How To Make Potting Soil Mix For Container Gardening, Self Watering Pots, Grow Bags And Soil Blocks

In this video I show how I make potting mix. This peat-based mix works great for all types of container gardening, as well as for making soil blocks. It can be used for regular pots and also for self watering planters, wicking beds, and grow bags. The mix is based on Elliot Coleman’s soil blocking mix, but scaled up, and with some adjustments.
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Here are links for many of the products I use in my vegetable garden. Note that a lot of these items, like the fertilizers and the trays/saucers, have gotten much more expensive lately (like everything else). I shop around to find the best prices on the items and if I can’t find something at a reasonable price then I will just do without or find a substitute):
7 Gallon Grow Bags: https://amzn.to/2XaJ1mp
5 Gallon Grow Bags: https://amzn.to/3ht2wNP
10 Gallon Grow Bags: https://amzn.to/3k4WpkB

14 Inch Diameter Grow Bag Trays/Saucers: https://amzn.to/3tAkzqc
16 Inch Diameter Grow Bag Trays/Saucers: https://amzn.to/3AiP724

Sustane Organic Fertilizer (4-6-4) 20 lb Bag: https://amzn.to/3lztPHJ
or
Jobe’s Organic Fertilizer (4-4-4): https://amzn.to/3EdxeV2
or
Espoma Organic Fertilizer (3-4-4): https://amzn.to/3EbvJ9P

For Berries: Espoma Berry-tone Organic Fertilizer (4-3-4): https://amzn.to/3jlD8dA

In addition to the above fertilizers I occasionally use these seaweed and fish fertilizers to give my plants a boost of nutrients. I also use some of the seaweed fertilizer (half-strength) on my seedlings right after I transplant them (Note: I don’t use fertilizers with fish in them for seedlings):
Maxicrop Seaweed Fertilizer (Powder): https://amzn.to/3uWO9ak
Maxicrop Seaweed Fertilizer (Liquid): https://amzn.to/37uA0JJ
Neptune’s Harvest Tomato & Veg Fertilizer 2-4-2 (Note: this formula is best for first few weeks of plant growth, as it encourages lots of green leafy growth. For fruiting/flowering plants, I switch to the Rose & Flowering formula after the first few weeks. Also, this contains fish and the smell attracts animals, which will dig up the plants trying to find the source of the fish smell, so I use it early in day and water it in just before dark to minimize the smell). https://amzn.to/3r8OJ40
Neptune’s Harvest Rose & Flowering Formula 2-6-4 (Note: this formula is best for later stages of plant growth to encourage more flowers and fruit to grow. This formula also contains fish so everything I said above about attracting animals applies to this formula too). https://amzn.to/3KqBino

The Following Organic Soil Amendments Add Trace Minerals To The Soil.
Green Sand (Organic Soil Amendment Adds Trace Minerals): https://amzn.to/3z5uG7B
Kelp Meal (Organic Soil Amendment Adds Trace Minerals): https://amzn.to/3tz2lFH

Dolomite Lime: https://amzn.to/3CbclIl

Self-Watering Grow Boxes:
Patio Pickers: https://amzn.to/3vrhHhW
or
Earthbox: https://amzn.to/39VfsaX

Row Cover (This is a multipurpose plant covering that can protect plants from insects, provide some cold protection in winter, and can also provide a small amount of shade): https://amzn.to/3nreXh5

Drip Irrigation: https://amzn.to/3uzbhuV