Best type of dirt to use for starting a raised vegetable garden?
by Diane
+3
We just built a raised vegetable garden & need to fill with dirt. Mushroom dirt, compost, manure???? What is best?
6 answers
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![Kathy Lovenburg]()
Kathy Lovenburg
on May 29, 2017
Use garden soil blend and add compost. You need soil or compost and manure only will burn your plants. -
![Janet Pizaro]()
Janet Pizaro
on May 29, 2017
Garden soil that has all the amendments you need. -
![Diane]()
Diane
on May 29, 2017
we need about 3 yards of dirt. Guarden soil only comes in bags where I live. I need to get a truckload from a garden center So mushroom soil I guess. -
![Shaza Lee]()
Shaza Lee
on May 30, 2017
you need a mixture of organic things for your garden. there Is no single item that will work. it is not dirt we want.. it is "soil" which is a mixture of many things. some black dirt, some compost, some manure.. preferably aged but any kind will work. - mushroom compost is good but not by itself. if you have any dry leaves from last year shred those and add to the mixture. then after it is blended and aged for awhile do a soil test and see if it needs some minerals added. by the truckload you could buy pulverized black soil for the base and then blend it with the compost and manure and mushroom soil. the organic items will decay so you can build this bed higher than you want in the begin and wait for it to settle. then continue to add more shredded leaves, manure and compost each season to continue improving this soil. if the black dirt seems too heavy you c an also add some sand. -
![Kathy]()
Kathy
on May 30, 2017
Bulk soil will have loads of seeds you don't want in your garden. You could mix your own using 4 cu ft of vermiculite and peat moss, then 5 different kinds of natural compost. The nutrients in your mix should last 5 years till you need to amend i. -
![Kate Baxter]()
Kate Baxter
on May 30, 2017
Would not use mushroom manure. Mushrooms are usually raised in soil that is heavily mixed with hay and so you are paying an price for the addition of hay to your garden. I think Kathy's idea is great. By the way, if you want to make your own compost without having to build or buy just get a large black garbage bag and fill it it with leaves in the fall. It helps if the leaves are already wet but if not give them a sprinkle of water. Leave it in a corner of your garden or yard. Periodically through the winter turn the bag over. In the spring time you will have a bag of compost to use in the garden. Cheap and easy. You can fill several bags and I am sure your neighbours would love to give you their leaves.
Kathy Lovenburg
on May 29, 2017
Janet Pizaro
on May 29, 2017
Diane
on May 29, 2017
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