[green_fingered_ash]

i have several large containers, three of which were just filled with topsoil from the same garden with some organic material added over the years, these three have produced good crops, with 3 other containers (roughly 2 foot high and 1.75 foot wide) i was thinking of using a mixture similair(or the same) as that used in raised beds, being well rotted manure, topsoil and a third ingredient(possible to use perlite instead as i have a large bag just sitting around)

[green_fingered_ash]

bump

[Yorkie]

It is not clear what you want from us, GFA.

There isn't a question in your post; it's just a series of statements.

Could you clarify?

[green_fingered_ash]

I appoligise, i wonder if its possible to make a combination of components similair to that used in raised beds to be put in large containers? in theory it should work as its a large pot vs being on the ground. so im asking is this indeed possible and also what is the best mix to use?

from some googling:
2 parts topsoil/1 part peat compost/1 part perlite! is this a good mixture?

[SG6]

The title says:
Topsoil, sand, manure.
Next comes:
Topsoil, manure and perlite.
Finally
Topsoil, peat compost and perlite.

For a container you want something fairly "solid" the final mixture could be too light and lose nutrients. The last lot of compost I bought (4 bags) is pretty poor. Seems to be just a medium of putting plants into and holding them in place, not much else. The same compost last year was much better.

If the material is to be left in the container for more then a year I would go with the first or second mixture, and you will need to replenish the nutrients yearly. In your raised bed there will be worms doing a good job.

[green_fingered_ash]

well i intend to rotate crops every year but im not to sure what mixture to use as there are to many recipes?

im just trying to find out which is best

i will probably end up using some thing 2 parts perlite 2 parts topsoil 1 part fresh manure 1 part compost

[Mr McGregor]

I use a lot of containers , filled with topsoil, sand and manure or compost. At the end of each growing season I just scoop out about 3 - 4" and add manure.  In Feb I then give each container a digging over, the spare soil goes into new pots or is added to the compost heap. Periodically I water the containers with a diluted mix of manure tea.
By next season I hope to not need shop brought compost at all.

[SG6]

Wouldn't worry too much. Top soil, manure and sand/perlite in any reasonable mixture should all grow stuff.

There is no magic mixture as long as extremes are avoided. Commerical tomatoes are grown hydroponically these days - no soil at all, just water and nutrients. My orchids grow in bark and one is growing over bark and in air.

Simplest recipe is 1:1:1 by volume I assume.
I would guess this could be too much manure(nutrient) and too much Sand/perlite(drainage).
If it were me I would go 2 topsoil, 1 manure, 1 sand/perlite.
No particular reason but to me that seems a good mixture.

If they all die, it was only a suggestion.

[green_fingered_ash]

im just looking for a cheap if not free source of manure then i will get mixing as 5 pounds a 40 litre bags seems a rip off for me.

[SG6]

Fresh manure will be of no use. If fresh it will "burn" whatever is planted.
Not 100% sure what burn means but I suspect that is too acidic.
You need well rotted horse manure (or cow).

[green_fingered_ash]

i will let it get broken down etc by microbes fungi and whatever else i am just using it as its free.

[Eatyourgreens]

Do be careful about where you get your manure, there are lots of cases of contaminated stuff, do a search on here for plenty of cases.

Even if it's free, it's no good if you end up with dead plants.



Bob

[green_fingered_ash]

i will have to get a load then test it by growing some tomatoe plants in them, adding about 25% mixed into the compost then doing a side by side comparison. then i will look for the tale tale sign