You can easily make your own durable soils from ingredients you gather from local suppliers at a fraction of what prepared commercial mixes cost. For more info, follow the link I've left you.

Al

Here is a link that might be useful: Click me and I'll take you to more info on soils

Well for container soil I think most people use what they can afford in price, and what is easy to come by. I had a bright idea 3 years back and tried it and am satisfied with it in price and how well it works. It is 3 parts composted oak leaves and 1 part mushroom compost. I have that mix in self watering 5 gal. buckets and have used it for 3 years now growing 2 crops a year in the same soil just adding fresh fert. mixed well into the soil then plant. I have mustard and collards in them now as large and good tasting as any grown in anything else. I am happy with this 6th crop in the same soil mix. Try it you may like it lol

Though this soil mix soil mix has been mentioned on numerous occasions, I think we both agree that it may not be something many would be satisfied with should they choose to use it. This is a direct quote from you: "I may not have the over saze [sic] plants and highly productive plants but I dont have to spend a fortune on soil and chemicals."

I want my plants to be highly productive, and wouldn't mind a bit if they are over sized just a little - or maybe more than just a little; well, a lot would be nice, actually. ;o) If you can make the soil work well enough that you're satisfied with the results, that's great. That others would be satisfied with results that seem to be somewhere in the neighborhood of what I think you've described as mediocre still looms as a question.

Al

I grow with the premise that healthy roots equal healthy plants... and I can only get healthy roots by growing them in a medium that allows for the exchange of oxygen and gases, doesn't compact and suffocate roots, and doesn't decompose quickly, which leads to early compaction and thereby suffocation. I use a mostly inorganic, gritty medium... Al's Mix!

My results using this mix have been wonderful! I grow mostly bulbs, which are prone to rot... and I grow mostly indoors. Using a mix geared toward healthy roots that are able to breathe has given me lovely green growth above soil level, and I don't have to re-pot every year due to soil compaction.

Once I understood how soils behave in a container environment, it became obvious that regular potting soil or compost was not the answer! Thanks, Al... you're a great teacher!