should I use garden soil in Square foot garden?
Image by mrmole
All ready to be mixed:
300 litres of Vermiculite
200 litres peat moss
120 litres compost (we need more compost!)
Question by westpalmharbor: should I use garden soil in Square foot garden?
I found great composite wood look heavy duty snap together raised beds at sam’s club very reasonable, but now have to fill them with soil. Square foot gardening book recommends 1/3 coarse vermiculite, 1/3 peat moss and 1/3 compost – I’m worried this will dry out very quickly in our Florida sun and am tempted to use at least a good percentage of Miracle grow garden soil Does anyone have experience with “Mel’s mix” soil and can you tell me if it dries out rapidly? Our prime gardening season (fall) is coming up and I plan to be ready with my new raised beds! The beds will be in mostly sun and placed directly on the ground.
What do you think? Answer below!
2 Responses to should I use garden soil in Square foot garden?
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The vermiculite is to help drainage. Coarse sand would do the same.
I would definitely add the peat moss as this would help to retain moisture. As for soil, the M-G will work just fine. Don’t know what type of soil is in your area but some of that probably wouldn’t hurt either.
Good Luck1
rick h
February 5, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Potting Soil would be better than Garden Soil in a raised bed like that. It’s lighter (made of those things you mentioned – vermiculite, etc.) so it will dry out a bit faster but it will also drain a lot better and if you get a lot of rain/water the thing won’t rot.
Miracle grow is fortified with a lot of nutrients so you definitely don’t want to plant seeds right in the mix or it’s possible it will burn and kill the seeds. If you’re planting seedlings your safe with MG, just don’t fertilize for the first few weeks and after that start with a VERY low concentration and work your way up to full strength.
Good luck.
Shamrock4751
February 5, 2012 at 1:14 pm