Question for the board

[Kingbird]

Always wear a mask when mixing organics!

Base soil recipe I use for everything. Then when amending I tailor to the specific crop I am growing.

1 part Peat
1 part Coco Coir
1 part Compost (earthworm castings, lobster compost, homemade etc)
1 part Aeration ( I like rice hulls, perlite, expanded clay, lava rock, etc)

This can be watered in with liquid organic fertilizer or amended with things like kelp, oyster flour, gypsum, basalt, glacial rock dust, crab meal or the basics blood, bone, etc)

Adjust water pH to 6.5 before watering. I use the little test drops kit that comes with pH up and down from General Hydroponics. You can use vinegar for pH down and baking soda for pH up in a pinch.

Happy growing!!

[Donnyboy]

I 'have twenty 25 gallon pots, five large raised beds and one fifty foot raised bed. I've tried to furnish garden soil mixed specifically for each bed type until recently. I've maintained compost beds with the intent of building sufficient compost inventory to slowly convert everything to compost soil. I have no idea how well it will work but hopefully, I can make it work. I've simply become tired of trying to spoon feed specific designed soils for each plant type and growing condition. I'm working towards a one size fits all dirt garden.

[agee]

Welcome @rusty to the Junction.

For my 25 gal containers I am using an old recycled 511 mix I made years ago. If I remember correctly it was bark fines, peat and perlite. Over the years I have added peat and other miscellaneous things such as crushed egg shells, spent tea leaves and compost. I also have switched to using granular DE (Diatomaceous Earth)...Floor Dry from AutoZone instead of perlite. But primarily I add Kellogg's Patio Plus Premium Outdoor Organic Potting Mix. I fertilize with Garden Tone organic fertilizer. I use the same mix for my peppers, zucchini and anything else I decide to plant.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kellogg-Gar ... /100160888

I use the same Kellogg's Patio Mix in all my different sized containers, 5 gal thru 25 gal. I also use the Patio Mix as-is. For small pots I run it through a sieve to get the big stuff out.

Does granular DE have pest control properties when incorporated in potting mix or is it mainly to serve the same purpose as perlite - aeration and drainage?

[Tormahto]

I 'have twenty 25 gallon pots, five large raised beds and one fifty foot raised bed. I've tried to furnish garden soil mixed specifically for each bed type until recently. I've maintained compost beds with the intent of building sufficient compost inventory to slowly convert everything to compost soil. I have no idea how well it will work but hopefully, I can make it work. I've simply become tired of trying to spoon feed specific designed soils for each plant type and growing condition. I'm working towards a one size fits all dirt garden.

Two general types of soil might work best. Something for carrots (more firm sandy loam) would work for many other plants. And something for squash (looser with more compost) would work for other plants, too.

I've heard carrots do not do well in compost rich soils, as they do a lot of forking. And I've heard, and experienced, plants that have very delicate roots, like squash and melons, do not do the best in firm loamy soil.

So, I go towards having two sizes fits all soil in my garden.

[zeuspaul]

Does granular DE have pest control properties when incorporated in potting mix or is it mainly to serve the same purpose as perlite - aeration and drainage?

It is possible there might be a little pest control because of the small amount of DE dust/powder that hitches a ride. I doubt it because it still get fungus gnats from time to time. In addition to aeration and drainage it also holds water. It also has the benefit of adding some silica.

[Donnyboy]

I've been told each DE particle has very sharp edges and severely damages snails and slugs when they come in contact with it. I've seen it sold in garden centers for that purpose.