soil for container plants

I was thinking of putting a few plants in containers as it is only me and my wife are the only ones eating the produce. I was wondering if any of you do container plants and what kind of soil or soil mix do you use? I don't have a green thumb so I can use the advice.. thanks

 

I have three of these. They work very well. I just use any garden soil. And I don't bother with the weed cloth. Just dump in the soil and plant the veggies.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/CITY-PIC...340D/202563845

 

no special kind of dirt j

 

I don't. Just 20 lb bags from the home improvement store.

 

Almost any kind of potting soil will work. Just make sure you buy "potting" soil, not "garden" soil.

Don't believe the package if it says something like "feeds for up to 6 months". You will likely need to do some fertilizing long before that if you want good production.

 

I'm going to disagree with PD on this. I use garden soil, and not potting soil. But if you look at the directions they specifically say not to use potting soil but a potting mix! (apparently there is a difference) I think potting soil is too "loose". At any rate is not critical what you use. I did not use dolomite, potting mix, or fertilizer. The garden soil I buy has all the nutrients necessary for any outdoor garden and vegetables.

 

As far as I'm concerned, it's all a racket, selling dirt! Must be the same guys that sell water!

 

Marq, I can't agree more.
But now days one just can't dig up dirt from any place.
Just came across this on Facebook:


To which I commented:
Kind of makes you realize how delicate a balance our society has become. Before the 20th century, most people could handle survival without heavy dependence on all of society.

 

I used potting soil, fertilizer, and lime. I watched a youtube video about bucket gardening and that is what is said to use. I thought I would try it for a year and if it works do a couple more. if it doesn't work I will just give up the garden altogether. the amount of money it costs to put them in and what it costs for two people at the farmers market is not a lot of difference, as far as I can tell. this whole pandemic thing is quite a deal. If I remember right when they had a flu or a virus in the old days, people just dealt with it. you didn't see any government buyouts or subsidies in 1918 when they had the flu epedemic. all the money they are spending is going to result in one of two things. either the money will be worthless or our future generations will be paying for what the big corporations got in this bailout. shutting everything down is just crazy and they might even extend it.

 

Like I said, save the money on the fertilizer and lime and even potting soil. You don't need it. Same for the weed guard clothe. Use regular dirt or just garden soil with all the nutrients in it.

Regarding your commentary. I agree. The problem is that every little thing we do or start becomes co-dependent on everything else. For instance...3D printing has become an industry in itself. No longer relegated to industrial use, it now is a cottage industry. Do we need 3D printing to survive? No! But if the bottom fell out of the 3 D printing industry such as a shortage of filament many companies and workers will be out of a work. You can take almost any item or service and bingo, it effects the economy. How about the latest delivery service such as RODI or similar service as delivering food. My daughter in a week earned $4000 in just house to house deliveries. If that fails, she will be hurting since her husband is a teacher and due to current circumstances mighty not have a job next year. Take anything, graphic design, drug enforcement, prison guards, etc... No money to hire these people, no income and more lost jobs. It's snowball effect.
I'm concerned about the government throwing trillions( imagine the term trillions) at the problem. Where is that money being borrowed from. It's got to come from somewhere. The Chinese? lol? Europe? Think they will help us like we helped them after the war? Not a chance. They can't even bail themselves out without our help.

Our future generations will be saddled with a whole new set of problems. And they will need to do a "reset" of sorts to bring things back to normal. There's going to be world of hurt for future generations. I don't think it we be the same sort of thing as the Great Depression of the 1930's. But I think it will be a swing of the pendulum to a very conservative way of life and a more independent sense of survival.

I'm glad I won't be around to see the result.

OK, soapbox done!