Tomatoville® Gardening Forums


Notices

A garden is only as good as the ground that it's planted in. Discussion forum for the many ways to improve the soil where we plant our gardens.

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
Old January 5, 2008   #16
Suze
Tomatovillian™
 
Suze's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,027
Default

I'd just like to offer some general suggestions as to soil/compost selection, even though I realize Thawley bumped this up for location specific suggestions.

Before I set up and pay for soil or compost delivery from anyone, I always go visit their place first (learned this the hard way from previous experience). I take with me a half gallon pot and a watering can. When I get there, I ask to look at a pile/bin of what I want. Then I feel and sniff the product. If it smells bad, forget it. Now, I don't mean bad as in earthy, or bad as in pungent in the case of manure or lightly aged compost-- I mean something that smells off, rotten, funky, and gamey. Also, if they have any sort of problem with me asking questions and looking around a bit, that tends to raise a red flag.

I've found that folks that are passionate and confident about their product not only won't have a problem with you snooping around a bit, they will understand your concerns and even encourage it. If they complain re your attempts at exploration, walk away. Now, if they are a bit busy, that's fine -- but the important thing is that they will let you look around on your own even if they don't have time to babysit you.

So, if I get past those initial stages, I take that half gallon pot and fill it up with the soil or compost mix I was considering purchasing. Then I use the watering can to water that pot (important, imo).

After a couple of minutes, feel the soil in the pot and observe how it drained. Light, fluffy, and free-draining is the goal. If it seems concrete-like, say 'no thanks' or ask to look at another soil mix and be sure to re-do the same test on it.

Or go elsewhere.

I'll also say that "topsoil" is basically a meaningless identifier, no regs in place for that term. Much of the bagged cheapie stuff one could pick up at a box store labeled as "topsoil" is pretty substandard. So is the topsoil from many bulk sources, so pick and check out your source carefully.
Suze is offline   Reply With Quote
 

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:05 AM.


★ Tomatoville® is a registered trademark of Commerce Holdings, LLC ★ All Content ©2022 Commerce Holdings, LLC ★