If you plan on growing anything in pots this year, potting soil is absolutely essential. Garden soil is just too heavy when growing in pots. The thing is, pre-made bagged potting soil is crazy expensive, and since this year, I plan on growing quite a few things in containers, I decided to make my own.
Here are the ingredients you’ll Need:
- Peat Moss
- Vermiculite
- Compost
- Fertilizer {if you use it}
- A Mask for your face {this is optional, but I don’t want to breath any of the mix in, especially since I will be using chicken poo as my fertilizer}
- A wheelbarrow or large pot to mix your potting soil
The basic recipe is easy peasy. Mix one part each of the peat moss, vermiculite, and compost. I’m not a big fan of store bought fertilizer, as far as I’m concerned, that’s the chickens’ job, so I’ll be collecting my compost from the floor of the chicken run. This will eliminate the need to use fertilizer.
It’s easiest if you just grab a bucket and throw one bucket of each ingredient into your mixing container. Add a little water and stir it around with gloved hands or a shovel.
Then, just grab your containers and filled them with potting soil. If you are using a commercial fertilizer, fill your pots half way, add a scoop of fertilizer and mix it in. Fill your container the rest of the way, repeat the fertilizer step, and voila, you’re done.
That’s it! Now all I have to do is plant the veggies and wait for some homegrown goodness.
Let’s get this party started!
~Mavis
Looking for a great gardening book? Check out The New Self-Sufficient Gardener
 |
Have you tried using coconut coir instead of the peat moss?
I’ve used coco coir instead of the peat moss and it worked. Down South it helped keep a little moisture in the soil, too. Well, in fairness, I’m sure the vermiculite helped, too.
Good luck.
This is our first year doing this and we don’t have compost; what else could we use?
Hi Mavis,
I just love your blog! Thank you for all your hard work.
What vegetables will you plant in containers?
Hi Nancy, I’m working on them right now and will be writing about it in the next day or two once I get them planted.
For large batches of make your own potting soil. I dump the 3 ingredients on a large tarp and then pull up the corners one by one to mix it all together.
If you donn’t have compost you can purchase a few bags at the nursery.
Do you use your chicken compost straight from the coop clean out or do you let it sit and truly compost for a while before using? I think I have access to some chicken clean out and was just wondering. Thanks!
I usually let the chicken goodness sit on the compost pile for a few months.
Thanks! It makes sense that it should compost for a while.
Anybody know why she is not adding Perlite?
I have heard rumors of abestos in Perlite,
is this a true warning or hogwash?
There isn’t asbestos in perlite or vermiculite. One time, several years ago, some vermiculite from one mine had traces of asbestos in it. That mine was promptly closed and there hasn’t been a problem since. Vermiculite holds water better than perlite, as per the Sqare Foot Garden book by Mel Bartholomew. This mix of potting soil, minus the fertilizer, is Mel’s Mix from the book.
Thank you for setting my mind at ease.
After having choked though countless bags of Perlite in my life,
I was alittle worried.
Thanks Erin, you are totally correct.
I was wondering about the chicken manure too. We tried to use some from the coop last year and lost our whole bed of plants. I’ve heard it’s too acidic and needs to sit in compost for a year before using.
I have the same tip as Sara. Use coir instead of peat. Here’s an excellent case for coir. http://www.sproutingoff.com/the-case-against-peat-moss/
Hi, since there are pine shavings in the compost that haven’t broken down completely, you will need to add nitrogen to the mix or the plants won’t do well. The shavings will use up all of the nitrogen available in their composting process. I think you need to let your compost “cook” longer before using it. It should be uniformly dark and crumbly and have no bad smell.
Where did you get your vermiculite? I went to home depot and they said they only carry the small bags.
Wilco has it in stock.
So excited about this post! Ordered my vermiculite and peat moss from wilco as they are out. Must have had a run on these since your post. =]
Yes, we don’t have chickens, but use “horse goodness” which we age in the compost pile for 5 – 6 months before using. Don’t know if it really needs that long, that’s just how we roll. : )
Thanks for the recipe. Do you have any idea how much cheaper this is than potting soil?
My husband complains every year about the cost of the potting soil.
Thanks