Gardening mix, potting mix recipes?
I keep reading about people making their own mixes. I usually just buy the Miracle Grow mix at Home Depot. Could anyone share what you use or make for your pots and possibly, your garden?
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speedster7926
- Senior Member
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 11:10 pm
- Location: southport FL
I do the same I buy the 1.5 cubic ft of miracle grow garden soil but I only add a few bags just to give it a boost the I add some top soil from around the property and I get some other stuff from my grandmothers property. she has chickens, ducks, and geese so I get free goodies lol and I shovel out some good stuff out of her ditches. my plants go nuts lol
I am glad you ask! I plant about 40 boxes for seeds sarting that contain about 15 pounds of mix! If I were to use all bought potting mix it would cost too much! I buy any type of a good seed starting mix and put it on top of my own soil! I have a area in the garden that has rich soil which in the fall I cover with leaves.
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Around march when I start my seed boxes I strain the ground under the leaves and add either sand or something I think will make the soil lighter or better. This year I tried some bought pine wood shavings! I put the mix in the 5 inch deep box to about 3 inches deep over top a few sheets of newspaper. I add some urea or mostly I add a little blood meal. I cover the soil from the garden wih about a 1/2 inch of seed starter and pat it down.
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I sprinkle my seeds on the top then cover the seeds with another 1/2 inch of seed starting soil and pat down and add a little water and cover with plastic or glass! I get very few weeds and my plants can stay in the boxes for a longer time! I also put a layer of leaves over the paper in some of the boxes then the dirt and blood meal! I don't think there is any set way just use common sense and make something that will keep the moister and fed the plants! Most of the time when I empty the box I see a few worms in the bottom! I plant seeds close and thin as I need them.This year I may sell plants in regular 4 or 6 packs!
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What I don't like about most seed starters is the lack of water absorbtion and a quick drying. My garden soil seems to work better with roots and holds moisture longer! Once I get a sweat chamber I will be in a league with DDog! I really like straining dirt and getting my fishing bait at the same time! I should have been a farmer or a Amish! Is there any ladies in their 50's that have a farm looking for a husband?
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Around march when I start my seed boxes I strain the ground under the leaves and add either sand or something I think will make the soil lighter or better. This year I tried some bought pine wood shavings! I put the mix in the 5 inch deep box to about 3 inches deep over top a few sheets of newspaper. I add some urea or mostly I add a little blood meal. I cover the soil from the garden wih about a 1/2 inch of seed starter and pat it down.
+++
I sprinkle my seeds on the top then cover the seeds with another 1/2 inch of seed starting soil and pat down and add a little water and cover with plastic or glass! I get very few weeds and my plants can stay in the boxes for a longer time! I also put a layer of leaves over the paper in some of the boxes then the dirt and blood meal! I don't think there is any set way just use common sense and make something that will keep the moister and fed the plants! Most of the time when I empty the box I see a few worms in the bottom! I plant seeds close and thin as I need them.This year I may sell plants in regular 4 or 6 packs!
+++
What I don't like about most seed starters is the lack of water absorbtion and a quick drying. My garden soil seems to work better with roots and holds moisture longer! Once I get a sweat chamber I will be in a league with DDog! I really like straining dirt and getting my fishing bait at the same time! I should have been a farmer or a Amish! Is there any ladies in their 50's that have a farm looking for a husband?
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DoubleDogFarm
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 6113
- Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:43 pm
Frank, Your a crack up!-
kimbledawn
- Senior Member
- Posts: 225
- Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:18 am
- Location: Memphis
For starting seed, I probably used garden soil 40 years ago. I have forgotten. When I left the farm and went to work at a commercial greenhouse, I believe we used Sunshine Pro-mix.
After I left the greenhouse, I started to use Black Gold potting soil. One year, I got some cheap brand at the hardware store. I'll never forget the "happy daisy face" on the front of the bag
!
Dang stuff nearly ruined my entire season!
Anyway, I am too timid to start my plants with anything else . . . If I was forced to, I'd use some alternative that others could vouch for. Left to my own devices, I will continue to start plants in Black Gold.
Potting up to larger containers after the starts are a couple of months old -- I have used other Sun Gro products (Sun Gro makes Black Gold, Sunshine, etc.). And, I have made my own mix from sifted top soil, peat moss and composted manure. For seedlings, I'd better use Black Gold.
[url=https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/potmix.html]The National Sustainable Ag Info Service has recipes for potting mixes.[/url] Scroll about 2/3rds of the way down the page.
Steve
After I left the greenhouse, I started to use Black Gold potting soil. One year, I got some cheap brand at the hardware store. I'll never forget the "happy daisy face" on the front of the bag
!Dang stuff nearly ruined my entire season!
Anyway, I am too timid to start my plants with anything else . . . If I was forced to, I'd use some alternative that others could vouch for. Left to my own devices, I will continue to start plants in Black Gold.
Potting up to larger containers after the starts are a couple of months old -- I have used other Sun Gro products (Sun Gro makes Black Gold, Sunshine, etc.). And, I have made my own mix from sifted top soil, peat moss and composted manure. For seedlings, I'd better use Black Gold.
[url=https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/potmix.html]The National Sustainable Ag Info Service has recipes for potting mixes.[/url] Scroll about 2/3rds of the way down the page.
Steve