Don’t Throw Away That Soil! After the crop is over, particularly potted plants, the spent leftover soil is usually just discarded. This is both expensive and wasteful. There has to be a better way.
And there is! Today, even though its a Quickie, I got 5 ways to reuse your old soil to not only help your garden and future crops, but also to save you money, time, and the space that would otherwise be wasted!
It feels just like yesterday I started this series. Garden Quickies are hyper-focused 2 minute videos that tackle the most pressing growing questions of the day. I’ve compiled an entire playlist of them here, check it out!: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiie7K8ZgA_I1trKU0lbcCqf4NK2f3nhf
2022 is the Year of the Garden! We deserve it after the last little while, and growing our own food and self sufficiency is just the reward we need to get back on track!
For more information on all your gardening questions, check out my other videos!:
How To Grow Potatoes!: https://youtu.be/6Fv2yFdV4p8
Strawberry Runners The Definitive Guide!: https://youtu.be/TewWAJz_KkA
DIY Safe and Natural Aphid Spray: https://youtu.be/LJTK8jk7g1k
Garlic Spacing Experiment: https://youtu.be/tlXJA7w4JNw
How To Grow Strawberries!: https://youtu.be/T6-s7NomNTY
Fertilizing Strawberries: https://youtu.be/vZdsdcWCdOw
How To Grow Garlic: https://youtu.be/UgbWxSqpqws
Baking Soda Aphid and Insect Spray: https://youtu.be/320D-41xt-M
6 Benefits Of Hydrogen Peroxide!: https://youtu.be/jU4N5PLKX7M
Pruning Pepper Plants Experiment!: https://youtu.be/s6jh_tcMfVw
Direct Seeding vs Starter Plant: https://youtu.be/TQWWtQu-r9U
100% Germination?: https://youtu.be/FqZ8tFrhWv0
Seed Starting Soil: https://youtu.be/OlLHCtHI6JY
Seed Starting 101, The Basics!: https://youtu.be/bRWac1OpxPY
Starting Tomato Seeds: https://youtu.be/qlEp0iDfB-k
Starting Pepper Seeds: https://youtu.be/mNqS1FpPWW8
Starting Cucumber Seeds: https://youtu.be/7aWeBavfubE
Starting Zucchini Seeds: https://youtu.be/LgHKLftASTQ
Starting Corn Seeds: https://youtu.be/2t2A2ZrdZ3k
Starting Pumpkin Seeds: https://youtu.be/kT_WR0e2EjI
DIY Ultimate Potting Mix: https://youtu.be/cP-7_7YT9jk
If you’re just starting out gardening in 2022, please check out my Amazon Affiliate links below to get the right tools for the job! It doesn’t cost you a cent, but this channel receives a small incentive for any items purchase through Amazon. Happy Gardening!
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#soil #permaculture #gardening
Wow! A very timely message. I have a wagon load of used potting mix and was wondering what to do with it. Now I know.
Love the blooper! Thanks for the great tips. You've been helpful for my gardening.
Hello Jeff , from zone 9B Florida. Good advice as always. Thank you.
I believe that you need to ensure that your old potting soil is able to hydrate, if not address that issue with a wetting agent first before reuse in the garden or as potting mix again.
If the vegetables that are in the pots of soil have powdery mildew can I still reuse the soil next season. Also there is some mildew on a few of my cucumbers in one of my veg beds. Perhaps spray the top of the soil with something before reusing? But what?
I’m motivated to rejuvenate the soil in my grow bags-thanks!
Good afternoon Jeff, wish my arms & legs looked that good. The mosquitoes are still relentless here. My area of MT…102(°F) for today down to 75(°F) Thurs. & our first overnight temps of 43 then 41 for Fri & Sat. My garden's been more than an experiment project & 95% of it is in the ground. Its still feeding our community & us…not to mention all the beneficial insects, especially Saugrah…my grasshopper assassin Basilica Orbweaver. Any suggestions on protecting her & my plants for those couple of nights?? Cheers, ~ Covah
Nice, been subscribed
I’m having trouble growing onions. Tried planting from onions I bought and grew lots of roots and then I planted them but they never came up. Was growing green onions and they looked beautiful and then we had a good rain and they all died right away
If you're just starting out gardening in 2022, please check out my Amazon Affiliate links below to get the right tools for the job! It doesn't cost you a cent, but this channel receives a small incentive for any items purchase through Amazon. Happy Gardening!
pH/Water/Light Meter
Amazon Canada: https://amzn.to/3yafmrV
Amazon USA: https://amzn.to/3OKRW30
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3nvEIM4
Composting Tumbler!
Amazon Canada: https://amzn.to/39CgtYw
Amazon USA: https://amzn.to/39Dha49
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3yLsKVf
Handy 12-piece Garden Tool Set!:
Amazon Canada: https://amzn.to/3jsNIyk
Amazon USA: https://amzn.to/2YZhFwx
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3qapNql
Hand Pruners:
Amazon Canada: https://amzn.to/2YSIFxP
Amazon USA: https://amzn.to/3q3Oftq
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2YR3Xf8
Watering Can:
Amazon Canada: https://amzn.to/39U4nIc
Amazon USA: https://amzn.to/2YR3p94
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3oX7hAa
Spray Gun:
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Amazon USA: https://amzn.to/3aL7UHS
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Very important information u giving us thanks
Has anyone ever seen blue or purple strawberries? I ordered some seeds that are supposed to grow blue and purple berries. Just wondering if I got scammed
Because we have sooooooo much rabbit manure on hand, I mix the old soil with it. I work it in our raised beds really well. It beats tossing it! Enjoyed, take care!
Soooo here’s a fun fact.. the existing soil and microbiology are still active. In nature the plant dies off and another seed grows right over the dead roots….the humic layer in the soil is improved by NOT DISTURBING the soil. The used soil is better the grows after the initial one. When I grow in pots, I cut the plant down, add recharge and LAB, worm castings, and the soil is BETTER than a freshly purchased bag from any store or vendor. I leave the roots IN the container and plant another plant over to the side of the cut down stalk. Dumping out the soil disturbs the homeostasis of the micro-biology….. I have plants growing in containers that have two previous root systems still in the container.
When I transplant, I transplant the entire root balls. What I noticed from transplanting is the root system of the current plant gets more aeration and has a decaying food source in the root zone that matches its genetic code.
There is a HUGE difference between planting into new soil and planting or transplanting into a used soil container. The growth rate and yield is higher in the used soil container. I haven’t tried this feat outdoors yet-indoor gardener.
Hi, I use my own compost and reuse all my spent soil, I I make sure all used soil is enriched with potash, chalk, ashes from fires, Epsom salts etc, put on top of my growing beds and water well. Then leave it coveted for the winter. It never fails. I also rotate where I grow my crops
I/WE love love love your show/channel ( and no, I didn't stutter 😉 You are ALWAYS awesome to watch. Thank you tons for your time and effort in producing these shows… ( zone 3B-4A )
I am an avid and longtime gardener, but I still appreciate your reminders. We all need some updates and choices in our methods. Since compost is always at a premium, we usually dump our spent potting soil in our large compost bin made from pallets. This year we're switching from a rectangle to a hex, to allow for more square footage inside, the idea being that it will compost faster, or at least by spring. We don't turn so anything that helps speed up composting is good. I am looking forward to trying your other methods. Thank you!
Thanks Jeff. Good stuff as always. I have a question- Do you top off your garden beds each year with additional soil as they settle more and more? Or do you just add organic materials? I'm just wondering what is the right approach. Love the channel. Thanks!
Thank you, we’re filling another bed in the fall!
Strawberry got you, it was too funny, but a good hair day!
I appreciate the information
Lol your awesome
Hey Jeff, this is Jeff. I've been using the same container soil for nearly 9 years with a bit of home processed compost and some dry organic fertilizers added in the fall. I could be giving it too much credit, but I think my plants have had fewer pest and fungal issues every year. Certainly some things have to be replenished, but the soil life is selected in the growing process and some is bound to remain in the soil. Maybe new plants don't have to spend so much time getting aquainted with the environment? All anecdotal, but I haven't used any insecticide or fungicide in the last 2 seasons. I have a Sugar Rush pepper plant that is a meter in diameter and I can't count the number of peppers it has produced. Same exact seeds 4 years ago got me a couple of miserable weaklings. Only change I can point to is climate change and soil reuse-amending. (In So. AZ, I doubt climate change is at all helpful…..) Love the videos. Thanks very much for your efforts!