[ally]

I have a few new planters I've got hardcore for the bottom but now I have the question what is best top soil or compost?  Some will be home to tomatoes and chillis (summer permitting) others will home lots of colourful flowers, mixture of bedding plants and perennials .... Id like to get a tonne bag of one kind of soil ... I do need to also lay a new lawn, the ground needs a layer for the lawn to knit too!

Cheers Ally

[LotuSeed]

A 50/50 mix would be better, is that an option? Topsoil is good for patching up lawns, but by itself it isn't the best for growing fruit and veg. 

[ARPoet]

I use aldi's cheap-o MPC for topping up tubs and planters. Mixed with rotted hos muck its also great for tatties in tubs. Top soil seems a bit pricey for me.

[sunshineband]

When we set up our raised beds at school we bought veg growing soil from Dandy's Topsoil... it was excellent, and came in ton bags unloaded by crane right to where they were required 

[ally]

We have alot of new planters so a 50/50 mix is possible for the amount we need. Also to ensure water retention is it best to add vermiculite to the mix as well? 
I'm planting a Rhododendron in one of the planters it will have hardcore for drainage and it will be ££ with Ericaceous compost can I mix it with topsoil or is that a bad idea?

[LotuSeed]

Mixing it with topsoil should be fine.

[sunshineband]

Vermiculite certainly lightens the soil and allows air to get to the roots