What’s a really good soil that won’t break the bank that i can amend the soil with? I’ve seen some stuff called recipe 420 looks like exactly what I’m looking for but i can’t find it near me and delivery is $1000. I need enough soil for 24 plants that will be planted in the ground. Last year i used 1. Cubic foot of cow manure compost per plant. Whatever i choose to use this year id like to amend the soil with about 2 cubic foot of whatever soil i use.
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@HippieRunner1 doesn’t do in ground but does very large fabric bags outside. 100+ gallon size. He may be able to give a little advice. I’ll hit the signal…
Flicks lighter twice
Hopefully he swoops in or someone that has something.
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Good morning you crazy farmers. I hope you are all having an amazing week. Building soil can be a lot cheaper than you may think. Over time it will get better and better as the nutrients and organic matter breaks down.
(Somewhere in my grow journal I have a break down of an easy soil blend) I have had the same soil for the past four years. It’s only getting better 
I first like to start with a clean basic soil mix. I like to go with a bulk supplier named Best in the West Organic Product. It’s just an organic land scraping mix really. Where landscapers would go to get supplies. I think for two truck loads it was ($130 total)
I then add a small amount of coco fiber. This goes against what a lot of people say when you grow with soil. I use it to help with soil compaction, aeration ect. ($20)
Worms. Bought online. ($50)
Next I add bio-live, neem, bio-fish and a few others. This helps get the soil going for the first season. (Maybe $100 total.)
Growing a cover crop is also very important. This helps in many ways. A few of those was being suppling food for the worms (oh yes add worms) and helps with evaporation.
($300 total for 1000 gallons of soil) I was doing ten 100 gallons a few years back. That’s way I have enough to fill all four 200s.
Bigger roots = bigger fruits.
For the past few years I have grown in 100 gallon fabric pots. This next year I’m upgrading to 200 gallons. Oh ya baby!!
If you want to dig alittle deeper into building organic soil feel free to reach out.
Happy farming… 
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One more note!!
I do the chop-n-drop method. This means every time o trim a leaf or part of the plant I leave it on the soil. This will break down overtime adding more nutrient ect. to your soil. Those plump little worms will come up… eat the cover crop and nibble on the plant material and bringing it back underground.
Worms down only help transport nutrients that also help aerate the soil. Helping the roots to breath properly.
Plus the worm castings they leave behind are fantastic!
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I certainly want to lean more. It’s January i plant first of June. Do i have time to make it? I was under the impression i should of made the soil last summer or fall so it could sit
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Nope! I plant outside the first on January. If you are going to go this rout I would try and get it mixed up by May 1st and in the pots. This will give you time to plant and grow the cover crop.
Come June first the cover crop should be thriving. You than cut the cover crop down to the soil. Leave it on the soil and cover it with a thick 2-3 inches of straw. This will choke out the cover crop.
You simply grew the cover crop to create a healthier green living mulch. This benefits the plant, soil and the living life.
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After work I will post the ingredients I like to use if you would like??
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My garden pen was built for drainage 18inches of sand then 18 inches of top soil. I plant directly in the ground.
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Completely ok. Probably better really. The roots won’t be held back, the ground will stay warmer come the cold months and you get all the benefits from the local soil. Good ol’ Mother Nature at its finest.
I think that’s great!! If I could I would go 100% in the ground but the lava rock here is outrageous
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Would love to be tagged in that growmie. Thank you in advance
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@HippieRunner1 please share your recipe and also if i use this soil can i still feed the compost teas that i planned on using?
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@Happyday420 Of course I will.
@David1974 You definitely can use the teas. That’s our gardens main source of feedings. That along with top dressing dry amendments periodically through the season.
Also simple switches such as sea bird guano rather than bat.
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Looking to learn all i can. Ive been reading your journal, im excited to see your grows and to learn some new things from you. Happy growing growmie!
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@HippieRunner1 i work at a coffee house so i can get used coffee grounds by the bucket full. Just not sure how to use them.
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Man I love this place
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I personally don’t put coffee grounds in my “growing” soil. Although if you have a good amount available it may not be a bad idea to incorporate the coffee grounds into the soil ‘around’ the plants.
Kind of like a rodent barrier in a way.
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I was told coffee ground mixed with garlic oil helped ward off catapillers stalk borrers and other pest when soar around plant
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True! But the only reason I wouldn’t put it in the soil where the roots live is because of the leaching and run off. Or really close to the stalk I guess.
If rodents are getting that close to the plant itself we need to figure out a better rodent prevention method wink
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I’ve never had a rodent problem. I had a woodchuck chew on a plant once but didn’t seem to like it. Stalk borrers are my biggest issue. I get grass hoppers and leaf hoppers but i dust my plant with all purpose flour while they are in veg and it takes care of most that problem
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I have really formed a liking to PureCrop1. It can be used in veg and in flower. It helps with pest prevention and also aids in growth.
I don’t spray the plants during the 3-4 weeks of flower. I feel like this effects the overall maturity of the finished product.
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