Soil Recipe

 Seed starting

Patty’s simple seed starting mix:

4 parts peat moss

1 vermiculite

Mix them together and screen them well. This creates a fine texture that is key to helping little seeds sprout. 

Daryl’s recipe for garden soil:

45% Peat moss

45% Compost

10% Vermiculite    

Stir these together and add a slow-release fertilizer.

BASIC DIY SEEDLING MIX RECIPE:

1 Part coco coir (or peat moss) ie- 16 oz bag
1 Part perlite
1 Part vermiculite
1 HANDFUL* or approx 1 cup (if using 16 oz bags of above ingredients) worm castings (this is what I have used for years)

Lime

Lime that is used in gardening is labeled “garden lime.” Lime raises the pH level and makes soil less acidic. The best time to add lime is in the fall, so it has time to be absorbed and change the pH level.

Bone meal

Bone meal is made from dried animal bones. The ground-up bones add calcium and phosphorus. Bone meal breaks down slowly in the soil, so it doesn’t have to be added often. Only add bone meal to acidic soils, as it won’t work with a pH above 7. Gardeners use bone meal to increase the amount of phosphorus available to plants. NPK of 3-15-0. One thing to note is that adding bone meal can increase your dog’s desire to dig Planter’s 

4 parts peat moss

1 vermiculite

Mix them together and screen them well. This creates a fine texture that is key to helping little seeds sprout.

Daryl’s recipe for garden soil:

45% Peat moss

45% Compost

10% Vermiculite    

Stir these together and add a slow-release fertilizer

Quick Overview of Soil Amendments

If you’ve read any gardening book or blog, you’ve read about things you could be adding to your soil to address moisture, drainage, and other issues. This list of soil amendments will give you a quick overview of what each addition can do. And remember to wear a dust mask and gloves when working with these ingredients.

Coconut coir

Coconut coir comes from coconut husks. This natural, renewable resource is used for absorbing moisture.  It is also used to lighten the soil and add air circulation.

Peat moss

Peat moss comes from peat bogs. It is used to absorb moisture. Peat moss has a pH of around 4.5 and can be too acidic to use by itself.

Perlite

Perlite comes from heated volcanic rock. It is a granular material that is added for drainage.

Vermiculite

Vermiculite comes from heated mica and is used for drainage. Coarse grades of vermiculite drain quicker than more finely crushed grades. Vermiculite holds more nutrients and water than perlite.

Sand

Sand can come in different grades. Usually, gardeners will use coarse sand for drainage. Builders grade sand will provide aeration. Sand is heavier than perlite and vermiculite, so that’s something to consider when adding to containers.

Lime

Lime that is used in gardening is labeled “garden lime.” Lime raises the pH level and makes soil less acidic. The best time to add lime is in the fall, so it has time to be absorbed and change the pH level.

Bone meal

Bone meal is made from dried animal bones. The ground-up bones add calcium and phosphorus. Bone meal breaks down slowly in the soil, so it doesn’t have to be added often. Only add bone meal to acidic soils, as it won’t work with a pH above 7. Gardeners use bone meal to increase the amount of phosphorus available to plants. NPK of 3-15-0. One thing to note is that adding bone meal can increase your dog’s desire to dig in the garden.

Blood meal

Blood meal is from dried slaughterhouse waste. It is a natural source of nitrogen with an NPK of 12-0-0. Adding blood meal to the soil makes nitrogen available to plants for 2 to 6 weeks.

Worm castings/vermicast

Vermicast or worm castings are earthworm excrement or worm poop. Worm castings are an excellent organic fertilizer. It has a neutral pH, and nutrients and minerals are readily available for plant use.

Compost

Compost is a rich, nutrient-dense soil amendment made from decomposed natural materials. Compost can be made from your own kitchen scraps and yard waste. Usually, you want to add compost that is completely broken down. Read more about composting in our Planter’s Library.

Manure

Animal manure is a source of the main elements needed for plant growth, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Manure can improve soil structure and add slowly released nutrients. Fresh manure should not be used on vegetables, especially root vegetables.