Gardening News & Tips

Your garden soil may be top of the line but making homemade potting soil is a good idea when starting seeds. No matter how rich your topsoil is, it can harbor organisms that put seedlings at risk. Bagged seed-starting mixes are widely available but you can save money by using our easy to make homemade potting soil recipe below.

Soil is made up of inorganic particles such as clay, sand, and silt. As well as minerals, organic matter, water, and air. The quality of soil is judged by the proportions of these ingredients. Organic matter is an essential part of the soil makeup because it supplies nutrients to the plants and can help to improve drainage.

Homemade Potting Soil Recipe

1. Combine equal parts of fine vermiculite and milled peat moss for a seed starting mix. Wear a disposable mask to avoid breathing in the fine particles.

2. Add hot water to the potting soil until it is moist enough to stick together. On the other hand, you do not want it dripping wet. The hot water keeps seeds warm.

3. Fill your containers or flats to within about

Better Boy tomatoes are a hybrid that ruggedly resists many bacteria, parasites and fungi but does not do well when you plant it in the garden before the cold weather ends.

Like most tomatoes, it does require some nurturing but this popular tomato pays you back with succulent fruit well known for its flavor.

How to Grow

Most people use tomato starts rather than beginning the Better Boy from seed. However, if you prefer to start your own tomato seedlings, you have to begin approximately six to eight weeks before the first frost. You'll need to use sterile potting soil in either flats or containers and plant the seeds