Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
March 20, 2019 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bozeman, Montana Zone 6b
Posts: 333
|
Big Box Potting Soil Issues??
So I went to my local big box COST*O to get my big bag of Miracle Grow potting soil like I have done for the past few years and they change to a new brand Kellogg Garden Organics Potting Soil. Having real trouble with the new stuff, things just do not grow well in this stuff. I have some of the Miracle Grow left and I am trying to use it to run an experiment.
Anyone else with issues?? |
March 20, 2019 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: North West Wyoming
Posts: 464
|
I have not tried it, but I saw it in the Billings Costco. I went to Heightened Harvest for some Fox Farms. I think there are only Heightened Harvest in Billings and Butte, but I would try one of the nurseries. Thank you for the heads up, I almost bought the Kellogg.
Barb Last edited by barbamWY; March 20, 2019 at 09:32 PM. |
March 20, 2019 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Omaha Zone 5
Posts: 2,514
|
I have not tried Kelloggs, but if you are near a Sam's Club, their house brand got very favorable reviews. Much less $$ than MG.
- Lisa |
March 20, 2019 | #4 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
|
I haven't tried the Kellogg's either. However, I did take back most of a bag of Pennington Professional Potting Mix. The bag I bought wasn't ready to be sold - It wasn't decomposed enough, and I used it for potting up my tomato plants... bad idea.
|
March 21, 2019 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Los Angeles County, CA
Posts: 258
|
I have had success with the Costco Kelloggs, four bags so far. I think some fine-tuning is required. For Kelloggs it meant a little pearlite, but I have needed the same for Miracle Grow. I think most brands lean more to moisture retention than drainage.
Last edited by shatbox; March 21, 2019 at 04:42 AM. |
March 21, 2019 | #6 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
|
Quote:
Pearlite for sure. |
|
March 21, 2019 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6
Posts: 1,582
|
It would probably work fine on older plants. The thing you should compare, is how much fertilizer they have (it should be written on the bag) and the pH (should also be written). These two can be more problematic for small plants. Also how it dries out. If it seems to dry out only at the surface while at the bottom it's soggy, the mix is just no good. A good product should kinda dry out more evenly (in small stuff like transplant cups at least).
|
March 21, 2019 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
|
I never consider any of the mixes to have enough of anything in them to do much good and always add fertilizer.
13-13-13 is my choice. |
March 21, 2019 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Upstate Ny Zone 5b
Posts: 29
|
Stick with a quality bagged soil or make your own is the best bet.
I am shocked people still use miracle grow. If you don't know how evil Bayer, Monsanto, Scott's are, same company btw, just Google "Scott's miracle grow settlements". These people have broken every law possible. From using illegal pesticides, toxic nuclides in the soils and blue poison powder, importing illegal pesticides and relabeling to approved pesticides, the ongoing roudup debacle, killing all the bees, Terminator genes, that's just the tip of the iceberg. A little quick Google search has all the info you will need to steer clear of these maniacs. These people can't be trusted. They have done every single evil thing possible to cut corners and market poisons. I don't normally yap on about things like this but I see a lot of people still using this stuff and I feel I need to let people know that they are supporting the devil himself by purchasing these products. Not to mention what they are putting in their bodies unknowingly by using these products. Please don't take offense or think I'm some ranting fool. I just care about the planet, it's people, and clean chemical free organic food. |
March 21, 2019 | #10 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2008
Location: zone 5 Colorado
Posts: 942
|
Quote:
|
|
March 21, 2019 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Los Angeles County, CA
Posts: 258
|
Whoose, what are you seeing?
Like Ironwood said we don't know what goes into MG but at least organic has some "certification". I'm happy they carry an organic mix and +1 Worth's ferts. I posted pics of Costco's soil/mix price and ingredients, reply #21 here. Here in Los Angeles, Costco mix prices out to a little more per quart than regular MG but much less than MG organic. Although we have what seems like as many hydroponic/garden centers as Starbucks, the prices are high for Promix and organic Fox Farm type mixes, so Costco gets my money. We have a lot of wholesale nurseries too but I can't do a huge bale, nor do I have the money for it. I have tried to make my own in the past but dialing in the lime and my lack of patience means I don't give the mix time to settle its pH the way the big guys can do on their huge scale. |
March 23, 2019 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: On The Mason Dixon
Posts: 93
|
I've always had good luck with Fafard 3b mix. I screen it for seedlings and use it straight for potted plants and in ground stuff, grow boxes, etc. If you can find a nursery that carries it in your area it's worth giving a try.
It doesn't contain much in the way of fertilizer which I like. I like to fert my seedlings on my own so I know exactly what they are getting. But you can certainly add a granular fert to the mix. |
March 26, 2019 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bozeman, Montana Zone 6b
Posts: 333
|
Kellogg Toxic
This stuff is toxic I threw out all the soil and replanted all my seedlings. I do not think this stuff would even grow weeds!!
|
March 26, 2019 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7
Posts: 4,909
|
Few years ago i used to do alot of container planting. Then, i used to make my own mix, a version of Al,s 5-1-1.
I get pine bark mulch, screen it through 1/4",and mix some peat moss, grannular fert with Ca..optionally you may add coarse perlite or DE. I am doing some ,now just potting up my seedlings.. BTW. Lowes sells pine bark mulch, Timberline brand. For about 4 bucks for 2 cubic ft bag. WalMart might have some too.
__________________
Gardeneer Happy Gardening ! |
March 26, 2019 | #15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Zone 6
Posts: 92
|
Not specific to the brand discussed, but I had a horrific seedling year last year thanks I believe to a bad coir block. Bought a big bag of pro mix and a miracle gro seed starter and had significantly better results on a test grow out compared to the coir I used last year. Lesson learned.
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|