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Need some help in starting a garden in my patio.?

Allright, i've moved into this apartment that has a patio and i would like to start a garden with seeds i have ( tomato, green chillies etc). I know how to germinate them using kitchen towels and water... What do i do then?? What soil do i use?? Where do i get it?? I have some potting mix ...what else do i need to buy.... Please HELP!!! Is Miracle-Gro Potting Mix different from Potting soil??

Public Comments

1. I had a container garden for years at my condo and successfully grew everything from herbs, to veggies to flowers. After the seedlings sprout, I always put mine in peat pots with a good quality potting mix until they were established. Then I would plant the entire peat pot into a container breaking up the peat a little so the roots had room to grow. I set up a drip irrigation system on the patio and used a liquid type fertilizer about every 90 days. I really like the Miracle Grow soil it seems to have less weeds.
2. get some miracle grow soil and pot them walmart or any nursery will have it
3. i am not a fan of miracle grow. use black gold potting soil, and oraganic ferts made by lily miller or whitney farms. mix your potting soil with 30-50% outdoor soil, and mulch the tops of your pots with small-grain mulch. by going this route you maximixe the beneficial microbes in your soil, which greatly enhances nutrient uptake, and minimize harmful deposits building up in your soil.
4. You can just plant them in the soil. Follow the directions on the seed packages. Make sure they get plenty of water, container plants tend to dry out quickly. For soil, just some good potting soil that you can purchase at a nursery or home depot.
5. People tend to use the terms potting soil and potting mix interchangeably. There isn't any thing that you can't grow in containers, but some plants are better suited to container gardening than others. The plants that you mentioned will do very well. You can start them in flats or peat pots or sow them directly, depending on your climate. Using potting mix rather than soil (dirt) has several advantages, such as less weight, and increased water retention. Visit our website for more container gardening ideas at- http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/container-gardening.html Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!