Has anyone used Ecoscraps potting soil?

[Elliot]

It is a potting soil made from composted food waste and vermiculte. It is sold at Target and other stores and is less costly than miracle grow but does it work? I bought a bunch of bags today and will try it out.

[peppero]

Wish I could help you. I wondered about myself.

Jon

[HudsonValley]

I'm currently using it for seven container-grown tomato plants (Siberian, Dwarf Adelaide Festival, Black Truffle hybrid, etc.), as well as some herbs. The herbs just went out a few days ago, but all of the tomatoes seem really happy so far. The non-dwarfs are about 2 1/2 feet tall. I potted all of the tomatoes on/around May 20, and all but two, which are budding, are now covered in blossoms. The Black Truffle is already starting to set some fruit. Note: I also sprinkled about a tablespoon or so of Mater Magic fertilizer in each planting hole, and will side-dress periodically with the same. Good luck!

[maxjohnson]

I have to recheck Target. I've just heard of it and excited that I don't have to drive an hour to get decent local compost, but I haven't seen it around. I've bought a few Dr. Earth soil bags from Home Depot, they look acceptable but not great, although I've just started using them.

[Elliot]

You have to ask them at target. In many cases its in the back and they have not put it on the shelves. You don't want a situation where they tell you that they don't carry the product only to find that they never went into the stock room to unpack it .

[maxjohnson]

I just bought a bag of their potting mix which is the only one available. Can't say I'm too impressed since it seems to have at least 50% woodchips and pine bark (can't really complain, it said so on the bag). I guess it's not too bad depends on the application, it's similar to a gritty mix made for synthetic fertilizer feeding. Seems ideal for indoor container gardening (if you can be sure there aren't fungus gnats). It does have the benefit of being free of smells. For me, with outdoor containers, it's more of a filler material to be mix with half compost. I would buy them again if I come across their compost bag, which is probably less available.

Edit: I understand the EcoScraps is a potting mix. While Dr. Earth is potting soil. different things, so that explains the different composition. Top is EcoScraps, bottom is Dr Earth.

[Greatgardens]

Originally Posted by Elliot

It is a potting soil made from composted food waste and vermiculte. It is sold at Target and other stores and is less costly than miracle grow but does it work? I bought a bunch of bags today and will try it out.

Not to be picky, but are you after potting mix or potting soil? Since you mention Miracle-Gro, I presume you want potting mix. The composting is an admirable idea if the mfg. is executing it properly. I might try a bag of it myself if our local stores have it. From the photos I've seen, it looks like a pretty conventional potting mix with the exception of the composted food products. Doesn't look to be less expensive than MG, at least at our local sources. Interestingly, Target.com is calling this "potting soil" and the picture/description is for "mosture retaining potting mix."

-GG

[maxjohnson]

Originally Posted by Greatgardens

Not to be picky, but are you after potting mix or potting soil? Since you mention Miracle-Gro, I presume you want potting mix. The composting is an admirable idea if the mfg. is executing it properly. I might try a bag of it myself if our local stores have it. From the photos I've seen, it looks like a pretty conventional potting mix with the exception of the composted food products. Doesn't look to be less expensive than MG, at least at our local sources. Interestingly, Target.com is calling this "potting soil" and the picture/description is for "mosture retaining potting mix."

-GG

You pretty much pointed out my mistake. They are potting mix and quite gritty. I just think if you can buy big bags of perlite, fine pine barks and peatmoss you can pretty much make the mix yourself.

The Dr. Earth available at Home Depot are potting soil.

[WilburMartin]

I purchased the EcoScraps "compost" to work with earlier this year - it was very dense, held a lot of moisture

BUT

my tomato seedlings loved it - with a fistful of TomatoTone

I have some EcoScraps potting mix in which I am planting my fall tomatoes, It looks pretty good - you know, plenty of wood chips, but for the price it smells great