Should this potting soil recipe work

Elliot · May 15, 2009

In the past I used miracle grow moisture control soil for my pots that I use for tomatoes. this year I have to economize. What I did use is this: I went to HOme Depot and bought ultra lite top soil. It is less heavy than regular top soil and my body cannot haul heavy bags anymore. I mixed this with dehydrated cow manure and also added some miracle grow fertizizer pellets to the mix. Would this work for tomatoes?

Elliot

Zana · May 15, 2009

I might be inclined to add some peat to it or some vermiculite/perlite. Something that will add air or hold moisture if that's a concern. I find that the added peat will help keep the number of times you have to water down to once a day or less, unless you're in a heat wave and your plants are baking. (One advantage of the containers is that you can possibly move them to a more "shaded" spot in a heat wave so that they don't bake quite as much.)

If you've got some homemade compost to add, that would be good too. I still find that adds more nutrients than some of the commercial fertiliser pellets...but hey, I'm no expert.

Although this year I'm "not allowed" to grow my usual jungle (the house is on the market and has to be ready at any given moment to be "shown"...sheeeesh, I hate this part of selling), I usually have 100 to 130 containers going of various sizes. Mine have sat on a concrete patio which holds the heat well into the fall, prolonging my season considerably. Last year I harvested the remaining tomatoes and cukes the 2nd of November. The previous year it was about the 20th of November. Not bad for outside in zone 5, in Ontario! Granted the concrete may have skewed the conditions enough to create a micro-climate change to about a zone 4b, but I'm not going to try to figure that one out.

Good luck.

feldon30 · May 15, 2009

Top soil is top soil. I think it's going to be too heavy and too sandy.

I understand the need to economize, but you can make your own potting mix inexpensively with peat moss, shredded pine bark, and vermiculite.

creister · May 15, 2009

I would add some vermiculite, perlite, or expanded shale. Any would create some air spaces while helping to retain moisture.

Blueaussi · May 17, 2009

I would toss out the Miracle Grow.

**Dukerdawg** · May 17, 2009

What's wrong with Miracle Grow? ...except for the price of course. I bought 8 bags of 2.5 Cubic Feet of MG and 4 bags of composted cow manure, some mushroom compost and 2 bags of 3 Cubic feet of Peat. Gonna mix it together, perhaps with some low end potting mix to make it go farther. Need to fill 54 twelve gallon grow bags. Miracle Grow rocks...but it is pricey.

Duane

Elliot · May 18, 2009

miracle grow potting soils are great. I used miracle grow moisture control potting soil for years. Its great for tomatoes. The problem is price

May 15, 2009	#1
Elliot Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hicksville, New York Posts: 503	Should this potting soil recipe work In the past I used miracle grow moisture control soil for my pots that I use for tomatoes. this year I have to economize. What I did use is this: I went to HOme Depot and bought ultra lite top soil. It is less heavy than regular top soil and my body cannot haul heavy bags anymore. I mixed this with dehydrated cow manure and also added some miracle grow fertizizer pellets to the mix. Would this work for tomatoes? Elliot

May 15, 2009	#3
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Top soil is top soil. I think it's going to be too heavy and too sandy. I understand the need to economize, but you can make your own potting mix inexpensively with peat moss, shredded pine bark, and vermiculite. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

May 17, 2009	#6
Dukerdawg Growing for Market Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westland, Michigan Posts: 861	What's wrong with Miracle Grow? ...except for the price of course. I bought 8 bags of 2.5 Cubic Feet of MG and 4 bags of composted cow manure, some mushroom compost and 2 bags of 3 Cubic feet of Peat. Gonna mix it together, perhaps with some low end potting mix to make it go farther. Need to fill 54 twelve gallon grow bags. Miracle Grow rocks...but it is pricey. Duane __________________ May I aspire to live my life so that I may be the man my dog thinks I am.

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May 15, 2009	#2
Zana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,521	I might be inclined to add some peat to it or some vermiculite/perlite. Something that will add air or hold moisture if that's a concern. I find that the added peat will help keep the number of times you have to water down to once a day or less, unless you're in a heat wave and your plants are baking. (One advantage of the containers is that you can possibly move them to a more "shaded" spot in a heat wave so that they don't bake quite as much.) If you've got some homemade compost to add, that would be good too. I still find that adds more nutrients than some of the commercial fertiliser pellets...but hey, I'm no expert. Although this year I'm "not allowed" to grow my usual jungle (the house is on the market and has to be ready at any given moment to be "shown"...sheeeesh, I hate this part of selling), I usually have 100 to 130 containers going of various sizes. Mine have sat on a concrete patio which holds the heat well into the fall, prolonging my season considerably. Last year I harvested the remaining tomatoes and cukes the 2nd of November. The previous year it was about the 20th of November. Not bad for outside in zone 5, in Ontario! Granted the concrete may have skewed the conditions enough to create a micro-climate change to about a zone 4b, but I'm not going to try to figure that one out. Good luck.

May 15, 2009	#4
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	I would add some vermiculite, perlite, or expanded shale. Any would create some air spaces while helping to retain moisture.

May 17, 2009	#5
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	I would toss out the Miracle Grow.

May 18, 2009	#7
Elliot Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hicksville, New York Posts: 503	miracle grow potting soils are great. I used miracle grow moisture control potting soil for years. Its great for tomatoes. The problem is price