How To Make Your Own Raised Bed Soil

For healthy raised bed soil (or any garden soil) you need the right balance of pH, aeration, water flow, nutrients, and density. When balanced well plants thrive and produce abundant harvests. Below you will find my personal recipe for great garden soil.

MATERIALS:

30% Peat (sold in square bales at big box retailers and hardware stores)

30% compost ( I use black cow brand, but any good rich compost will work. Just be VERY careful not to introduce weeds, seeds, or pests by using cheap or backyard compost for raised beds)

15% Perlite

10% vermiculite

10% pelletized fertilizer like  Osmocote or Miracle Grow type brands.

HOW DOES THIS LOOK IN REAL LIFE?

1/2 bale of peat,

2 bags of compost

1/2 bag of Perlite

1/3 bag of Vermiculite

3 cups of pelletized fertilizer.

Place all the materials together on a tarp or in a wheel barrow and mix well. 

ONE RECIPE (like above) will fill 1 to 1 1/2 - 77 gallon tubs or 2 - 55 gallon tubs

DO NOT fill your tubs to the very top, leave approximately 5-6 inches of tub wall space to help keep plants in and pests out.