Best Soil for Tomatoes: Pots, Raised Beds and In-Ground
The best soil for tomatoes is loose, rich, well-draining and slightly acidic. Here is exactly what to use in pots, raised beds and garden beds.
Soil
How to Improve Garden Soil Naturally in Any Backyard
My first vegetable bed in Zone 6 was a disaster. I dug a rectangle into the backyard, raked it flat, and planted tomatoes and cucumbers with real confidence. By July the plants were knee-high, yellow, and stubborn. Water pooled on the surface after every rain, and then the ground cracked like a dry lakebed three … Read more >>
How Often to Fertilize Indoor Plants (Season by Season)
Most indoor plants do best with fertilizer every 2 to 4 weeks in spring and summer, when they’re putting out new leaves. I recommend a liquid houseplant fertilizer mixed at half strength every 2 to 4 weeks from spring through late summer, then tapering in fall and stopping from late fall to late winter unless … Read more >>
How to Fertilize Eggplant for Bigger Harvests
Eggplant is a hungry, warm-season crop, and steady feeding is one of the simplest ways to get more fruit from each plant. To fertilize eggplant well, work compost and a balanced fertilizer into the bed at planting, side-dress when the first fruits set, and then feed every 3 to 4 weeks until growth slows in … Read more >>
Best Plant Food for Indoor Plants: How to Choose by Plant Type
For most houseplants, my pick is a balanced liquid concentrate labeled for houseplants, mixed at half strength every 2 to 4 weeks in spring and summer. It suits beginners and collectors alike because you control the dose each time, and you can stop the moment growth slows in fall. That one bottle covers pothos, monstera, … Read more >>
Bugs in Houseplant Soil: How to Identify and Get Rid of Them
Most bugs in houseplant soil are either harmless decomposers or fungus gnat larvae, and drying out the top 1 to 2 inches of potting mix fixes the majority of cases. The fastest way to get rid of soil bugs is to identify them first, let the topsoil dry between waterings, trap flying adults with yellow … Read more >>
Can You Grow Lotus in Soil? The Best Soil for Lotus (and What to Avoid)
Yes, you can grow lotus in soil. In fact, lotus has to grow in soil. The best soil for a potted lotus is a heavy clay loam with little organic matter, kept under 2 to 4 inches of water in a wide pot with no drainage holes. The heavy clay holds the tuber in place, … Read more >>
7 Best Soil Mix for Square Foot Vegetable Gardening
Square foot gardening lets you grow more food in limited spaces. This method divides garden beds into small squares, and you plant something different in each one. The real secret to success? It’s all about using the right soil mix. The difference it makes in plant growth is huge—seriously, don’t overlook it. Mel Bartholomew, the … Read more >>
Best Soil for Indoor Plants: Mixes for Every Type of Houseplant
For most indoor plants, the best soil is a bagged, soilless indoor potting mix made from peat moss or coco coir, with about 20 to 30 percent extra perlite or pumice stirred in. That simple blend holds enough water for common foliage plants and still leaves air around the roots, so it suits pothos, peace … Read more >>
How to Make Organic Soil at Home for Plants?
Making organic soil at home is a rewarding way to nurture healthy plants and create a sustainable garden. This natural approach provides plants with essential nutrients and improves soil structure. A simple recipe for homemade organic soil includes equal parts compost, peat moss, and perlite or vermiculite. Organic soil supports plant growth by promoting beneficial … Read more >>