4 Ways To Reuse Old Potting Soil

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

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[@chrismeyers1607]

Question:::Doesn't planting a cover crop just deplete it more?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@chrismeyers1607Hey Chris, good question. Not at all actually. Cover crops bind the soil and actually protect it from washing over the winter, which is normally a period of high precipitation. The roots are left to decompose and put the nutrients back into the soil, as can the foliage when you cut it down. And for even more nutrition, you can grow legume-type cover crops!

[@Mysticfox-wk2be]

At the end of the uear i dump all the old potting soil into a plastic trash can and toss in some earth worms from the garden along with all my dry kitchen waste from the summer that i saved. Let the earth worms do their magic turning the old plant matter into fertilizer over the winter.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Love it! I bet the soil in the spring is 10x better than store bought too!

[@Terri_Stauffer]

That’s what I do too 😊

[@alexkennedy5133]

What kind of kitchen waste do you usually use?

[@robertsanders339]

Wow I am going to do that never thought of it nice and easy Going to store for worms

[@MamaMudskipper]

Does it create heat that might help keep overwintering container garden plants warm in a coldframe/hoophouse/unheated greenhouse (on my balcony)? Like say to put it in the bottom third of a bucket, then put the plant pot in the bucket, inside the greenhouse..? At least to help keep the soil in the plant pot from freezing.

[@michaelmarchione3408]

I take our old potting soil and dump it in one of the raised beds. Then I mix it with the fresh rabbit manure in the bed and let it overwinter for the next year. The soil is usually from hanging plants or vegetables that were in a container. Great tips Jeff! Take care!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Smart Michael....simple and nothing goes to waste. Have a great weekend man.

[@urbanbackyardcontainergardenin]

I always recycle, recharge, and repurpose my soil. Can’t see throwing out soil every year. Thanks for sharing😊

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right?? The cost would be huge!

[@urbanbackyardcontainergardenin]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Yes!!

[@songsforthemaster]

This is a must see for all beginner gardeners. Thanks so much for sharing your valuable information❣️🥰

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks, appreciate that! :-)

[@fionafresh8435]

Soil goes into those black Rubbermaid storage totes with yellow lids that sit in the yard along in the sun until next summer. I had early blight on my tomatoes this year so I will mark those and use that soil in a pollinator garden just in case. I was also on the look for end of season sales on soil thanks to a post on IG and got lucky so there are 20 bags in the garage for next spring when I plan to set up some raised beds. Thanks for the video.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Smart Fiona! I like that plan...very organized and thought out.

[@knitswithdirt]

I always compost my yard waste and old plants in my containers and raised beds. I have a bin I put my leaves in and put a layer in every container. Keeps the earthworms happy and fed as well as providing nutrition to the plants. I do also use organic amendments.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Perfect! This is the way... 🙂

[@blacksmithden]

I have a 1 yard bin in the yard that's got soil in it. All summer, I gather up soft organic matter. Stuff from the house, apples that have fallen off the neighbors apple tree, leaves, and you name it. Grind all that in. At the end of the year, I take every plant I grew, including corn stocks, and grind them up with my lawnmower. I grind all that, and the soil from my containers into the pile. It sits there all winter, and in the spring, I give it a good stir. That's what I fill my containers with. I also grind some of it into the top of my raised beds after removing a few inches of soil. The removed soil goes back into the pile, and I grind more organic matter back into it over the summer. I've never had a problem with mildew or blight of any kind. I know there will be dozens of people who tell me I'm doing it wrong. Oh well. It works for me, so I'm going to keep doing it.

[@vickyannpaintingwithoils]

I love the first one! We are going to let our large rowed bed sit for a season or so. We have plenty of land to grow in, so the chickens are going to work that land. I will plant herbs and lettuces and other chicken safe things in and just let it sit. I take my container soil into a bin and mix it with worm castings and new soil, peat, azomite, etc. And get a great return on it. Great video!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Vicky! Sounds like you gotta great system going!

[@elizaC3024]

Mine gets recycled faithfully. No waste gardening here.😊

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Elizabeth! 🙂

[@1wholovestrees]

Thank you so much for showing your straw. I’d been sitting on the garden fence trying to decide which type to buy: large bale or chopped, as you show, and how to effectively use it. I ended up with the chopped and I see you dug it in your soil, rather than remove it. A gardening tip you didn’t know others would see! I’m digging my straw in my beds this year.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Good spotting Beth! Yeah, as long as its not a huge thick layer, I find the straw just breaks down into the top layer of soil over the season....no need to remove it at all. Cheers!

[@donnabailey5325]

Oh I love your vlogs so informative to the point without any fluff ❤

[@jamesbrechin2899]

What about adding charged Biochar? 9:04

[@bentol86]

Amazing! I enjoyed your vlog immensely. It is a pleasure to watch your work. Thank you so much for sharing. I wish you your continuing success. 👍

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much for watching and for the support! :-)

[@karenyhogan5196]

This was very helpful for me since this was my first year to use raided beds and grow bags, always direct soil grown in the last 55 years. Thank you for your guided tour of growing and reestablishing my soil.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Happy to help Karen....how are you liking the container/raised bed growing? Easier or harder?

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

A couple years ago I made the mistake of trying to use the oven or microwave to sterilize potting soil, thinking it was necessary. The major problem with these, other than the energy cost, is that they get too hot and can burn the soil, which releases toxic fumes. I also found a drawback to using sterilized soil is that the mold spores in the house can readily colonize it, which is bad for the seedlings. The best solution I found was to inoculate potting soil with native soil and compost, so the beneficial microbes and fungi can outcompete any harmful ones. I get way less mold than if I'd started with sterilized soil, so my seedlings are less likely to damp off.

[@NickDumitru]

I do the same. Living soil is the way to go. Gets better every year I use it with some recharge of rock dust and organic fertilizer. I keep a little worm bin and some compost for the beneficial organisms. Sterilizing it is very disadvantageous and a huge waste of time and effort.

[@iwuvmybigfamily]

Thanks for sharing this Jeff

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers man, thanks for watching! 🙂

[@8oclocktomatotalk]

Love recycling on my property! Well done on this video friend.

[@emylytle7149]

I love listening to your video, it’s soothing and love this tips for reusing soil, I let my soil in the sun cuz it’s so hot here I don’t think I need an oven 😂 and then amend it like you did 👍♥️ take care Jeff

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much Emy! Hope the week went well for you. 🙂

[@eyeYQ2]

More great tips from you!! Thanks again!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks, appreciate that!

[@Agui007]

Thanks for bringing this up about spent soil. I tend to add a little at a time to my hot compost bin. Have you used no dig before?

[@gardeningwithmel]

Thanks for the reminder!

[@CrazyFunnyCats]

Thanks Jeff! We sure learn lots from you! We opened a playlist with your channels name. Hopefully a few people will see your channel. ✨🇨🇦🌎🐝✨✨✨ Edmonton

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey, thanks for that support! Too kind my friends! 🙂

[@gileshanover4986]

Great video, Jeff. Thanks!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much Giles! 🙂

[@racebiketuner]

Thanks for another great vid.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

And thanks to you for watching! 🙂

[@HellaHeller]

Great video, thank you!

[@aimeebatushin4706]

Can you recommend products to use to replenish the soil?

[@debbiesmith297]

Great info! Thank you!

[@karenyhogan5196]

I dump into lower bed, and compost because we don't have all the leaves and other fillers for compost out here at the Ocean in Washington state.

[@lifestapestry2968]

Mine just goes back in the compost each year. Its rejuvenated over winter ready for the next season. Add a bit of pee when your neighbours aren't watching helps speeds up the process 😮

[@threewaysdivided7143]

Great video! Do you have any tips for boosting soil in perennial container plants? I have quite a few dwarf crop trees and strawberries in different tubs - right now I just top up with compost and fresh mulch when the levels start dropping and add slow-release fertilizers + other amendments ahead of their producing seasons.

[@mamabearthrives7815]

Thank you Jeffe! 💪😎💯😘 I have about three fabric pots that are root bound from last year when I weed whipped!! 🤦‍♀️I let them go and they got root bound but I kept them because I figured at some point I could use them. Recently I was going to throw them away because they were so tightly bound! Now I will put some elbow grease into it, cut it up and reuse the soil! Hopefully I can save the bag! Have a lovely day! 🍅🥕🥦🥬🌱

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I hear you on that Mamabear! I got a few that are like concrete blocks!! I cut them in half, then half again to make them more manageable....but sometimes those are the ones that go straight to the compost!

[@racebiketuner]

I've had that happen a few times. I was able to save the bags by putting them on their side and jumping on them until things loosened up. Only takes a minute or two. Obviously something you want to do on a tarp.

[@mamabearthrives7815]

@@racebiketuner Great idea thanks!! I will try this!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@racebiketuner Ha ha I can picture that! So much harder to get out than regular plastic pots. I normally let them dry out.....makes the soil shrink a bit and then they pop out easier. 🙂

[@mamabearthrives7815]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms 😆yes! it’s funny picturing that! Or, one could save the pots for a time when one is frustrated and needs an outlet, then use that side-stomp/smash method😁💪🌱😘

[@lostpony4885]

I either add mine to my tree planters or add to compost.

[@maryellenyork2819]

I garden in 18 gallon totes. All new soil this year. Beets planted last April are still tiny.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Those are huge! How did you like them?

[@maryellenyork2819]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms they cracked rather quickly in the AR sun and heat. I am a senior citizen just learning to garden, so I set the totes on chairs on the deck. NO WEEDS at all! Cabbages rotted when only 3". I tossed those plants, put the lid on, and will let the sun cook the soil for a year. I need flowers next year to attract bees. Yield was disappointing but each year is a little better. 2 years ago, I had 3 food grade 5-gallon buckets. This year, the plants grew well in the beginning, sent out flowers, and then...mostly nothing. I have a pup who loves to dig, so debating how to keep her out of a raised bed in the ground next year.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@maryellenyork2819 constantly evolving, I hear you on that. We don't get nearly the heat that you do, but I've been mulching my grow bags like crazy and watering from below... It's made a HUGE difference with our heat waves we've been getting. Anyways, best of luck!

[@barbaracarbone4658]

Hi from Long Island🎉 Very informative. Can i put my old soil in the compost bin now? Thanks.

[@IjeomaThePlantMama]

My question too!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Definitely Barbara. Get it going and cycling before winter hits! 🙂

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@IjeomaThePlantMamaFor sure right now is a great time. This is when I do all my sorting for what gets re-used and what gets spread into the compost.

[@barbaracarbone4658]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thanks!

[@fionaharvey2720]

Brilliant video and just what I needed to know as I have just pulled out my tomatoes! I’m in the north of Ireland and I add in seaweed powder or sometimes well rotted sterilised farm yard manure, plus some of my own homemade compost! I was given a wormer recently and seemingly the liquid from this is good what do you reckon? Thanks again love your videos😊 ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Oh wow, that's perfect! With all of that, your used soil will be better than the original store-bought stuff!!

[@nchestercountynews4955]

55 gallon drum painted black, set in the sun, with an old glass window on top, to act as a kiln, then add rock dust, blood/bone meals, JADAM and compost tea

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Perfect! You got it down to a science!

[@rothyk.s9168]

😇😇does the soil effects to the Continuous cropping disorder?

[@treymurphy6398]

i grow indoors and out. my question is how do i get rid of the bugs? i brought some used container soilo in to start seeds, the millipedes were everywhere. i put it ina tub covered it with diatemaceous earth and its sat there since idk what to do with it. i already had mixed it with a brand new bag of black kow

[@leikamorgan865]

Do you still have the soil amendment mixture available?

[@sharonc316]

Are old alfalfa pellets from my lizard’s cage OK to use or do I grind it first? Throw away? (Lizard died, need to clean out his terrarium and use it to grow things.)

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Sorry about the lizard, what kind was it? Beardie? As for the pellets, yes, they can go right into the compost no questions asked! 🙂

[@SH-jy6lc]

Can i add steer manure to it? Thanks

[@kmg0167]

I let my raised beds lay dormant for a year, but I did plant a few fall crops into 1 and I added ammendments and you can tell exactly where because I seem to have an outbreak of mushrooms only in the narrow 4 rows where I seeded. Is that normal or was my compost that I bought because I didn't have any the cause? They are weird mushrooms too, they look like a mushrooms crossed with a dandelion!!!

[@carolbeers4208]

Where do you find those amenities

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Most plant nurseries or better yet feed barns will have them. Always cheaper locally than online too.

[@chrismeyers1607]

Question:::Doesn't planting a cover crop just deplete it more?

[@Crashbangable]

Some people consider the microbiology more important than the NPK. The living root is said to support soil life through the winter.

[@jimsullender3435]

Will boiling water sterilize potting soil ?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yes, it definitely will. Steam is actually a common sterilizing method commercially.

[@racebiketuner]

UV radiation is good at breaking down herbicides including pyralids. When solarizing inputs that I'm not certain are 100% free of herbicides, I spread them 1/2" thick and turn every day for 3 weeks.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ahhh...very cool. Don't use any chemicals here, but did not know that! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

[@danarzechula3769]

Omg clean that microwave😮

[@IdoBenZvi89]

isn't it better to sieve it before from all the roots and stuff?

[@lostpony4885]

Soil? I should get some.

[@ralfnuggs165]

Dude I love watching your videos on acid

[@lzshow]

Y do we need new soil

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Exactly.....

[@eigleenalegri2664]

How did mankind grow food without getting bags of soil, mulch, and amendments

[@danarzechula3769]

Bokashi all your kitchen scraps and use some of the old soil in the layers of your soil factories

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Love it!

[@elchingon98734]

I just throw it in my neighbor's yard ,cant stand em 😂

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Can't stand the soil or the neighbors?? LOL!

[@barbaracarbone4658]

Haaaaa😂

[@ginagibson8600]

LOL 😂😂😂