Potting? Try SUPER SOIL: an excellent and economical mix!
****** *** Shelby! NO, Shelby! OUT, SHELBY!!!*** Last year, my pepper crop seemed to worsen every day. I thought *I* was the problem until I caught doggy *Shelby!* delicately nipping off small peppers at the stem. Shelby is a gourmet. At the end of the season she was taste-testing tomatoes irregardless of any barricades I erected. So... *this* year, I'm back to gardening exclusively in pots. They are a motley lot, set next to the driveway on the *other* side of the gate from *TunefulPack*. (I'll include a picture of my latest peppers in their baby stage.) I do my soil-shopping at *Target*. The prices are more than competitive and there's variety to boot. On this trip, I chose four, 1-cubic-foot bags (20 lbs) of **SuperSoil Potting Soil** Each bag's just enough to fill two 12" pots.* *The 1-cubic-foot bag appealed to me as a reasonable size for lugging around. The price attracted me because it was considerably less than *MiracleGro* soil. Just like *MiracleGro*, however, **SuperSoil Potting Soil** is* *enhanced with plant foods. This translates into "No fertilizing required for up to 90 days after planting". I expect my tomatoes may need a boost before that time is up. *** GETTING NITTIER AND GRITTIER*** **SuperSoil Potting Soil** is "regionally formulated with organic materials". In California and Texas this means "forest products compost, compost, sphagnum peat, a wetting agent and fertilizer. In the rest of the U.S., **SuperSoil**'s organic materials are "derived from one or more of the following: peat, forest products compost, or compost, sphagnum peat, a wetting agent and fertilizer.") So, plain old peat's gone missing from my California **SuperSoil** and -- if you live in Texas -- yours. The guaranteed analysis of **SuperSoil's** nutrients reads: Total Nitrogen 14% with 0.01% Ammoniacal Nitrogen, 0.02% nitrate nitrogen, 0.01% Urea Nitrogen and 0.10% Water Insoluble Nitrogen. Available Phosphate is 0.09%; Soluble Potash 0.02%; and Iron 0.25%. Since I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants gardener, this means practically nothing to me. **SuperSoil** is certified as a *Premium Potting Soil* by the *Mulch & Soil Council*. Now, *that* means more! *** SUPER SOIL* AND THE GARDENER ARE... *PARTNERS!*** **SuperSoil Potting Soil** feels heavier and has more bark detritus than the expensive brand. I used **SuperSoil** (without nutrients) for flower planting years ago, but don't remember this consistency. I liked it then, however, and expect to have success with it now... but only if I garden well. Iffy? Well, yes. I'm in a new location. Advantages? My pots are portable, and I'm comfortable with my soil. **SuperSoil** packed well in the pots with sufficient "loft" from its bark and particulate matter. It did not noticeably reduce down after the final watering. I also paid attention to the *IMPORTANT: Wear gardening gloves when using this product*. I'll add photos as my garden grows, so stay tuned. ** # # # # #** For my companion potting soil review, please take a look at: [*www.viewpoints.com/Orchard-Supply-Hardware-OSH-Ready-to-Use-Potting-Soil-review-50086*][1] See: ***www.waynesthisandthat.com/pottingsoil.htm*** for a very systematic comparison of this and other potting soils. Or take Wayne's word for **SuperSoil**: "a delight". [1]: http://www.viewpoints.com/Orchard-Supply-Hardware-OSH-Ready-to-Use-Potting-Soil-review-50086
TunefulGal
Los Angeles, CA