appreciated. I want to
>start planting this weekend.
>
>Penny in Halifax, N.S. 5/6a
>
>
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