Need some advice from the pros...would you reuse the soil that was in

Zoigal

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Tue Mar-16-10 07:05 PM
Original message

Need some advice from the pros...would you reuse the soil that was in

last season's tomato pots for this year's tomato plants assuming there was no problem with
diseases, etc? If you would, what type of amendments would you add? The medium that i used
was composed of commercial potting soils, perlite, bone meal, blood meal, and a slow release
fertilizer. Thanks for your suggestions.....z

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asdjrocky

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Tue Mar-16-10 08:03 PM
Response to Original message

1. Well I'm no pro,

but I have raised boxes, so my soil is always reused. I compost and put the compost in the boxes as well. As for reusing soil, I always throw the soil from my pots into my boxes.

I do try to cover my boxes with a clear plastic tarp for a few weeks before planting and the sun helps to kill weeds and bugs in the soil.

But yeah, nothing with me goes to waste.

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Zoigal

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Wed Mar-17-10 12:43 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Thanks for replying, asdjrocky

You may not consider yourself a pro but you certainly gave me an idea for reusing last year's
potting soil. Am going to mix it all together, add some new soils and amendments and give it a try.
You must be a good gardner to weather the Stockton hot summers. (Lived in Modesto a long while.)
Good luck this season.....z

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Blue Gardener

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Thu Mar-18-10 05:42 AM
Response to Original message

3. I re-use mine

I just add fertilizer. I started using worm poop fertilizer last year and am very impressed.
Gardener's Supply has a special mix you can buy to revive potting soil. I haven't tried it, but I always have good luck with their products.

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Zoigal

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Thu Mar-18-10 08:05 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. Thank you, Blue Gardener

Am going to get some worm poop fertilizer. That, plus some new soils plus a few other things
should do the trick...z

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beac

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Thu Mar-18-10 04:01 PM
Response to Original message

4. I was Googling around about this very question in the fall when I was trying to decide what to

do with all my potting soil (my garden is 80% container). Found some helpful links:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/frugal/msg051914434495.html

http://www.helium.com/debates/172726-is-reusing-potting-soil-from-last-year-a-good-idea

I "sterilized" mine in the Fall w/ the hot water trick (mostly to kill off any buggy eggs lurking) before saving it in food-grade 55 gal drums.

I'm planning on mixing it with worm poop and compost to re-energize it. *fingers crossed*

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Zoigal

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Thu Mar-18-10 08:08 PM
Response to Reply #4

6. Checked out both site that you recommended, beac.

They both gave me some excellent information. Hadn't heard of the "hot water" trick but it might
be worth a try. Am definitely going to add worm poop. Thanks and good luck this coming season...z

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NRaleighLiberal

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Thu Mar-25-10 11:39 PM
Response to Original message

7. I don't reuse mine due to so many issues with disease in hot humid Raleigh.

I dump all of my pots (hundreds!) into a big pile and we use it as mulch and growing medium for flowers and herbs. It makes for an expensive garden, but it is my main hobby...and I do significant seed saving and research on different varieties.

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