I am starting a 100% organic vegetable/herb garden in a raised bed. What do I fill it with? I am looking for Organic soil products and not a refuse waste product.
I am starting a vegetable/herb garden in a 4' x 8' x 12" raised bed sided with Western Red Cedar boards. I have removed the grass and lined the bottom with cardboard, but now what do I fill it with. I am looking for Organic soil products and not a refuse waste product. I have been told all I need to use is compost and then I read I should use a combination of compost, peat and vermiculite. I'm so confused...Help needed in McKinney, TX. I need 100% organic.
Do not line the bottom of the planting area with cardboard because this will create a barrier to the natural water drainage, leading to future problems. Instead it would be better to follow our Extension Service recommendations of adding at least 3-inches of expanded shale to the existing soil, tilling that into the existing soil and then adding a further 3-inches of organic matter like compost, peat, decomposed manures or finely milled bark and tilling that in. This will create an ideal soil mix for vegetables, herbs and flowers. Once planted you mulch it with hardwood mulch to conserve moisture and provide extended feeding as this mulch decomposes. Whatever you decide to do, if you fill the raised area with something different than your existing soil, you'll have more challenges than you actually need.