Best Potting Soil for Container Grown Vegetables
With the exception of hydroponics, the key to growing healthy plants is the soil type, the soil really does matters and lay at the roots of plant life. Although native soil has its place and may be looked upon as the ideal soil, the truth of the matter is there are many native soil types that need a little help (soil amending).
Below we will be going into more detail about the disadvantages of native soils but what we will be turning our attention to is the best soil mixture for container vegetable garden. If we would hope to have much success with growing vegetables in containers we can’t just use any soil but the right soil because the right soil type will yield the best results.
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Best Soil Mix for Container Vegetable Garden
Whether growing a flower garden, herb garden, fruits, vegetables, or other garden types the goal is to have success as we reap a good harvest of the time invested. We have done the homework for you on some of the best container potting soil that will work wonders for your container vegetable garden. Here is what to look for.
Soil Drainage
A good potting soil mixture will drain well because if the soil has poor drainage will become water-saturated which will lead to root rot, ensure that the soil mixture contains vermiculite or perlite which can be found on the potting soil label. Perlite and vermiculite are both lite weight, seed-free, odorless, insect-free, sterile, disease-free materials that are used to improve texture and aeration.
Vermiculite acts as a sponge that helps the soil to hold water whereas perlite helps with water drainage, both vermiculite and perlite complement each other by bringing the right balance to both water retention and water drainage.
Soil Fertility
The majority of potting soil may contain some fertilizers, but depending on the type of vegetables your planting may require an additional boost to ensure your veggies gets (the additional nutrients). For example, lettuce needs ruffly 1 tsp of nitrogen per square foot of row to produce healthy leaves. Veggies such as peppers, squash, and tomatoes need a good amount of nutrients to grow healthy, again read the soil mixture’s label to see which nutrients are available.
The Best Potting Soil Mix
1. Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Soil Mix–Miracle grow is the ideal potting soil that will help to produce healthy vegetables, this potting mixture is formulated to provide aeration and drainage while holding moisture. Miracle grow potting soil mixture is nutrient rich which is an added benefit for vegetables.
2. Black Gold All-Purpose Potting Soil–Black gold all-purpose potting soil is en-rich with nutrients, airy and light, this ideal potting soil mix is available in many bulk sizes.
3. Fox Farm Happy Frog Organic Potting Soil Mix-Fox farm happy frog organic potting soil mix is the ideal soil mixture that’s produced with organic ingredients. This potting soil mixture contains no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, helps to prevent erosion, and retains moisture.
4. Proven Winners Premium All Purpose Potting Soil– Proven winners premium all-purpose potting soil is weed-free, has good nutrient content, and has good drainage you will get a bang for your buck with this potting soil.
5. Espoma Organic Potting Mix-Espoma organic potting mix is made with 100% organic ingredients and is ideal for growing vegetables in containers. This organic potting mixture provides good aeration, and drainage while holding the right amount of moisture.
6. Fox Ocean Forest Fx1400-Fox ocean forest fx1400 is formulated for fruits, flowers, and vegetables, this potting soil contains seaweed extract, earthworm casting, and bat guano. Fox ocean forest potting soil is ideal for your container garden.
Creating Your Own Potting Soil
Creating your very own potting mixture is pretty simple, all it requires are perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss. To give your homemade potting mixture a boost it is good to add some compost to make your potting mixture nutrient-rich. Just to give an idea of the proper mixture, mix together one part vermiculite and one part perlite, and added addition of worm casting can also help greatly.
Bonus Points just for You
- Ensure the containers have drain holes for water drainage to avoid root rot
- Give your veggies the right amount of water no more no less that will encourage root rot
- Give your container-grown veggies the right amount of sunlight
- Keep an eye for insect pests and if they should visit your garden then apply a pesticide that is safe to use on edible foods. Before applying however read and follow the manufacturer’s directions.
- For further help on growing container-grown vegetables read the seed package if purchasing seeds, if growing veggies from seedlings then your garden nurseryman is one of your best sources for information.
The disadvantage of native soils
- Contains weed seeds
- It May contain soil-borne insects
- Maybe diseased
- May have poor water drainage.
- May have poor water retention
- Small amounts of nutrients
The final word on the best soil mix for container vegetable garden
As you can see from the discussion growing vegetables from a container is that simple, the first step in the right direction is to start with the right potting soil mixture. At home, both my wife and I have containers where we have successfully grown both veggies and herbs. So give container gardening a try even if you don’t have the space for a garden a container garden is a perfect fit because with this gardening method you can garden in small spaces as you connect with nature by giving nature a helping hand as you reap a good reward by eating the fruits or should I say the veggies that you labored for.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
Hi Normal,
Thank you for this very important post about selecting the right soil for your container garden.
The logic and explanation behind your choice help decide which one and why anyone will use them.
It is always tempting to make your own soil to use. But as you have pointed out, it might get you in disadvantages for some reasons.
We have many containers growing vegetables. Tomatoes, hot chili peppers of Indian kind, Malaver spinach (poi in my native language). Miracle-grow is our nutrition, My husband uses hydrogen peroxide and some neem spray to kill mosquitoes around.
May be post from you about how to make your own soil that can genuinely be used in your container garden will be helpful.
I shared this post with a friend who is doing container planting and terrace gardening.
Hello Anusuya I am so happy to help and thanks so much for commenting and sharing my post. All the best to you and have a good evening.
Thank you very much for this valuable detailed post about best soil mix for container vegetable garden. This is really a very important post for me. I have already started growing vegetables. So now I can try the soil mix you recommended. I need to try the espoma organic potting mix. Because I love to eat organic vegetables. Keep posting like this.
You are welcome and I am so happy to help, wishing you continued success as you work in your garden. Have a good day.