PART 3: Cultivating Healthy Soil

Part 3 of my *Guide to Start a Garden*

Welcome to Part 3 of my Guide to Start a Garden!

Today, we’re digging in to how to cultivate healthy soil, whether you’re growing in pots, raised beds, or directly in the ground.

But first.. why do we even care about soil? In the simplest terms – when your soil is healthy and balanced, your plants will have a strong foundation to thrive, and they will be less susceptible to pests, viruses, inclement weather, etc.

On the flip side, if your soil is out of balance and your plants aren’t getting the nutrients they need, your crops will suffer and be an easy target for pests and bacteria + viruses, and they won’t be as hardy in tough weather. I can’t stress enough how vital it is to have healthy, nutrient rich soil for the success of your garden, so don’t snooze on this one!

This guide will dig in to the following:

• Specific soil mix “recipes” for container gardens and raised beds

• How to take a soil test (and why they are important)

• Why compost is important + how to source high quality compost

• The importance and specific roles of macronutrients in the garden (N, P, K)

• Overview of soil pH

• Recommended reading for digging deeper into soil science

A note that the information inside these detailed guides comes from over 15 years of personal experience in gardening and farming, and I believe this knowledge has value. For that reason, the majority of this 4-part guide is available to paid subscribers. My hope is that if you find this information useful, that you will invest in your gardening endeavors and consider supporting my work as a paid subscriber. Either way, thank you for being here!

First up, let’s talk about soil mixes for pots, containers, and raised beds.

If you decide to grow in pots or raised beds, then you’ll need to bring in *all* the soil to fill your containers. There are a LOT of different opinions when it comes to the best soil mix for pots and raised beds, so listed below are a few popular soil mix “recipes” that I recommend (side note – if you have a reputable farm/garden store in your area, give them a visit and see what they recommend to fill your pots or raised beds):