I'm starting my first gardening adventure, and I've got a few different setups going on. My husband is trying out straw bale gardening, while I've planned my own raised beds and containers. Here's what I've got in mind for the soil mix:
- For the raised beds, I'm thinking 60% topsoil, 30% compost, and 10% potting mix.
- For the containers, I planned for a mix of 1/3 coconut coir, 1/3 compost, 1/6 vermiculite, and 1/6 perlite.
I originally wrote down these mixes while watching a YouTube video, but I didn't bookmark it and now I can't remember which one it was. I've seen a lot of different advice online about filling beds, and I'm really not sure which direction I should go. By the way, I'm in Zone 6b, if that helps!
1 Answer
Just to chime in, I tried mixing my own soil for raised beds once, and honestly, it was a bit of a hassle. The price difference wasn't even that significant compared to just grabbing premixed soil, and it was a chore to mix everything together. From what I've experienced, focusing on the top foot of soil in your raised beds is key. I've used plain topsoil for the bottom and nice mix on top and honestly couldn't tell a difference in plant performance. Keep it simple!