Did you know that soil is living? Once I learned about all the living things in soil, gardening became more real for me. My plants seem to appreciate all the research I’ve been doing on soil because they appear to be growing better. In this post, I am sharing one of my favorite homemade potting soil recipe I personally have success growing with.
It’s All About The Potting Soil
It’s not uncommon for me to grab a handful of my soil in the raised beds to find an earth worm wiggling ab out. That is a sign that your soil is AMAZING!!! Below is a potting soil mix recipe for potting soil I use in my containers and window boxes. This is the recipe (give or take vermiculite) that I’ve been mixing up this recipe since 2009 when I got my first greenhouse.
Homemade Potting Soil Recipe
- 1 part peat moss
- 1 part perlite
- 1 part compost
- 1 part garden soil
Sometimes for the ‘compost’ I will add worm castings that I purchase locally.
If you don’t do compost you can use garden soil from a garden center. It is cheaper to mix up your own big wheelbarrow full of this recipe to grow your garden each new season.
Check This Out
There are a few different ways I like to mix up my soil depending on the project. You know I love my extension offices across America so be sure to check out this useful link at Penn State with some great tips about soil. Making your own potting soil can be super easy!
Books I recommend About Soil
There are many great books out there that I recommend that talk about soil. The best gardening books have at least one chapter on the soil. Here are a few of my favorites that I find myself referencing on my own personal garden journey.
- Start with Soil | Simple Steps for A Thriving Garden by Juliet Sargeant
- Understanding Roots by Robert Kourik
- Practical Organic Gardening by Mark Highland
- The Complete Idiots Guide to COMPOSTING by Chris McLaughlin
Let’s Connect
I would love to hear from you so please comment below and let me know what you thought about this article. You can always reach me by filling out my contact page form too.
Happy Gardening,
