Raised Garden Bed Dirt Question?
First time I have ever had a garden. I am doing a raised vegetable garden (2 of them at 4X5 feet). I am not sure what to put in it, as far as dirt goes. I bought bags of soil from Home Depot. I also have a big bag of Peat moss and a couple bags of manure. I have dirt from my back yard that I can mix in (but it is pretty "clay-y". I also have sand if I need it. I dont have any "composted stuff" yet. I am starting a compost but have only had it going for a month or so so not a lot. This sounds weird to me but my neighbor said I should use all the "yuck stuff" (hay, poop etc) that is decomposing under my bunny cage to throw into the mix as well?!? So do I need all the stuff listed and if so to what ratio and do I need anything else? Please and thank you so much!!
You are definitely on the right track. For vegetables I would use a mixture of potting soil and compost, both of which you can buy at gardening supply stores. You can 2/3 soil to 1/3 compost, or even up to half and half if you want.
I would not bother using clay or sand, vegetables really like soft, very rich soil to grown in. You can use some of your "yuck stuff" but I would also recommend you buy at least one bag of organic compost.
The one last note I would like to make is about peat moss. This is not necessary in gardens, and in fact should never be used. It shouldn’t even be sold. Peat is a very valuable, non-renewable resource that is harvested by destroying our much needed peat bogs. Bogs, marshes, all sorts of wetlands are vital and fragile ecosystems in our environment, and when a peat bog is destroyed to get the peat moss it is gone forever. Please don’t use this in your gardening.
Happy planting!
Sounds like you know what your doing. Yes yuck stuff is the best. Not pig food , but things like egg shells and old salad or veggies, even hay and old mulch. I would not use meat that will stink and draw unwanted animals. I have gardened awhile I seem to do well. Yes that is a good benefit from having chickens or rabbits or horses , they provide great compost for your garden to bloom great. avoid over fertilizing though , and watering for that matter, You will see spots on leaves or a burt look. Its hard to do just watch out for that. Clay is ok to mix in, I would not use the sand if you have other things.