Thread by @browngrlsgarden

Hi, ladies.

Let's talk about growing mediums, specifically for growing vegetables in containers and/or raised garden beds that aren't open to the soil underneath. #browngirlsgarden

#BrownGirlsGarden

When I first started asking around, lots of novice growers said "oh, just put them in some Miracle Grow potting mix, it's so easy!"

Survey on that info from more experienced growers?

Not that Miracle Gro can't be or isn't a great place to start. It can be. But it can't be the only thing you're putting into your containers or raised beds if you want beautiful, bountiful vegetables!

Why? Bc your veggies can only draw nutrients from what you put in there!

When you plant in ground, plants can spread vertically and laterally in search of water and nutrients if need be. In a container/raised bed, this is impossible. It can literally only "eat" what YOU put in there, so it better be good! You have to pack your babies something good!

How do you do this? Well, one of two main ways: you can make your own mix adding in fertilizers/compost and plant food OR you can buy a more complete mix with fertilizers/compost and more organic materials already in there.

I know, I know. Some of are making a face right now, freaking out thinking "But Adrienne.... I already planted my stuff and all I used was the Miracle Gro potting mix!"

You HAVE to get some plant food. And don't worry, I have some suggestions for that, but you gotta hold on!

Back to the mixes: I'm going to assume that for the novice choosing to DIY, you'd start with Miracle Gro potting mix. (MGPM) It's easy and it has the basics for a good base. But it's not enough by itself.

Some of the things you could mix with your MGPM:

Black Kow Composted manure: Manure is old school and EFFECTIVE. And CHEAP. You can get like 50lbs for $5/6. Use a good amount of this and it brings your costs WAYYYY down bc you'll use a lot less MGPM, which is expensive.

Compost: If you're against using a manure, you can buy it without it but it's a lot more expensive. You could also make your own from kitchen scraps and lawn clippings (grass, leaves, coffee grinds, fruit peels, egg shells, etc) but it takes a while and isn't feasible for most.

Earth worm castings: What's left behind when worms shed their skin. Farmers and serious planters SWEAR by this stuff. Can be pricey but a little apparently goes a long way, especially for small gardens so buy the smallest one.

Bat guano: Bat manure. This stuff is pure phosphorus so it's AMAZING for when veggies are flowering/ fruiting. Doesn't need to be mixed in at the time of planting, can be watered in so if you already planted, you can still get some! Small bag is like $10, & ya don't need a lot.

There's a LOT more but these are some of the most common and available.

It's a lot of info, right? I knowwwww. It's crazy. So after I put together all this info, I'm like ehhh, idk if I'm ready for all this. So enter in the more complete potting / raised bed mixes.

I looked for more options and came up with *drumroll* Kellogg Garden Organics! Here's the formula I used, specifically. It says potting mix, but it's all purpose. For beds, pots/containers, and mixing in ground!

It had basically everything I was looking for!

Bat guano? ✅
Kelp meal? ✅
Manure compost/fertilizer? ✅
Worm Castings ✅
And more.

PLUS, it's about $2-3 cheaper per bag than reg price MGPM! #BrownGirlsGarden

But I still wanted to give it a bit more OOMPH with some plant food bc a .3/.1/.1 NPK just wasn't gonna give me what I needed to really get the party going.

So, after planting I sprinkled some of this in my containers (you can also work some in at the time of transplant):

I ended up buying some MGPM this weekend bc it was only $5/bag, so I mixing it with some of the Kellogg mix I had left plus the plant food for the rest of the transplants I still had left, along with the Vigoro plant food.

I'll note: the Kellogg mix feels COMPLETELY different.

It's a bit more "mulchy' and it's a LOT darker/richer than the MGPM. It more closely resembles natural outdoor "forest" like growing conditions, how plants grow in the wild. I really like it and so do my plants. My veggies LOVE the stuff so far!

Let me know what you plant in, and if you plan on making a change keep us posted how it goes!

#BrownGirlsGarden

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