Hey everyone! I'm a first-time gardener planning to set up either 48 or 64 square feet of growing space, one foot deep. My goal is to grow more food than I need and share the surplus through the Mutual Aid group I work with. However, I realized that making Mel's Mix would be way over my budget—it would cost around $150 for a 2x8x1 bed if I want to avoid pre-mixed ingredients. On the other hand, I found a sale on Sta-green 'garden soil' at Lowe's, which is only about $50 for the same bed size. It seems like a better deal, and I could build four boxes at that price. I'm seeing mixed opinions about whether Mel's Mix is a must-have. What do you all think? Is it worth the extra $100? If I go with the garden soil, what should I be aware of?
6 Answers
If you're looking to save, the cheaper mix can work, but just keep in mind you'll likely need to amend the soil later or add a good fertilizer right away. I've had great results with Mel's Mix, especially when using high-quality compost. Once you start making your own compost, it'll surpass anything you can buy! If you haven't yet, consider starting a compost system. I have a small setup in old totes, and it's going pretty well! You might also want to try a Hügelkultur bed: lay cardboard at the bottom, then add sticks, grass clippings, and leaves before piling compost and dirt on top. Just make sure your dirt is about 8-10 inches deep for most veggies, and you'll do fine.
Check out your local bulk soil suppliers. I got two yards of good triple mix for about $140 Canadian, which is around $100 US. Just amend that with some perlite and additional compost, and you'll have a great base for your garden!
You'd do better to order compost by the yard and mix it with your topsoil rather than getting cheaper garden soil, which often has filler like wood chips. That's not ideal for your plants!
I recommend sourcing bulk compost locally; it tends to be under $1 per cubic foot. You can mix that with perlite, vermiculite, or peat. Just remember, your plants primarily need water, oxygen, and sunlight—get a mix that provides that, and you'll be set!
In many areas, you can get compost for cheap or even free from local green waste processors. Just buy a large block of peat moss and mix it with your native topsoil and compost—throw in some perlite if you can! The key to good yields is sunlight, water, and regular fertilization, so I wouldn’t stress too much about the exact mix.
We started with bulk topsoil mixed with compost, and then when that ran out, we used bagged garden soil combined with various composts. We’ve since worked in vermiculite and more compost, and it's been super productive! Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good!