Dump your container soil in the Chicken run. The girls will eat all the bugs over the months and the next year you could add the soil to the garden. I also add some to my big worm bin. I’m dirt poor (lol) and keep all the dirt.
That soil from the containers would great worm food. I empty my containers in a shady area and throw some composting worms in it and let them go to town on it. They convert it to some really good castings. Especially all of those roots.
Thanks for your insight. I also watch Robbie in Southern California who gardens in 18 gallon totes. She is all organic and makes her own soil with leaves, grass clippings, kitchen scraps Etc. She will add some purchased potting soil on top. Essentially she is composting in place. I’ve learned quite a bit from her and have adopted some of her ideas. She refurbs her totes with new leaves, kitchen scraps every few years. Of course she doesn’t grow commercially as y’all do. And I don’t think her area of California has to deal with the number of pests and diseases that we do here in central Texas. I’ve been battling horn worms and fungus in tomatoes and blossom end rot on squash this year. Sheesh! Gardening in Texas can be rough!!!
The biggest lesson I've learned in container gardening is that each watering washes your nutrition from the soil. Think about it: if a plant is in the ground and it rains, any nutrition might be washed deeper into the soil. But the roots can still grow and reach it. In a pot, the nutrition gets washed out of reach from the roots. So now, every other watering I use a DILUTED compost tea, or manure tea. If I am trying to force plant growth, then DILUTED fish fertilizer, etc. Having good soil alone in container gardening is not enough, IMHO
We only have drain holes on one side of ours, and we have them raised on a cement block/pallet platform. Under the holes we keep buckets that we recycle through the totes. We also use manure tea every few waterings. I generally take a third of the totes and dump them each year, feed the chickens on top of the dirt pile, and then recycle that compost pile back into totes the following spring. We're older so I don't mind letting the hens do most of the work turning it every day. I've got good worm populations in all of my totes and we use basic fertilizers; egg shells, coffee grounds, lots of comfrey and borage (something we feed the chickens as well). I used to buy worm castings, but at this point my worm population is at the point that I don't think I need to any longer. I'm trying something new this year that I saw which is keeping a container in the corner of each tote with holes all over it to toss composting material in. It definitely is keeping the worms happy, and my plants all seem happy as well. If nothing else it is a bit neater than just tossing compost items into the totes.
I use saucers under my containers. But, I live in a dry climate and don't get a lot of "wash through". And, occasionally, I water from the bottom (saucer) so it can wick that stuff from below. FYI.
I take the potted soil after my growing season and empty it in a large pile and ad composted manure, bone meal, blood meal, leaf mold, grass clipping. I cover it with a tarp for the winter. It’s full of red wigglers now and I’m reusing it again. I haven’t noticed aphids on the plants and have looked for them every morning but will go ahead and soap spray. Thanks for the heads up.
I did almost the exact same setup as you all except I put corrugated pipes in sand bags to make for easier cleanup. We return our container soil to compost pile and make a fresh batch of soil in the spring with some added peat moss and perlite blended in. We had and continue to have huge successes with wicking containers
I live outside Abilene, Texas where it is very, very HOT and very, very dry. I have my husband cut out the bottoms of the pot so they can grow down into the soil. My Poblano peppers were huge last year. Used potting mix in pot and amended soil before planting pot.
You and Greg make a very good point. I mostly use grow bags for my backup tomato, squash, and other items. What I started doing last year was pulling the plants, root and all. Then I dump that soil into a separate compost pile and stir it up. I don't add anything to it other than some beneficial nematodes when it's warm enough. Then I use some of that to mix with my compost, coco coir and vermiculite to make new refreshed soil. I plan on repeating that process and every season build up that soil. I also fertilize them every 2 weeks, at a minimum, after an early morning watering, with a balanced NPK emulsion. So far everything is thriving. Y'all are some hard working folks!! Stay Cool. Serious heat coming your way.
I agree with Greg. I’ve only ever used epsom salt, organic egg shells, coffee grounds, fish emulsion, compost and milk in my containers. I have found that you’re 100% correct with the tomatoes. I grow everything in containers in the high desert! I’m planning on dumping all my soil this fall. ❤
I'm going to be growing tomatos as trees in containers in a greenhouse and I'm not convinced that you have to change the soil every year. I'm going to be keeping the same soil for the Tomato plants for 3-5 years or longer if possible and I think the key will be fertilizing by making my own Jadam liquid fertilizer in addition to adding compost. This should replenish all the needed nutrients the natural way and also create a living rich microbial soil that doesn't need rotation.
Thanks for the info, Jill. This was my second year to use the wicking tubs. I emptied all the dirt out last year, cleared out the roots, and stored it over the winter. This year I amended that soil with, bone meal, blood meal, Black Kow fertilizer, and Pete moss. So far things are looking good and producing well. But I will definitely keep in mind what you have said for the next growing season when I prepare my tubs. Stay safe in the heat.
Ive been using weed tea as container fertilizer. My tubs (peppers, broccoli, boc choy, onions, zucchini and sqaush) are filled with sticks, chunks of wood, leaves then potting mix (peat moss, compost, garden soil, vermiculite blood and bone meals). Now I am making our chicken bones into free bonemeal by pressure cooking and dehydrating them. Topping off the tubs with seasoned wood chips then adding grass, compost and more woodchips. Next year I will be using comfrey tea, blood and bone, fish emulsion, chicken poo and Dr Earth. No commercial stuff. I think on year four with the drought it damaged the life of my soil. This might be why my garden soil doesn’t have any more worms. I am rebuilding my soil now and resting much of it with tubs setting on top of the soil. No more Commercial fertilizers for me.
Hey Jill it's going to be a hot one for days. Spot on about the container garden. We change our soil out once a year and compost it for the landscape. We use bone and blood meal and organic fertilizer's. We have a problem with the stink bug on our tomatoes. We have tried everything, Neem oil, insecticidal soap, diatomaceous earth. They don't seem to be doing any damage so I'll just spray Neem oil once a week. We make our own potting soil with peat, black Kow manure, pearlite, bone and blood meal and it really save lots of $$. We are ready for the fall planting and season. Canning as much as we can. See yawl in a couple days, God bless!
Thanks for the video. I don't think aphids and spider mites have much to do with the soil per se. Whether it's new soil or old soil, you're going to get pests. It's just whether they get out of hand. As far as depleting the soil, that's going to happen. But, you can revive that soil annually. Indeed, you might want to compost it with other stuff to break down that root mass. I believe The Rusted Garden has some videos on this, but basically, you'd just amend your old soil with more compost, and maybe perllite and vermiculite, and some low values organic fertilizer. But with your heat and humidity, I'm guessing growing tomatoes is challenging.
If you put composting kitchen scraps or green leaves in your soil it will feed the beneficial bacteria and earthworms to create the very best soil in your containers. My containers are planted with wood in the bottom, leftover soils from previous years, layers of greens, dried leaves, coffee grounds, eggshells, bone meal, blood meal, and then topped with fresh compost soil. I do use Alaskan fish emulsion compost tea. I've found the very worst garden soils are the ones you use in grow bags they just don't have anything alive left in them after the season - earth worms won't live it them and I have one empty bag still needs to be replenished and there is nothing alive in it. During fall/winter put all your composting scraps in the empty garden beds to decompose...you will love your soils in the spring.
I've been using worm castings when I plant and find lots of worms in the soil processing any dead roots or plant bits and aerating as they go. This has helped tremendously. If I re-pot, then I keep all the worms and add more soil as needed and try and give them a source of food. Only fertilize with natural organic fertilizers like you do. Blessings!
I empty my containers after the growing season every year mixing in amendments ( bone meal, epsom salt, sprinkling of lime, & organic all purpose fertilizer & let it sit through the winter covered so it does not get sauturated from snow melt or turn sour. In spring, I mix composted manure into the soil that has been sitting. So far so good. With tomato planting I add 2 sardines in the hole, cover with a few inches of soil then put the plant in. Throughout the season I fertilize with neptunes harvest fish fertilizer. They produce well, but not as well as those I plant in the ground. The majority of my garden is now in containers since I'm older with health issues & it's easier to keep containers closer to the house.
I regularly repurpose my cattle lick tubs lol!!! I stuff straw or hay 2/3 in the bottom. We wet it down and compact it down. Then I ad good compost and tree leaf compost. I don't have to water much and the plants look awesome. I am also a user of humichar.
So my experience here in central FL is a little different. I have had tomatoes growing in the same SIPs for 6 seasons in a row. After I remove the plants, I fork the container thoroughly down to the bottom and mix it up. After my spring crop, I mix - then cover the top of the soil with about 3” or so of Seagrass (readily available for me) or water hyacinth. My containers are outside and I let the Seagrass/hyacinths rot all summer in the heat and rain. Before fall planting I mix them in and add a good shot of a slow release balanced organic fertilizer and worm castings. During the growing season I feed typically every week a little with Texas Tomatoe food or an organic liquid feed. For sure this would be somewhat difficult at scale, but this method of replenishing has been very effective for me.
Organic fertilizers & compost take long time to release nutrients. I would suggest splitting containers in 2 batches. One batch of containers gets planted, the other gets fertilized but not planted so it decomposes organic fertilizer. Than after harvest you plant in the containers that were idle and fertilize and put away containers that got done growing. In Michigan, i can't grow in winter so what i do is i fertilize at the end of season let it sit over winter. So far i have been getting away with it, I grew 2 batches of tomatoes and 1 bath of potaotes using the same potting mix. I also use fish fertilizer to help out
Good morning Jill!!👋 Hey Miss Bear we see you girl. Wow, looks like the jungle has been tamed! Yes, to having "living soil". My pots are dormant during the heat of summer (deck garden) but will be re-energizing them in September and hoping to add shade cloth. For now the heat is definitely ON so stay safe out there, whew!🥵
Geez…I dig up my pots or containers in the fall after harvesting. I use fresh soil come spring. I sort of scrub the insides too, hose down, then turn upside down and cover with tarps for winters. Of course I dry them out good before turning them upside down. So far so good…
I have been using the commercial fertilizers for years but I would love to get to where you guys are with the living soil approach. Keep up the good work and thanks for passing on what you have learned so far.
I do all container gardening except most of the OKRA is in ground.. Your video helped me to see and realize what my soil was really like after growing most of my plants. I will compost old soil with extra food scrapes. My cherry tomatoes were giving me a Bumper Crop like never before and I was able to give away 1-3 dozen per day to all my friends. Per Day. Until the mice got to them. I am a slow learner, hahaha, and bought some Tomcat bait and feeder traps to get them under control. I am going to empty the soil from 5 gallon buckets and replace with new soil. I will not suffer the watering of plants through July, Aug, Sept and just get aphids and mites in return. Thank you. Thank you.
Great info! I have tomatoes, jalapenos, turnips & chard in containers this year. This is the 1st time I have grown plants in a few years. I need to get some tubs like those.
what I do with my old soil is put it in my compost pile and mix it in and keep adding to it till i need more soil. It seems to work out ok for me,plus i get more soil.
I'm in the Great Lakes region of Illinois. Most of my garden is in plastic containers. Every autumn I'll empty them (containers) into my compost pile, mixing in fallen leaves, kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, wood ash, and other such items. In spring I sift, adding perlite, vermicumlite, sand and Canadian sphagnum peat moss as appropriate. Not only is the soil rejuvenated, but the container lifespan is extended, as they can be stored for several months, thereby avoiding UV exposure and freeze/thaw cycles. Best, Paul.
I can’t thank you enough for this video! I opted out of a garden this year because it was more than I could handle especially after the past two years of doing the wicking tubs and so much work into them and barely any production. Not giving up though going to figure out how to do a fall garden in the ground the buckets are just so hard for one female to deal with in the water in the bottom is gross and I have a mold allergy I believe I would prefer to dig in the ground than be wrapped around the unsightly stinking bucket with ants dominating the drain hole. But I do also question my garden because I’m surrounded by big farms that I’m sure spray glyphosate.
My husband was adament about having our tomatoes in the ground. So that is where ours are and they are thriving at this point! So many green tomatoes have picked about 5 or 6 so far but wanting them all to come at that same time so I can - can them. Spider mites yes fought them with neem and water and insecticile soap. My tomatoes are beginning to ripen so havesting will come quick. Just picked about 2 pounds of yellow jalopena's that the Survivor seeds mis = named as these were supposed to be green jalpeno's. These yellow taste great have a great heat to them. Pickling and canning them tomorrow. Once this harvest is over we will get ready for the 2nd fall season also. We already have another raised bed built. Our raised bed are open to the ground the one we bought is not and it dries out more than the ones we built.
OK.....you got my little brain cranking here.... Super info. Thanks so much. I plant in the ground but have a desire to do a raised bed waist high planter....lol...can't think of the real name of those things. But---none-the-less, it would be a container. Hmmmm.. Alright....what I think I am hearing you say....maybe....dump the container each season---not just take off and replace the top half. BUT we can take what is dumped and rejuvenate it to be used in the future??? Sort of re-cycling. I already have in mind a recycle area that I could take that used soil and bring it back up to speed. I will watch the video again to see if I am way out in left field. I do use some of the synthetic fertilizer right now but would prefer to get away from that. Working on the chicken litter to use and garden scraps. Also have red wigglers to pitch in and help me. I really am thankful for you guys sharing the ups and downs of getting a firm handle on successful methods AND other folks comments. This channel challenges us all to dive in and study, experiment and share. Tell Pops I'm baking some bread machine bread today. Hope it's not too addictive. Love you guys. Jesus bless.
Inoculated Biochar, worms, and annual crop rotation throughout the containers. Organic fertilizer plus chop and drop amending. Haven't had to dump the bin's soil f five years and no problems or diseases whatsoever. Insect netting over the youngest initially, and shade cloth during the hottest days. The holes on the sides of the 27 gallon totes is perfect for removable hoops when needed..
Good info guys. I’m trying container gardening last 3 years. Watering and very warm soil temps is my concerns. Tomatoes in a a normal in ground garden should be rotated in a 5 year cycles in my opinion. Soil retains tomato diseases for a long period of time. Anyway y’all have an awesome place there.
Hey Jill 😊 Great job girl .. your vegetables look beautiful.. well it ‘s summer for Texas for sure .. 😅 We get up super early to work in the yard and garden .. after we check on the animals to may sure they have plenty of fresh cool water … Stay cool .. hope you have more canning videos.. take care love you Blessing 👩🌾
Because I’ve experienced soil depletion in my containers, I just started to use a live-soil method, I’ll let you know how it goes it’s my first time using a live soul method! Excited to see what you two end up doing! Thanks for the update! 💪🥰🌱🌱🌞💓
If I could make a suggestion...take all of the soil from your tubs and put it down over an already tilled area....kind of like a new garden plot....mixthat soil into the ground (till)...add garden lime, chicken manure, new potting soil, ect....let it sit and do not grown anything in that area for a year(next spring)...pick weeds as the come up ...keep it as if you are about to plant...then in the spring till it up a tad then dig and fill your tubs and put it on the beds you have everywhere. Almost like a compost pile but easier to turn....it'll be beautiful next spring ❤❤❤
Great video!!! Gave me some good info to ponder. I will be eagerly awaiting future videos about this. Since we do mostly use containers, because we are in town, this is extremely relevant to us.
Thank you, I really appreciated hearing your good tips regarding container growing and the type of crops that do better in them. I have sweet potatoes in a big container among other assorted trees and plants. We are ready to move in the near future; house on market and planning to take our pots, and of course, dog, chickens and budgies with us. We will be off grid, so looking forward to hear of your off grid experience. From Australia here, I pray the Lord will continue to bless you.
I keep trying to comment on your video but, youtube keeps deleting it. I don't understand. I know it's not you. Great video! I have tree sized containers that I revitalize every year. Half the old soil cleaned of all the root mass, mixed with new soil, compost and worm castings.
I am from TX but live in a village in Hungary and have been trying for years now with my veggie garden. All natural, no poison in my garden or yard at all. Thank you for your help! Last year my tomatoes did nothing at ALL. This year they are looking much better, but I planted them too close. I understand once they are a certain size it is not possible to move them, is this true? God bless you.
I saved all of my containers oils and reuse it for my Zinnia lol It thrives. I never plant vegetables in containers only flowers. I'm just a cheap gal. Subscribed!
Don't give up! Your cost from containers doesn't have to be done again if you dump your soil after every season and add in nutrients it can be reused. Also you know what is in your food. Canning your harvest ensures extra food on your shelf in the winter. With the food prices continuing to rise that is helpful😊
It was 90 here in Virginia right on the NC line and we have had a ton of rain and high winds so it has been difficult. I have family in East Texas that farm and they have been dealing with a lot as well. But I believe God has a lot of love for the farmers and I pray that He will bless you! If it is not with cooler temperatures then at least the strength to deal with it and an abundance of harvest! I miss Texas! Born in Longview and raised in Tyler. I’m forever a Texan at heart! 🥰
Same here, container totes and/or soil hasn't met my expectations as to tomatoes. Does better with eggplants, beans and brassicas. The heat hasn't helped ... Timely info and research!
@Everyone I dump my buckets out. Then when I refill the buckets in the bottom I like to put in about 4 inches of pine needles, The old dirt, I mix in half rabbit 💩, leave or pine needle dirt and then mix in half natural dirt, mix very well, add 1 shovel natural dirt to each bucket with pine needles, about 4-6cups of chicken 💩, then fill bucket with mix to 2-4 inches from top. Ready to plant in. I use pine needles and or news papers for mulch. And over the season the pine needles become pine needles dirt. Pepper do seem to like the 5gallon buckets better than the tomatoes, but all of them I try to add a watering jug to the buckets also, to help keep them from drying out when its really hot...😅🎉
I repurpose soil. Mix diet with and fertilizer...chicken poo... And stir in worm casting or whatever...and mix in real good...let sit and rest over winter.... This works in along with sticks and leaves in bottom of container before putting in dirt. Also need to wash out tubs/containers before filling... Especially for tomatoes. Works well for me.
It was super foggy at my northeast Texas home as well. We have a layer of rock at the bottom of our containers, then mulch, then soil. These heavy rains have been a challenge!
Had aphids do very well on a heavy mix of dawn dish soap in the miracle grow sprayer. It was on a hibiscus they loved. By noon their ant owners were plain discusted at the aphids refusal to make honey. By evening 90% were taken far far away. By morning they were gone. I didn't see them the rest of season.
Question about your high tunnel -- do you use shade cloth?? do you take off plastic during the heat of the summer?? I've been awarded one from NRCS, but yet to purchase. Considering Leon's in OK, as they will put it up, but they do not have roll-up sides, so still undecided. His recommendation is removing the plastic during the summer, which makes sense, but I do not know if we are up to the physical task. Would love to pick your brain! I am in TX too, along the OK border, zone 7.
Costco will have the 27 gallon storage totes on sale for $7.99. Be careful with the bagged organic potting mix especially the moisture control ones. It's quick heavy and compacts right away. I add perlite to loosen it up
You all have a very nice setup!!! I'm Using Compost, and MULCH: MULCH and MORE MULCH!! it's a bit of work, but I don't mind a challenge. I use organic Bone Meal, Wood Ashes, Epsom Salt and Grass Clippings!! been doing this for 30+ years and though, I get a few Pests, (Not MANY) but it's looking GOOD!! Keep doing your thing!! Keep us UPDATED and do you give a tour of your giant Green House? Love your show!!!
New subscriber also in north Tx. My third year as a container gardener. After watching various garden channels I’m thoroughly confused as to which soil to use. Since you’re in N Tx I’m interested in what soil you use. Black kow? Peat moss or coco coir? Top soil, plant mix, compost? I emptied my old soil and need to amend. Thanks. Also looking for your video on wicking in five gallon buckets and totes. 👍
Hi Jill, as far as feeding my plants I'm finding that the Jadam method works well for me. It's well worth looking in to and I'm going to set up a couple more containers for my flowers, this fertilizer together with my worm tea and water is the best ever. I think that commercial fertilizers are not for me and it's best to stay away from them. Have a lovely day or evening. 🌱💚🌱
What I do after harvest from the grow bags is put soul back with leaves on the bottom (green) soil in the middle and more leaves on top and let them sit for a few weeks or months and the roots compost and the leaves compost and then re use and add granulaar fertilizer…. Either way never throw out old soil at least dump it in your beds. Compost right in your containers.
I hope and pray that you guys are safe for I just heard about perryton tornado I'm not sure if you are anywhere close to there but I'm praying hard for the people of Texas... I'm from self. Small Town LaBelle FL. Be safe and love show. I haven't seen purple hull seen i was a kid . God bless y'all prayers with you.
I think she is generally referring to petroleum based fertilizers, versus natural type fertilizers like bone and blood meal, fish and kelp emulsions, rock dust, etc. All those natural products feed the microbiome of the soil, which in turn helps make healthier plants
I’m only guessing that she is referring to Miracle Grow. I know most organic folks say fertilizer shouldn’t be blue green color; it should be brown color.
Maybe I'm missing something on tomatoes and container growing. I'm not having a problem using the same soil with organic fertilizers for my tomatoes to grow. I just keep the tomatoes well fed with fish fertilizer.
Yep, I had similar self-watering containers for about 10 years with tomatoes in them. No problems other than disease on the tomatoes, but same in ground. Lots of top dressing each season, frequent organic feeding, and always keeping the soil mulched. I would never throw away soil, recondition it by spreading it out, mixing with compost, giving it a place to grow a cover crop, till that in, and then over winter it with a tarp so worms will work on it. Come spring, plant in it again.
Saw a great video explaining how organic fertilizers replenish soil and encourage the biology in your soil, building a relationship with your plants. The chemical fertilizers eventually kill the soil and the plants have to be continually fed the fertilizer because the soil is now just dirt and have nothing to offer your plants. Understanding our soil, RUclips channel Jimi Sol
@@ntxg This season. You said you had had the soil in the containers fro several seasons. What are the results of starting with clean soil? Back to normal productivity? What cycle do you recommend? Should container gardening be modelled the traditional crop rotation and fallow principles? btw The real DIRTY truth is how the container plastic decays and becomes brittle with time, and the huge amount of plastic waste generated.
Dump your container soil in the Chicken run. The girls will eat all the bugs over the months and the next year you could add the soil to the garden. I also add some to my big worm bin. I’m dirt poor (lol) and keep all the dirt.
Great idea!
@East Texas Gardening, youtube unsubscribed me…again.
That soil from the containers would great worm food. I empty my containers in a shady area and throw some composting worms in it and let them go to town on it. They convert it to some really good castings. Especially all of those roots.
Great idea!
Thanks for your insight. I also watch Robbie in Southern California who gardens in 18 gallon totes. She is all organic and makes her own soil with leaves, grass clippings, kitchen scraps Etc. She will add some purchased potting soil on top. Essentially she is composting in place. I’ve learned quite a bit from her and have adopted some of her ideas. She refurbs her totes with new leaves, kitchen scraps every few years. Of course she doesn’t grow commercially as y’all do. And I don’t think her area of California has to deal with the number of pests and diseases that we do here in central Texas. I’ve been battling horn worms and fungus in tomatoes and blossom end rot on squash this year. Sheesh! Gardening in Texas can be rough!!!
I have learned a lot from robbie as well. She has a new way of composting in place for those of us not allowed large tote containers.
@@katespencer4038 What is the name of Robbie's channel, if you don't mind. I would have to compost in place, too.
I have learned and practiced what I have learned from her as well.
Robbie is great I love her ideas. But recently she said she puts powdered baby formula in her totes. It give the plants a big boost.
@@lisa11506 Haha!
The biggest lesson I've learned in container gardening is that each watering washes your nutrition from the soil. Think about it: if a plant is in the ground and it rains, any nutrition might be washed deeper into the soil. But the roots can still grow and reach it.
In a pot, the nutrition gets washed out of reach from the roots. So now, every other watering I use a DILUTED compost tea, or manure tea. If I am trying to force plant growth, then DILUTED fish fertilizer, etc. Having good soil alone in container gardening is not enough, IMHO
We only have drain holes on one side of ours, and we have them raised on a cement block/pallet platform. Under the holes we keep buckets that we recycle through the totes. We also use manure tea every few waterings. I generally take a third of the totes and dump them each year, feed the chickens on top of the dirt pile, and then recycle that compost pile back into totes the following spring. We're older so I don't mind letting the hens do most of the work turning it every day. I've got good worm populations in all of my totes and we use basic fertilizers; egg shells, coffee grounds, lots of comfrey and borage (something we feed the chickens as well). I used to buy worm castings, but at this point my worm population is at the point that I don't think I need to any longer. I'm trying something new this year that I saw which is keeping a container in the corner of each tote with holes all over it to toss composting material in. It definitely is keeping the worms happy, and my plants all seem happy as well. If nothing else it is a bit neater than just tossing compost items into the totes.
I use saucers under my containers. But, I live in a dry climate and don't get a lot of "wash through". And, occasionally, I water from the bottom (saucer) so it can wick that stuff from below. FYI.
I take the potted soil after my growing season and empty it in a large pile and ad composted manure, bone meal, blood meal, leaf mold, grass clipping. I cover it with a tarp for the winter. It’s full of red wigglers now and I’m reusing it again. I haven’t noticed aphids on the plants and have looked for them every morning but will go ahead and soap spray. Thanks for the heads up.
I did almost the exact same setup as you all except I put corrugated pipes in sand bags to make for easier cleanup. We return our container soil to compost pile and make a fresh batch of soil in the spring with some added peat moss and perlite blended in. We had and continue to have huge successes with wicking containers
I live outside Abilene, Texas where it is very, very HOT and very, very dry. I have my husband cut out the bottoms of the pot so they can grow down into the soil. My Poblano peppers were huge last year. Used potting mix in pot and amended soil before planting pot.
You and Greg make a very good point. I mostly use grow bags for my backup tomato, squash, and other items. What I started doing last year was pulling the plants, root and all. Then I dump that soil into a separate compost pile and stir it up. I don't add anything to it other than some beneficial nematodes when it's warm enough. Then I use some of that to mix with my compost, coco coir and vermiculite to make new refreshed soil. I plan on repeating that process and every season build up that soil. I also fertilize them every 2 weeks, at a minimum, after an early morning watering, with a balanced NPK emulsion. So far everything is thriving. Y'all are some hard working folks!! Stay Cool. Serious heat coming your way.
I agree with Greg. I’ve only ever used epsom salt, organic egg shells, coffee grounds, fish emulsion, compost and milk in my containers. I have found that you’re 100% correct with the tomatoes. I grow everything in containers in the high desert! I’m planning on dumping all my soil this fall. ❤
Put my shade cloth over my small container raised bed garden.
Thanks Jill for the info.
Remember y'all to Pray, Plan Prep
I'm going to be growing tomatos as trees in containers in a greenhouse and I'm not convinced that you have to change the soil every year. I'm going to be keeping the same soil for the Tomato plants for 3-5 years or longer if possible and I think the key will be fertilizing by making my own Jadam liquid fertilizer in addition to adding compost. This should replenish all the needed nutrients the natural way and also create a living rich microbial soil that doesn't need rotation.
Thanks for the info, Jill. This was my second year to use the wicking tubs. I emptied all the dirt out last year, cleared out the roots, and stored it over the winter. This year I amended that soil with, bone meal, blood meal, Black Kow fertilizer, and Pete moss. So far things are looking good and producing well. But I will definitely keep in mind what you have said for the next growing season when I prepare my tubs. Stay safe in the heat.
When I dump out the soil, I always wash my containers with soap and water. I totally agree with you.
Ive been using weed tea as container fertilizer. My tubs (peppers, broccoli, boc choy, onions, zucchini and sqaush) are filled with sticks, chunks of wood, leaves then potting mix (peat moss, compost, garden soil, vermiculite blood and bone meals). Now I am making our chicken bones into free bonemeal by pressure cooking and dehydrating them. Topping off the tubs with seasoned wood chips then adding grass, compost and more woodchips. Next year I will be using comfrey tea, blood and bone, fish emulsion, chicken poo and Dr Earth. No commercial stuff. I think on year four with the drought it damaged the life of my soil. This might be why my garden soil doesn’t have any more worms. I am rebuilding my soil now and resting much of it with tubs setting on top of the soil. No more Commercial fertilizers for me.
Hey Jill it's going to be a hot one for days. Spot on about the container garden. We change our soil out once a year and compost it for the landscape. We use bone and blood meal and organic fertilizer's. We have a problem with the stink bug on our tomatoes. We have tried everything, Neem oil, insecticidal soap, diatomaceous earth. They don't seem to be doing any damage so I'll just spray Neem oil once a week. We make our own potting soil with peat, black Kow manure, pearlite, bone and blood meal and it really save lots of $$. We are ready for the fall planting and season. Canning as much as we can. See yawl in a couple days, God bless!
Thanks for the video. I don't think aphids and spider mites have much to do with the soil per se. Whether it's new soil or old soil, you're going to get pests. It's just whether they get out of hand. As far as depleting the soil, that's going to happen. But, you can revive that soil annually. Indeed, you might want to compost it with other stuff to break down that root mass. I believe The Rusted Garden has some videos on this, but basically, you'd just amend your old soil with more compost, and maybe perllite and vermiculite, and some low values organic fertilizer. But with your heat and humidity, I'm guessing growing tomatoes is challenging.
If you put composting kitchen scraps or green leaves in your soil it will feed the beneficial bacteria and earthworms to create the very best soil in your containers. My containers are planted with wood in the bottom, leftover soils from previous years, layers of greens, dried leaves, coffee grounds, eggshells, bone meal, blood meal, and then topped with fresh compost soil. I do use Alaskan fish emulsion compost tea. I've found the very worst garden soils are the ones you use in grow bags they just don't have anything alive left in them after the season - earth worms won't live it them and I have one empty bag still needs to be replenished and there is nothing alive in it. During fall/winter put all your composting scraps in the empty garden beds to decompose...you will love your soils in the spring.
I've been using worm castings when I plant and find lots of worms in the soil processing any dead roots or plant bits and aerating as they go. This has helped tremendously. If I re-pot, then I keep all the worms and add more soil as needed and try and give them a source of food. Only fertilize with natural organic fertilizers like you do. Blessings!
I empty my containers after the growing season every year mixing in amendments ( bone meal, epsom salt, sprinkling of lime, & organic all purpose fertilizer & let it sit through the winter covered so it does not get sauturated from snow melt or turn sour. In spring, I mix composted manure into the soil that has been sitting. So far so good. With tomato planting I add 2 sardines in the hole, cover with a few inches of soil then put the plant in. Throughout the season I fertilize with neptunes harvest fish fertilizer. They produce well, but not as well as those I plant in the ground. The majority of my garden is now in containers since I'm older with health issues & it's easier to keep containers closer to the house.
I regularly repurpose my cattle lick tubs lol!!! I stuff straw or hay 2/3 in the bottom. We wet it down and compact it down. Then I ad good compost and tree leaf compost. I don't have to water much and the plants look awesome. I am also a user of humichar.
Costco has a nice organic potting mix, huge bags for around $8, but you can only get it at the beginning of spring.
So my experience here in central FL is a little different. I have had tomatoes growing in the same SIPs for 6 seasons in a row.
After I remove the plants, I fork the container thoroughly down to the bottom and mix it up. After my spring crop, I mix - then cover the top of the soil with about 3” or so of Seagrass (readily available for me) or water hyacinth. My containers are outside and I let the Seagrass/hyacinths rot all summer in the heat and rain. Before fall planting I mix them in and add a good shot of a slow release balanced organic fertilizer and worm castings.
During the growing season I feed typically every week a little with Texas Tomatoe food or an organic liquid feed.
For sure this would be somewhat difficult at scale, but this method of replenishing has been very effective for me.
Sounds like you have a great plan!
Organic fertilizers & compost take long time to release nutrients. I would suggest splitting containers in 2 batches. One batch of containers gets planted, the other gets fertilized but not planted so it decomposes organic fertilizer. Than after harvest you plant in the containers that were idle and fertilize and put away containers that got done growing. In Michigan, i can't grow in winter so what i do is i fertilize at the end of season let it sit over winter. So far i have been getting away with it, I grew 2 batches of tomatoes and 1 bath of potaotes using the same potting mix. I also use fish fertilizer to help out
Good morning Jill!!👋 Hey Miss Bear we see you girl. Wow, looks like the jungle has been tamed! Yes, to having "living soil". My pots are dormant during the heat of summer (deck garden) but will be re-energizing them in September and hoping to add shade cloth. For now the heat is definitely ON so stay safe out there, whew!🥵
Geez…I dig up my pots or containers in the fall after harvesting. I use fresh soil come spring. I sort of scrub the insides too, hose down, then turn upside down and cover with tarps for winters. Of course I dry them out good before turning them upside down. So far so good…
Happy FriYay eve y’all. ❤ it’s already triple digits in the high desert. Thank good for my shade cloth.
I have been using the commercial fertilizers for years but I would love to get to where you guys are with the living soil approach. Keep up the good work and thanks for passing on what you have learned so far.
I do all container gardening except most of the OKRA is in ground.. Your video helped me to see and realize what my soil was really like after growing most of my plants. I will compost old soil with extra food scrapes. My cherry tomatoes were giving me a Bumper Crop like never before and I was able to give away 1-3 dozen per day to all my friends. Per Day. Until the mice got to them. I am a slow learner, hahaha, and bought some Tomcat bait and feeder traps to get them under control. I am going to empty the soil from 5 gallon buckets and replace with new soil. I will not suffer the watering of plants through July, Aug, Sept and just get aphids and mites in return. Thank you. Thank you.
Great info! I have tomatoes, jalapenos, turnips & chard in containers this year. This is the 1st time I have grown plants in a few years. I need to get some tubs like those.
what I do with my old soil is put it in my compost pile and mix it in and keep adding to it till i need more soil. It seems to work out ok for me,plus i get more soil.
I'm in the Great Lakes region of Illinois. Most of my garden is in plastic containers. Every autumn I'll empty them (containers) into my compost pile, mixing in fallen leaves, kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, wood ash, and other such items. In spring I sift, adding perlite, vermicumlite, sand and Canadian sphagnum peat moss as appropriate. Not only is the soil rejuvenated, but the container lifespan is extended, as they can be stored for several months, thereby avoiding UV exposure and freeze/thaw cycles. Best, Paul.
❤️❤️
No rain here on the Texas Coast, with a 105-112 degree Heat Index Daily this week , the heat came on fast this year in 1 week to be exact !
I can’t thank you enough for this video! I opted out of a garden this year because it was more than I could handle especially after the past two years of doing the wicking tubs and so much work into them and barely any production. Not giving up though going to figure out how to do a fall garden in the ground the buckets are just so hard for one female to deal with in the water in the bottom is gross and I have a mold allergy I believe I would prefer to dig in the ground than be wrapped around the unsightly stinking bucket with ants dominating the drain hole. But I do also question my garden because I’m surrounded by big farms that I’m sure spray glyphosate.
❤️❤️❤️
Don’t plant in wicking tubs. Just do container gardening with square foot garden soil mix.
My husband was adament about having our tomatoes in the ground. So that is where ours are and they are thriving at this point! So many green tomatoes have picked about 5 or 6 so far but wanting them all to come at that same time so I can - can them. Spider mites yes fought them with neem and water and insecticile soap. My tomatoes are beginning to ripen so havesting will come quick. Just picked about 2 pounds of yellow jalopena's that the Survivor seeds mis = named as these were supposed to be green jalpeno's. These yellow taste great have a great heat to them. Pickling and canning them tomorrow. Once this harvest is over we will get ready for the 2nd fall season also. We already have another raised bed built. Our raised bed are open to the ground the one we bought is not and it dries out more than the ones we built.
OK.....you got my little brain cranking here.... Super info. Thanks so much. I plant in the ground but have a desire to do a raised bed waist high planter....lol...can't think of the real name of those things. But---none-the-less, it would be a container. Hmmmm..
Alright....what I think I am hearing you say....maybe....dump the container each season---not just take off and replace the top half.
BUT we can take what is dumped and rejuvenate it to be used in the future??? Sort of re-cycling. I already have in mind a recycle area that I could take that used soil and bring it back up to speed. I will watch the video again to see if I am way out in left field. I do use some of the synthetic fertilizer right now but would prefer to get away from that. Working on the chicken litter to use and garden scraps. Also have red wigglers to pitch in and help me.
I really am thankful for you guys sharing the ups and downs of getting a firm handle on successful methods AND other folks comments. This channel challenges us all to dive in and study, experiment and share. Tell Pops I'm baking some bread machine bread today. Hope it's not too addictive. Love you guys. Jesus bless.
Inoculated Biochar, worms, and annual crop rotation throughout the containers. Organic fertilizer plus chop and drop amending. Haven't had to dump the bin's soil f five years and no problems or diseases whatsoever. Insect netting over the youngest initially, and shade cloth during the hottest days. The holes on the sides of the 27 gallon totes is perfect for removable hoops when needed..
Good info guys. I’m trying container gardening last 3 years. Watering and very warm soil temps is my concerns.
Tomatoes in a a normal in ground garden should be rotated in a 5 year cycles in my opinion. Soil retains tomato diseases for a long period of time.
Anyway y’all have an awesome place there.
Hey Jill 😊
Great job girl .. your vegetables look beautiful..
well it ‘s summer for Texas for sure .. 😅
We get up super early to work in the yard and garden ..
after we check on the animals to may sure they have plenty of fresh cool water …
Stay cool .. hope you have more canning videos..
take care love you
Blessing
👩🌾
Because I’ve experienced soil depletion in my containers, I just started to use a live-soil method, I’ll let you know how it goes it’s my first time using a live soul method! Excited to see what you two end up doing! Thanks for the update! 💪🥰🌱🌱🌞💓
If I could make a suggestion...take all of the soil from your tubs and put it down over an already tilled area....kind of like a new garden plot....mixthat soil into the ground (till)...add garden lime, chicken manure, new potting soil, ect....let it sit and do not grown anything in that area for a year(next spring)...pick weeds as the come up ...keep it as if you are about to plant...then in the spring till it up a tad then dig and fill your tubs and put it on the beds you have everywhere. Almost like a compost pile but easier to turn....it'll be beautiful next spring ❤❤❤
Great video!!! Gave me some good info to ponder. I will be eagerly awaiting future videos about this. Since we do mostly use containers, because we are in town, this is extremely relevant to us.
Excited to see what you end up using in your containers. I think I need to redo mine also. Thank you for the info!
Thank you, I really appreciated hearing your good tips regarding container growing and the type of crops that do better in them. I have sweet potatoes in a big container among other assorted trees and plants. We are ready to move in the near future; house on market and planning to take our pots, and of course, dog, chickens and budgies with us. We will be off grid, so looking forward to hear of your off grid experience. From Australia here, I pray the Lord will continue to bless you.
Hi Aussie! My sister lives in the Gold Coast over yonder!
I keep trying to comment on your video but, youtube keeps deleting it. I don't understand. I know it's not you. Great video! I have tree sized containers that I revitalize every year. Half the old soil cleaned of all the root mass, mixed with new soil, compost and worm castings.
I am from TX but live in a village in Hungary and have been trying for years now with my veggie garden. All natural, no poison in my garden or yard at all. Thank you for your help!
Last year my tomatoes did nothing at ALL. This year they are looking much better, but I planted them too close. I understand once they are a certain size it is not possible to move them, is this true? God bless you.
I’d move em sister if you can fit in a pot. Otherwise thin them out. 😢
I was looking more at how to use containers. How to plant and fertilizer, what kind of soil. I am just learning and must use containers.
I dump all the containers every plant and add in compost etc. I also put dead leaves, small sticks etc in the bottom of my containers
Thank you have a blessed day ❤
WOW I never thought about this I'll definitely turn over all my containers when the tomatoes finish. TY so much
Y’all be careful in that heat; those temperatures are brutal! Replace your electrolytes. ❤
Thank you. I am trying container planting and appreciate the input. Very hot right now, I am also in Texas. Y'all have a blessed day.
You too, be safe!
I saved all of my containers oils and reuse it for my Zinnia lol It thrives. I never plant vegetables in containers only flowers. I'm just a cheap gal. Subscribed!
I have spent so much money with container gardening. I think I’m hanging it up 😊
True what I spent on it, I could have easily bought at the store, but, this way I know what goes into it. Not growing for a family so not so bad.
Don't give up! Your cost from containers doesn't have to be done again if you dump your soil after every season and add in nutrients it can be reused. Also you know what is in your food. Canning your harvest ensures extra food on your shelf in the winter. With the food prices continuing to rise that is helpful😊
It was 90 here in Virginia right on the NC line and we have had a ton of rain and high winds so it has been difficult. I have family in East Texas that farm and they have been dealing with a lot as well. But I believe God has a lot of love for the farmers and I pray that He will bless you! If it is not with cooler temperatures then at least the strength to deal with it and an abundance of harvest! I miss Texas! Born in Longview and raised in Tyler. I’m forever a Texan at heart! 🥰
Amen
Same here, container totes and/or soil hasn't met my expectations as to tomatoes. Does better with eggplants, beans and brassicas. The heat hasn't helped ...
Timely info and research!
@Everyone
I dump my buckets out.
Then when I refill the buckets in the bottom I like to put in about 4 inches of pine needles,
The old dirt, I mix in half rabbit 💩, leave or pine needle dirt and then mix in half natural dirt, mix very well, add 1 shovel natural dirt to each bucket with pine needles, about 4-6cups of chicken 💩, then fill bucket with mix to 2-4 inches from top. Ready to plant in. I use pine needles and or news papers for mulch.
And over the season the pine needles become pine needles dirt. Pepper do seem to like the 5gallon buckets better than the tomatoes, but all of them I try to add a watering jug to the buckets also, to help keep them from drying out when its really hot...😅🎉
I have not seen marigolds so tall. Thanks for sharing about the tubs.
Great info. West TX gardner here. Can’t get over your tomatoes are done. Tomatoes are just getting to bud stage here.
I repurpose soil. Mix diet with and fertilizer...chicken poo... And stir in worm casting or whatever...and mix in real good...let sit and rest over winter.... This works in along with sticks and leaves in bottom of container before putting in dirt. Also need to wash out tubs/containers before filling... Especially for tomatoes. Works well for me.
It was super foggy at my northeast Texas home as well. We have a layer of rock at the bottom of our containers, then mulch, then soil. These heavy rains have been a challenge!
Had aphids do very well on a heavy mix of dawn dish soap in the miracle grow sprayer. It was on a hibiscus they loved. By noon their ant owners were plain discusted at the aphids refusal to make honey. By evening 90% were taken far far away. By morning they were gone. I didn't see them the rest of season.
Question about your high tunnel -- do you use shade cloth?? do you take off plastic during the heat of the summer?? I've been awarded one from NRCS, but yet to purchase. Considering Leon's in OK, as they will put it up, but they do not have roll-up sides, so still undecided. His recommendation is removing the plastic during the summer, which makes sense, but I do not know if we are up to the physical task. Would love to pick your brain! I am in TX too, along the OK border, zone 7.
Costco will have the 27 gallon storage totes on sale for $7.99. Be careful with the bagged organic potting mix especially the moisture control ones. It's quick heavy and compacts right away. I add perlite to loosen it up
You all have a very nice setup!!! I'm Using Compost, and MULCH: MULCH and MORE MULCH!! it's a bit of work, but I don't mind a challenge. I use organic Bone Meal, Wood Ashes, Epsom Salt and Grass Clippings!! been doing this for 30+ years and though, I get a few Pests, (Not MANY) but it's looking GOOD!! Keep doing your thing!! Keep us UPDATED and do you give a tour of your giant Green House? Love your show!!!
Yes, we gift tours come on out anytime. Thank you so much for watching us. We appreciate you more than you know.
Great info thank you.🙂
I gotta try cover cropping in my containers. In the worst case it will protect the soil against the winter
Please show us your vegetables. It would be nice to see your harvest and your vegetable stand. Thanks. I’m in Canada. Short growing season
New subscriber also in north Tx. My third year as a container gardener. After watching various garden channels I’m thoroughly confused as to which soil to use. Since you’re in N Tx I’m interested in what soil you use. Black kow? Peat moss or coco coir? Top soil, plant mix, compost? I emptied my old soil and need to amend. Thanks. Also looking for your video on wicking in five gallon buckets and totes. 👍
Hi Jill, as far as feeding my plants I'm finding that the Jadam method works well for me. It's well worth looking in to and I'm going to set up a couple more containers for my flowers, this fertilizer together with my worm tea and water is the best ever. I think that commercial fertilizers are not for me and it's best to stay away from them. Have a lovely day or evening. 🌱💚🌱
What I do after harvest from the grow bags is put soul back with leaves on the bottom (green) soil in the middle and more leaves on top and let them sit for a few weeks or months and the roots compost and the leaves compost and then re use and add granulaar fertilizer…. Either way never throw out old soil at least dump it in your beds. Compost right in your containers.
Good morning QUESTION Do you sell Online
Not yet, but we intend to
I hope and pray that you guys are safe for I just heard about perryton tornado I'm not sure if you are anywhere close to there but I'm praying hard for the people of Texas... I'm from self. Small Town LaBelle FL. Be safe and love show. I haven't seen purple hull seen i was a kid . God bless y'all prayers with you.
We are good BM, all the storms were east of us praying for those affected for sure
build a soil company has some of the best living soil I have ever used..I love using living soil!
We are faxing 105 starting tomorrow. We need to pray this heat wave breaks up
We sure do. It’s awful and no rain in the forecast for the next three weeks. We’re already crispy here.
Well, it'd sure be helpful to know what that commercial fertilizer is that you keep hinting about as being bad. I only use fish and kelp emulsion.
I think she is generally referring to petroleum based fertilizers, versus natural type fertilizers like bone and blood meal, fish and kelp emulsions, rock dust, etc. All those natural products feed the microbiome of the soil, which in turn helps make healthier plants
I’m only guessing that she is referring to Miracle Grow. I know most organic folks say fertilizer shouldn’t be blue green color; it should be brown color.
It's the same in east tx this morning. Gonna be bad hot/humid this weekend.
Miserable
What resources did you use to learn about regenerative farming? Thanks
Matt powers
Crop rotation is still important with containers.
Thank you for sharing your content.
Nicely done!!! Excited for your fall videos!! I will stay tuned for sure!!!❤
Fascinating! I just found your channel & love your info & style❤
I've lived in Texas and been back through Texas idk how many times. Never, Never seen that kind of humity. Omgoodness
News is reporting about bad weather in Texas. I am in Ohio. Just worried about you, sister! Praying you are ok❤❤❤❤
It has missed us. No rain or storms ❤️
My mornings lately look like your fog, but its smoke from Canada fires. I'm in southern Wisconsin.
🤨
Hi Jill. Have a look at Supersoil which is produced in Ireland. The RUclipsrs here in the UK love it including me.
Maybe I'm missing something on tomatoes and container growing. I'm not having a problem using the same soil with organic fertilizers for my tomatoes to grow. I just keep the tomatoes well fed with fish fertilizer.
So glad you’re having success!
Yep, I had similar self-watering containers for about 10 years with tomatoes in them. No problems other than disease on the tomatoes, but same in ground. Lots of top dressing each season, frequent organic feeding, and always keeping the soil mulched. I would never throw away soil, recondition it by spreading it out, mixing with compost, giving it a place to grow a cover crop, till that in, and then over winter it with a tarp so worms will work on it. Come spring, plant in it again.
Saw a great video explaining how organic fertilizers replenish soil and encourage the biology in your soil, building a relationship with your plants. The chemical fertilizers eventually kill the soil and the plants have to be continually fed the fertilizer because the soil is now just dirt and have nothing to offer your plants. Understanding our soil, RUclips channel Jimi Sol
Hi.will stay tuned.would like to know when u start fall seeds.i like your strategy
Thank you so much
Great video! Where do y’all see your produce?
Here at our farm
I got organic soil in my tot’s first time doing it can’t put a garden in yard it’s nothing but hard clay.
Where do you sell at? I would love to buy some of your produce. Thank you.
Send me an email gal
@@ntxg what's your email?
hbjtexas2020@gmail.com
Do potatoes grow better in the ground or a container? I'm new to gardening. My mother says potatoes will be little in a container.
Either, easier in containers though. The size will depend on how many plants you put in a tub and how big your tub is.
@@ntxg Thank you for your help.
Have you tried completely removing all container soil after each season and hot composting the old soil?
We have done that!
@@ntxg This season. You said you had had the soil in the containers fro several seasons.
What are the results of starting with clean soil? Back to normal productivity? What cycle do you recommend? Should container gardening be modelled the traditional crop rotation and fallow principles?
btw The real DIRTY truth is how the container plastic decays and becomes brittle with time, and the huge amount of plastic waste generated.
How do you keep snakes out? Since you live not far from me, I know copperheads and rattlesnakes can get in there. I’d be nervouse
Well gal I sure think about em but I haven’t seen any… I hope I don’t!
Will you revive that old soil with compost ?
How will you amend that soil you dumped?
What about raised beds? That would be a big job to change the soil in those. 😬
We are not seeing our raised beds getting root bound. We do add organic compost and use cover cropping to fortify the soil
Question in Houston: Would *Hot* composting help that 'spent' soil? If so, about how long do you think it would take?
It sure will! You need to mix it in really good and wait for it to die down a bit. I’d say a week or so.
@@ntxg Thank you for your prompt response. I have containers that have spent soil in them too. Be blessed!
Be careful not to get overheated.🙏