BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Container Gardening Potting Soil (or the lack thereof)

I bought quality soil for my veg containers, but when I got home I noted I didn't buy potting soil per se, rather garden soil heavily nutrified with organic elements. It says on the bags, do not use in containers.

But I think that's rubbish. Or is it?

I live in So Cal, land of the year-round tomatoes and oranges and the like. Though there is no vermiculite in this soil, it's thick and rich and I believe will hold water well. I'm not worried about rot since it's very sunny with beach winds at my place.

Should I go get some different soil?

I wouldn't get any different soil, though I might lighten that soil up a bit with some peat or vermiculite. I don't know what the texture is like, but you don't want to use anything that will compact and prevent the roots from spreading freely. (That said, all experts aside, people have been using native soil in containers with perfectly fine results forever. We always have to wonder whether it's an industry-driven rule or true necessity when we hear about the grave results of non-conformity in such cases. That bit of anarchy vented, you will indeed get *better* results through conforming to the rules.)

Don't you have some rotted straw and fertilizer about three spades down on the manure pile? That's a wonderful amendment to your soil in reasonable quantities.

I've got horse manure in spades. <img src="/images/graemlins/viking.gif" alt="" /> But it's not aged. Straw is a good idea tho, thanks.

This soil has lots of peat so I'm confident that things will go well.

Thanks for the advice!

Aha! Sometimes I have to dream the answers to my questions. It came to me last night: worms! Perfectly obvious of course. I was just so focused on that beauty on the left of your message, I didn't think of my old slimy friends. A few garden-variety worms in these containers will aerate and fertilize this soil.

worms. hmmmm.

*wonders where she can find some*

should I buy some red ones? like they use for vermiculture?

i often get the answers (to everything) in my dreams. lol

I used to buy worms from Billy Carter's Worm Farm in Plains, Georgia. Yes, he's Jimmy's brother. Those boys were more than just peanut farmers! I used them to feed my fishes and tossed a few in each container, which made a nice addition to the pots. Now, since it doesn't matter what kind of worms I use, I just dig 'em up. (I'm keeping smaller fishes these days.) They look really ticked off too! We have really big night crawlers in the raised beds, so every time I plant something there, I get a few big, angry worms...and they come after me! (I know this sounds silly, but I'm terrified of worms...blame my brothers!) Fortunately, I love my garden more than I fear the worms that are so good for the garden. heh, heh

I started a worm bed years ago in the back yard, and they escaped! Now they are all over the place, and the soil is black and beautiful. When we moved to the beach I brought some worms over to start a worm bed there. One day my husband called me and asked if I put a bird in the garage! I said no, so he opened the door and let it go. He identified it as a woodcock. These are elusive birds, scarcer than hens teeth. And they eat EarthWorms! Which is the reason he was in my yard, I am sure. I highly recommend worms. <img src="/images/graemlins/beamedup.gif" alt="" />

I love the escaping worm story. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

When I get the worms, do I need to bury them? Or will they burrow on their own?

They'll burrow on their own, but it's nice to give them a little help by covering them with a layer of soil.

I am planting container tomatoes for the second time. The first time I tried it out was a total bust. They got too hot for one thing, but I think mainly the pots needed worms.

I am going to add some this time, but I wonder how many for a 3 gallon pot? I want enough for the beneficial effect, but not so many that they eat their way through the soil organic material and start in on the roots of the tomato plants. Any suggestions?