Choose the Best Potting Soil
Soil info from Blue Ribbon Farm
Gardeners with any experience know that the soil their plants grow in is the most important factor for a healthy and successful experience. Without a healthy soil, you’ll be disappointed. There are a million choices for bagged potting soil out there. Find out more about the products that we’ve selected to sell at the farm–potting soil that we know and trust.
Most of the soil we sell is manufactured by the Canadian company Premier Horticulture. Premier specializes in Sphagnum peat moss based potting soils. Canadian Sphagnum peat moss does a great job of containing moisture and providing structure for root systems to take hold. The peat base also includes perlite, vermiculite, and limestone. Perlite brings structure, giving water a route through the peat. Vermiculite adds a holding environment so water (nutrients) doesn’t just pass through. Limestone is added to balance the pH (peat is naturally acidic). To top it off and make it all worthwhile, the last piece of the recipe is mycorrhizae technology.
My what? Mycorrhizae (mai-koe-RIZE-ay) occur naturally in healthy soils. These are symbiotic relationships between roots and fungus that provide the necessary mechanisms for nutrient absorption. The Pro-Mix soils that we sell include a mycorrhizae “technology” that will be available for the little roots once they get going.
Pro-Mix for Pro Results
Premier Pro-Mix BX is what we grow with at the farm. We’ve been growing in Pro-Mix for years. The BX is our most basic offering. It can be used in containers or as an amendment in the ground. It’s a good option for amending clay soils. There are no nutrients included in the bag, so you will need to fertilize when using this soil. We offer two sizes, a loose fill bag and a compressed bale.
Pro-Mix Potting Soil with Nutrients
We offer two Pro-Mix potting soils with fertilizers included in the mix.
The Premium Vegetable Mix has an organic fertilizer. It can be used on its own in containers, or in the ground. We also like it mixed with the BX.
The Premium Potting Mix has a slow release synthetic fertilizer and a water polymer. The fertilizer will last for 3 months. The water polymer gels in the soil increasing water retention. Due to the polymer, we do not recommend this for veggies, herbs, or in the ground.
Use Nature’s Bounty to Fuel Your Garden
Last, but certainly not least, is Fox Farm Ocean Forest. It is peat based, with perlite and oyster shells for pH balancing, but additionally this stuff is packed with a host of natural nutrients. Ocean Forest includes fish emulsion, earthworm castings, bat guano, kelp and others for an excellent nutrient profile.
It is ready to use right out of the bag and can be used by itself in containers or the ground. It also makes a nice mix with Pro-Mix BX.
Many of our customers and employees have had amazing results in their raised beds with a ratio of 1 Ocean Forest to 1 BX bale. Some prefer 1 Ocean Forest to 1 BX loose fill bag. Ocean Forest can also be a great top dressing to refresh tired soils.
Take a moment to choose the right soil for your needs. If you haven’t tried these potting soils before, you won’t be disappointed. Leave a comment and/or review your favorite soil to help out your fellow gardeners.
Delivery can be arranged. Please use our soil pickup request form.
Now go get your hands dirty! ∞
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