containers, soil and fertilizer

[FireWithin]

I finally have an opportunity to garden. We have some personal outdoor space in our apartment area. I have dreamed of making my own compost, mixing up dirt and using containers (in ground is not an option).

The books that I have been reading really stress the importance of using potting soil (basically not dirt) for container gardening. One reason that I remember is that garden soil can get too heavy and start to compact the roots and prevent air circulation. Also, there was value to having soil without any bacteria to mess things up. But I want good healthy bacteria and all of those microorganism, etc. I don't want dead soil.

Also, I've read a lot about the importance of fertilizing in containers, which makes sense, but I've seen nothing about using compost, just using purchased stuff that you pour into the containers.

So what have you done with containers? just high quality garden soil with compost? or do you get potting soil.

how do you fertilize?

eta: I am currently reading The Bountiful Container by McGee and Stuckey.

Any other sources that would be better for my needs?

[mattemma04]

I would recommend adding some worm compost(castings) to the pots.

Try a different mix in a few pots for the same kind of plants to mease which medium gives the best production.

[dyehappy]

I highly recommend the book All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew.

He recommends "Mel's Mix," which consists of:

1/3 Blended Compost
1/3 Peat Moss
1/3 Coarse Vermiculite

Mix equal parts, measured by volume, not by weight.

The nutrient rich compost, the absorbency of the peat moss, and the coarseness of the vermiculite allows the plants to grow in 6" of soil. Also, the soil has no weed seeds in it. Weeding only needs to be done "once a month."

Here's a link to his website.

[OFF TOPIC EDIT: This was my 50th post! Yay! How exciting.]

[lakeruby]

I want to second the recommendation to use worm castings! They are the only fertilizer I use in my container plantings, although I do add some compost to the soil when I'm filling them initially. I do use potting soil....I get it from a local farm that makes it-- I don't like the kind you can buy at Home Depot or other garden centers, with the styrofoam in it. If you are going to be using large containers, I would suggest making your own! I don't know a recipe off the top of my head, but I know you can make a good potting mix with worm castings, pine bark, and vermiculite (and probably some other things I'm leaving out). It would be cheap (relatively speaking!) to buy a large bag of each ingredient and then mix a tub of your own soil. I think you could find a recipe in one of your gardening books, or on the internet.....good luck!

[FireWithin]

oh I'm so glad worm castings was recommended. I wanted to start some vermiculture soon, so now I know it has a place.
So why is that better than regular compost? (which I haven't started either)

thanks for the recommendations everyone!