Soil mix questions for a first time grower-outdoors

rollthatj

Member
So i am in New England where there is still snow on the ground and i have been reading that you should put your soil in the ground about a month or two before the grow so animals can get used to it without stomping all over the girls. I am going all natural for a couple reasons, taste(biggest factor imo), yield and potency. So i have dug the holes 3ftby3ftby3ft but i am at a loss to what to fill them up with and the ratios i should use. All i know is at lowes there are 40lb bags of menure for 3 bucks and 1 cu ft of just natural soil for 3 bucks so i was thinking of using those. Anyone have any other additives that would be helpful? I am growing mazar x rhino, germinating them inside and immediately placing them outside. Maybe even throw a couple right into the soil to see what happens. Thanks to all that answer and ask any more questions that would help you to help me to help my plants grow better, if that makes sense.

Rollthatj
 

AimAim

Well-Known Member
I have grown outside for years. Unless the soil you dug out is total crap you can reuse some of it. The roots are going to get out into the native soil anyway. I always just amended the existing soil with manure, peat, perlite and some dolomite. Don't use bonemeal, bloodmeal or fish products they might attract critters.

If it's a sandy soil or a spot that's difficult to water you might consider adding some moisture control/retention crystals.

You might have some really good soil already there. I've planted in soil so good I virtually did nothing to it but add some lime & nutes
 

rollthatj

Member
I have grown outside for years. Unless the soil you dug out is total crap you can reuse some of it. The roots are going to get out into the native soil anyway. I always just amended the existing soil with manure, peat, perlite and some dolomite. Don't use bonemeal, bloodmeal or fish products they might attract critters.

If it's a sandy soil or a spot that's difficult to water you might consider adding some moisture control/retention crystals.

You might have some really good soil already there. I've planted in soil so good I virtually did nothing to it but add some lime & nutes
Thanks AimAim the soil is right next to a swamp, full of leaves and other disintegrated nutrients so it will probably work to just use that, i just need to check PH when i get a chance. What ratios did you add the manure, peat, perlite and dolomite? and i read that peat was acidic is one of those counteracting the peats pH?
 

AimAim

Well-Known Member
I just kind of eyeballed the ratios. But I never dug 3x3 foot holes either. On average I'd just loosen about 2' radius and add a bucket each of manure, peat, 1/3 bucket of perlite, a couple double handfuls of dolomite.

Is it boggy? Soils around swamps can be highly variable. Often acidic. To tell if is crap the absolute best thing to do is get a soil analysis done by your county university extension. They are available virtually everywhere. Should cost $10 or less and you get a full rundown of NPK pH and other things. Definitely money well spent.
 
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