I'm a rebel.

[beac]

I'm a stone-cold rule breaker and scoff law. I laugh in the face of established mores. I make my own rules!

I put garden soil in my pots. Yup, that stuff that says "not for containers." I put in right in with impunity.

Why? Well, at first it was b/c the Miracle Grow organic potting soil was so darn expensive that I decided to "cut" it (like some kind of back alley earth dealer) with the garden soil from the same brand. That worked pretty well most of the time, but I occasionally would prepare a pot only to find the sandier, heavier garden soil was clogging my drain holes (despite my carefully placed rocks intended to prevent that.)

Eventually, I discovered that, like dressing for unpredictable weather, LAYERING was the key.

Now, I put down a layer of organic potting soil (I'm using Vigoro this year and am really liking it-- better and cheaper that MG), wet that until it's draining well, then a layer of garden soil (also Vigoro), wet it, then potting soil, wet again and finally a thin layer of garden soil on top. I've found this prevents the drainage problems and, because the garden soil layer is denser, the pots don't dry out quite as quickly in the hot weather.

So, now I've confessed my gardening heresy. Anybody else have a rule-breaking garden habit they'd like to confess?

1 vote, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Heavens no. I find the best results come from following time-honored traditions and package directions.
	0 (0%)
	Yes, and I'll tell you all about it b/c I've been bursting to come clean for so long!
	1 (100%)
	Not yet, but I have ALWAYS wanted to try.... (see below)
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[HopeHoops]

1. I plant potatoes a month before the "last frost date".

It takes them a while to sprout, hosing them off before the sun hits keeps them from dying off, and they bloom before the beetles come out to destroy them. By the end of the season, all of the top-growth has died off but we always get a huge harvest.

[beac]

4. And they say crime doesn't pay!

Love that your rule-breaking also thwarts nasty pests.

[HopeHoops]

6. Fortunately the bunnies don't like potato leaves.

I call it by the season trend of the year with other plants. I haven't put in the tomatoes, basil, eggplant, or peppers yet. All three need dry roots to establish themselves. I might do it this weekend, maybe the next. We didn't even have what I would call a "winter". I've still got annuals from last season in window boxes and pots. They never noticed that winter happened. But hey, global warming is a myth.

[beac]

8. My tarragon overwintered and it's supposed to be extemely tender.

But yeah, no global warming here.

[HopeHoops]

9. Ours is in its sixth or so season. So is the rosemary. We changed growing zones this year.

The oregano, thyme, pennyroyal, St. John's wort, lemon balm, witch's grass, camomile, cilantro, caraway, all of the mints, and whatever else we've got growing all thrived through the winter as if it was spring. We had to whack the biennial parsley back to near the ground but it's still going strong (3rd season). I've lost count of how many quarts of strawberries we've gathered and we've actually been giving away the excess asparagus. I'm not complaining, but things are freakin' weird.

[Denninmi]

2. I use medicated body powder all over the garden.

The equivalent of Gold Bond brand, but the dollar store version. It contains zinc oxide, menthol, and usually either thyme or eucalyptus oils, depending upon brand. Makes a great fungicide, kills small insects like aphids, and repels chewing animals temporarily until it washes off.

[beac]

5. A clever and deadly (to pests) rebellion!

Brava!

[silverweb]

11. Brilliant!

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I'm going to try that.

[Denninmi]

3. I try not to use soil in containers ...

... only because of the weight factor. They're heavy enough to move around when they have lightweight potting mix. Because I have to have areas clear for leaf cleanup and then snow plowing in the winter, I have to move all of the containers out of the way every fall and put them back in the spring, so I have no choice. Plus all of the tropicals that go in and out with the seasons. If they could stay in one spot, I'd probably do what you do.

Actually, I did a little experiment a few years ago with some impatiens in window box planters on my back patio area. The township was installing new pedestrian paths, and they brought in "topsoil" to repair the lawn damage. It was the worst, nasty sand and gravel, yellow brown crap. Just for the heck of it, I filled a couple of my window boxes with that, the rest with ProMix which is my usual brand of potting media. I saw very little difference in growth, since I used Osmocote and did a constant liquid feed as well. The ones in the sand did dry out faster, but the plants grew fine. Basically, the soil is just there to hold them down if you are feeding in this manner, it's almost like doing hydroponics.

[beac]

7. Yes, if you are lugging them about, that's extra weight you don't need.

I empty my pots and put away every fall (well... except for this fall where life intervened and some pots satyed out all winter... oops!). I sterilize the soil with boiling water and store it in huge trash cans to use for my flowers and in-ground beds the next year. My veggies get fresh soil each year.

Two-year-old flower soil goes into the in-ground "garden" area that may or may not eventually be tilled and used.

[jp11]

10. I do that too.

I'm too green to have known it was heresy.

I did them in layers, mulch at the bottom then a bit of top soil/garden soil mixed with peat moss & some perlite, then potting soil or garden soil/top soil peat moss mix, then the seedling, then some more mixed soil if not potting soil to fill in. Finally at the very top I use more top soil since the roots aren't creeping to the surface.

I used cheap dollar store buckets for mid sized pots.

I also intend to use wood shim shingles instead of more expensive wooden stakes to hold the weed fabric down as well as galvanized wire instead of the fabric staples. I haven't gotten that far yet I need to lay the soaker hose out first then I can put down the fabric and anchor everything.

Oh and I use a fly swatter on cabbage moths. The ones that got away seem to know when I am near they should get vertical in a hurry.

[Curmudgeoness]

12. Well, I suppose I am a rebel, but

not going against traditions so much. I have only one part of my yard that is suitable for veggie gardening, and that is the front yard. So I have been growing all my tomatoes and peppers in the front of the house. Everything else it totally shaded, and although I have tried to grow things back there, it is hopeless. I don't know how my neighbors or the city feel about it, but so far, no complaints.

[XemaSab]

13. The problems with garden soil in flowerpots

are probably related to drainage.

[XemaSab]

14. It's not exactly heresy

but 1) I have a large plant hospice and 2) it's strictly Darwinian here.

If you die, I won't take it personally. If I kill you, please don't take it personally.

[beac]

15. Sounds like a fair arrangement.

No death with dignity around here. I am forever trying to jolly lost-causes from the "damaged plants" discount rack back into vigor and/or giving weak, anemic cuttings "just a little longer" in water to "really get going."

[Denninmi]

17. Some of my best stuff came from the discount rack or end of season rejects.

I love cruising for bargains. A couple years ago at the very end of the season right around Halloween, the local Home Depot got down to "All Nursery Stock in 1,2,3 gallon pots $1. Anything bigger $2" -- I ended up buying about 30 plants. My best buy $$$ wise was a grafted dwarf globe blue spruce, original price $88, for $2. It's out by my driveway and really pretty, definitely worth $2.
.

[beac]

19. I've found some treasures too, especially houseplants lately.

Sometimes I can't even tell WHY it's on the discount rack. Maybe the last one left of a shipment? Of course, I'm also a sucker for the forlorn, bedraggled and pitiful and have had just enough success reviving some to make me always and ever willing to take a $1 chance on anything.

[NeedleCast]

16. Been Doing It For Three Years

Funny side note, this was the first year I actually noticed the "not for containers" writing on the package. I've never had any problem at all with it.

I'm also reusing the garden soil for a 2nd year. I know you're not supposed to because of diseases but hey, wouldn't be a rebel if I wasn't. Containers with fresh (new) soil got a small, green sticker. Containers with year old soil got a yellow sticker. I'll dump the yellow pots into the above ground and in ground planters at the end of this year. At this point, soil is my biggest overhead each year, so if I can cut down the price of that, so much the better.

[Denninmi]

18. Yeah, what is that all about?

From a couple of discussions on another forum, it looks like it might have too high an initial dose of fertilizer incorporated into it, and can burn stuff if used straight.

[beac]

20. I pour boiling water through the soil in the pot at the end of the season to

"sterilize" it and then save it in big trash cans. I realize it won't kill everything, but so far so good on reusing it a second year for my flower pots (veggies get fresh.)

Last year I didn't do it b/c I had an outbreak of septoria leaf spot and didn't want to risk it living on anywhere in theis year's garden, but I had enough stored from the previous year to cover almost all my flower pots. So, my flowers are actually in two-year-old soil this year and quite happy. I think it may have even "composted" a bit in the trash cans during all those months b/c it looked really black and rich.