I have 4 raised beds and a *lot* of containers that have been sitting dormant since last season. Pretty much all of them were used for tomatoes, with a few peppers and cucumbers. I know you’re not supposed to reuse them for nightshades year after year but I don’t have room for crop rotations.
So the current question is what to do to revitalize my old soil, much of which has weeds growing on top for months.
Current plans:
Raised Beds – Mix existing soil with compost, and perhaps some “raised bed plant food” (10-2-8)
Compost: http://www.naturescare.com/smg/goprod/natures-care-really-good-compost/prod11340020
Fertilizer: http://www.naturescare.com/smg/goprod/organic-raised-bed-plant-food/prod11860021
Containers – Mix existing soil with fresh potting soil, compost, and perhaps some “organic and natural vegetable, fruit and flower food” (
Compost: http://www.naturescare.com/smg/goprod/natures-care-really-good-compost/prod11340020
Fertilizer: http://www.naturescare.com/smg/gopr...ural-vegetable-fruit-flower-food/prod11050012 (3-4-2)
Also of note is when I transplant the little plants into the containers and beds I usually use some Espoma “Bio-tone Starter-Plus plant food” http://www.espoma.com/product/bio-tone-starter-plus (4-3-3)
So I don’t want to over fertilize, but I also want to ensure my soil is as best prepared as I can make it at this point. Another option is I can get some compost by the yard from my local garden center by the yard, but I’m not sure how much better that is than the bagged stuff, but it sure is cheaper. I bought 10 bags of the stuff above, but I’m not sure if it’s gonna be enough.
thanks for any advice!
So the current question is what to do to revitalize my old soil, much of which has weeds growing on top for months.
Current plans:
Raised Beds – Mix existing soil with compost, and perhaps some “raised bed plant food” (10-2-8)
Compost: http://www.naturescare.com/smg/goprod/natures-care-really-good-compost/prod11340020
Fertilizer: http://www.naturescare.com/smg/goprod/organic-raised-bed-plant-food/prod11860021
Containers – Mix existing soil with fresh potting soil, compost, and perhaps some “organic and natural vegetable, fruit and flower food” (
Compost: http://www.naturescare.com/smg/goprod/natures-care-really-good-compost/prod11340020
Fertilizer: http://www.naturescare.com/smg/gopr...ural-vegetable-fruit-flower-food/prod11050012 (3-4-2)
Also of note is when I transplant the little plants into the containers and beds I usually use some Espoma “Bio-tone Starter-Plus plant food” http://www.espoma.com/product/bio-tone-starter-plus (4-3-3)
So I don’t want to over fertilize, but I also want to ensure my soil is as best prepared as I can make it at this point. Another option is I can get some compost by the yard from my local garden center by the yard, but I’m not sure how much better that is than the bagged stuff, but it sure is cheaper. I bought 10 bags of the stuff above, but I’m not sure if it’s gonna be enough.
thanks for any advice!