We can teach you how to make your own growing media. When you choose our soil recipe, you can customize your mixture to the needs of your plants and save on your gardening. With our help, you can make your own mixes instead of buying them at the store! The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
Start from the inside out
Home gardeners can start growing vegetable and flower seedlings indoors 4 to 12 weeks before the last average spring frost in the area, which means it's time to start indoors! We recommend that you use a fine and even germinating mixture that breathes well, is loose, and is free of pests, diseases and weed seeds. It should also be low in fertility and total soluble salt, but able to hold and move water. You can't do that with dirt straight from your backyard!
The typical backyard soil is too dense, full of weed seeds, and not pasteurized -- which can lead to seedling disease and death. Native soil also usually does not drain as well as mixed seedlings, and can form a crust that prevents the seedlings from passing through. Trust our soil formula to see your seedlings grow healthy and strong!
Soil formula
1/3 pasteurized soil or compost
1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite
1/3 peat moss
Soil formula specification
Heat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place slightly moist soil or compost in a heat-resistant container or pot.
Cover with a lid or tin foil and place in the oven until the soil mixture reaches 180 degrees.
When the soil mixture reaches 180 degrees, cook for another 30 minutes.
After the soil has been properly pasteurized, add other ingredients.
Let's start planting.
The most important advice we can give you is to be careful not to overheat the soil when creating this mixture - overheat destroys the structure of the soil and makes it useless.
While you may already have the perfect soil, you have other tasks to complete before you start planting -- cleaning your POTS, trays and pans! After cleaning, rinse the container with a 1:10 solution of chlorine bleach and water. This will kill any remaining plant disease microbes that may weaken or kill your tender seedlings.
Now you’re ready to go! Get the garden party started with this soil recipe, and make sure you have all the tools and accessories you need today!
There are several benefits to using a garden bed:
Improve soil quality: The soil used in garden beds is usually modified, such as compost or organic matter. These soil amendments improve soil fertility and water retention, thereby providing a better environment for plant growth.
Reduce weeds: As the soil used in garden beds is modified, weed growth will be inhibited. In addition, you can apply a cover (such as lawn, newspaper, or plastic sheeting, etc.) before planting to prevent weeds from growing.
Increase yield: Growing plants in a garden bed will usually yield higher yields than growing plants in a traditional vegetable garden because garden beds provide better soil quality and drainage.
Easy management: Garden beds are usually built on high ground, which makes management and harvesting easier. You don't have to bend over or kneel on the ground, thus reducing the burden on the body.
Overall, using garden beds can provide a better environment for your plants, increase yields, reduce weeds, and facilitate management and harvesting.
Garden beds also have some limitations, including:
High Cost: Building a garden bed requires purchasing more materials, such as wood, concrete, stone, etc., which can increase the cost of the garden.
Taking up space: Garden beds usually need to take up a certain amount of space, which can limit your planted area, especially if you have a smaller garden or only one balcony.
Maintenance required: Garden beds require maintenance, including regular addition of compost or organic matter, regular pruning of plants and treatment of pests and diseases. This takes a certain amount of time and effort, and can be taxing especially during busy times.
May need irrigation: Plants in garden beds generally require more water and therefore may need regular irrigation, especially during dry seasons.
Drainage problems may exist: Drainage of soil in garden beds may be limited, especially during the rainy season, and may result in flooding of plants.
Overall, garden beds can provide a better environment for your plants to grow in, but there are also issues to consider such as cost, space, maintenance, irrigation and drainage.
