new gardener question about soil

19 years ago

So I very recently just started trying to grow vegetables. I bought some miracle gro organic soil and planted things in my garden which are turning out fairly well (zucchini and broccoli). I also used this soil in a few containers for lettuces which turned out quite well. Then last night I looked at the bag again and it has a big symbol on it that says NOT FOR USE IN CONTAINERS. I read a bit today about soils and it turns out that this organic mix should be mixed with local soils, but not used on its own. I've been eating lettuces for the last few weeks grown in containers with only this organic nonpotting soil. Is this bad? What does this really mean? Of course, in future pots I'll mix the right soils and read the labels, but in the meantime, what about the stuff I've already got growing? I also plan to get my soil tested soon to see what's already in my yard.

So gardening is a little more than just sticking the plant in and watering it... I'm loving gardening, but definitely starting from scratch in what I know how to do.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

digdirt2
19 years ago
There is no harm from eating produce grown in Miracle Grow Garden Soil, just problems growing things in it when used in containers. ;) Containers need potting mixes to grow best, not soil. Based on all the posts here at GW many have had difficulty using it in containers.

MG recommends against using it in containers on the bag (never hurts to read the label ;) because it compacts easily and drains poorly. Not a problem when its is added to the other soils in the garden but can cause real problems for container plants.

A search here using Miracle Grow Garden soil pulls up several discussions about it if you want to review them. ;)

Next year just dump what is in your containers into the garden and fill them instead with a good soiless potting mix made for containers. You'll have better results. ;)

Enjoy your gardening adventures!

Dave
tclynx
19 years ago
I don't know about MG's organic garden soil but I think that their regular garden soil is meant to be used mixed with the local soil because it has fertilizers mixed into it and when used alone it could be too strong and burn. This along with the other explanation about compacting and such is probably why it is also not recomended for use in containers. If your plants grew fine without showing signs of burn then all is well.

Personally, I've decided not to buy dirt anymore. I've been using free compost in my containers and so far all is growing well.
Related Professionals
Hannibal Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Auburn Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Bozeman Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Forrest City Landscape Contractors · Somerset Landscape Contractors · Murfreesboro Landscape Contractors · Aurora Landscape Contractors · Brooklyn Landscape Contractors · Oneonta Landscape Contractors · Bainbridge Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Bowling Green Stone, Pavers & Concrete · DeRidder Stone, Pavers & Concrete · San Marcos Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Janesville Stone, Pavers & Concrete · San Diego Stone, Pavers & Concrete
Kimmsr
19 years ago
Potting "soils" do not really contain any soil, they are most often simply peat moss and either perlite or vermiculite. Garden soils can be anything but for optimal plant growth the should be about 45 percent mineral (the stuff that makes a soil a clay, sand, or loam), 5 percent organic matter, 25 percent air, and 25 percent water. Garden soils are too heavy and do not drain well enough to be used in containers and that often results in root rot because the plants roots do not get enough air.
As a general rule of thumb it is simply too expensive to buy soil for your garden in a store. I recently did buy a bag of "topsoil" to fill in a small area the turkeys excavated where the bird feeder used to be and that 2 cubic foot bag of "topsoil" cost $40.00 per yard, and before I could get it fenced in the turkeys excavated that really expensive "topsoil", again.