[prakash_mib]

I saw a bathtub from my neighbour waiting to go to skip and asked her kindly whether i can take it to grow some vegetables next year. Got the permission and we have  bathtub sitting in our garden ( wife). can anybody tell me what should be the soil compositon, is there any earth to fill, any pointers please. This will be a flower and vegetable patch which my 3 year old son wants to grow.

[Elcie]

That is a big container to fill!  Great idea though.  Not sure on the soil composition but I know that I have read on here before about someone successfully growing carrots in a bath, think using a soil/sand mix.  Have a search and you will find something.

Good luck.  Are you going to sink the bath?  Or leave it above ground?

[prakash_mib]

I cant sink the bath!! come on!! my wife will remove the bath from there and will bury me in the pit. It will just sit there for atleast couple of years i would think so.
The previous owners of our house had great (!!) idea and created one of those designer garden where it is paved everywhere.
 I tried googling yesterday on the soil mix but all i got was a container planting idea from american website. I dont think it would be same for us here as well. but if i cant get any i have to use that composition. but still waiting for people to reply.

[DavidT]

I would use a 50/50 mix of good topsoil and sedge peat.

[The Norfolk Turkey]

We made some raised beds this year and then worked out we needed 3 tonnes of earth to fill em!! Oops! Have you tried googling soil supplies near you? Thats what we did and had a mix 75-25 of peaty topsoil and worm-compost (3tonnes) delivered onto our drive for a very reasonable price (but the neighbours did think we were fully mental......!) its been ace for leaf and root crops as well as some strawbs!

[SG6]

Take the simple way and get a selection of bags from whereever sells them the cheapest, Wicks? Half a dozen cheapy bags of compost from a DIY store, a couple of manures from a garden centre, a couple of top soils and one or two of course sand. As you find them add to the tub. :blink: :blink:

As the bath will sit on the surface then you will need to add additional manure/fertiliser over the years simply as the nutrients are used up.

No idea how many you will need but I guess that 6 compost and say 2 of the others will get it half full. As you see something going at a good price grab it, you don't need to add it the day you get it and can add when the chance occurs.

Make sure that there is drainage, if just the plug hole then get the bath laying right.

[bailey]

you will probably have a freecycle web site for your area,, if you have, have a look on there or put a post on for topsoil,, you may get lucky and get the soil for free?? though still may need something adding according to waht you plan to grow,,,

as said carrots are good for this as the height of the bath as its not buried will help to stop the carrot fly,, you will need a sandy soil for carrots though so again freecycle may have some..

[prakash_mib]

you will probably have a freecycle web site for your area,, if you have, have a look on there or put a post on for topsoil,, you may get lucky and get the soil for free?? though still may need something adding according to waht you plan to grow,,,

as said carrots are good for this as the height of the bath as its not buried will help to stop the carrot fly,, you will need a sandy soil for carrots though so again freecycle may have some..

this is a very good idea. I can always wait for bargains because the summer is long way away.
will look of free topsoil. there is no point in buying off the shelf pricey ones. I am trying to do my allotment and other growing stuffs on a tight budget.

[prakash_mib]

"ON ACTION", topsoil available on a drive way just a mile off from our home. have to make arrangements to collect.

[Yorkie]

Just be careful with topsoil - check it carefully first to make sure it's decent stuff (i.e. not subsoil) without lots of contamination such as glass or too many stones etc

[prakash_mib]

Just be careful with topsoil - check it carefully first to make sure it's decent stuff (i.e. not subsoil) without lots of contamination such as glass or too many stones etc

How to tell the difference between topsoil and subsoil pls?

[peterjf]

6-10 inches of brick , to give drainage, then a mix of soil , compost, sharp sand, makes it good drainage , that works for me

[Yorkie]

Just be careful with topsoil - check it carefully first to make sure it's decent stuff (i.e. not subsoil) without lots of contamination such as glass or too many stones etc

How to tell the difference between topsoil and subsoil pls?

If it looks like solid yellow clay it will certainly be subsoil - although this isn't the only factor.  Subsoil has no nutrients or decent soil structure and nothing / very little will grow in it.

I would expect decent topsoil to be neither too clayey or sandy, to form a nice loamy ball when squeezed together but would also crumble if you wanted it to.  Hard to describe, but you'd probably know subsoil if you saw it.  Don't know whether anyone else can add anything from experience? 

[The Norfolk Turkey]

ask if its been screened - which usually means most of the rocks and rubbish have been removed. Some people try to pass off top soil (from the top of whatever it is theve dug) as topsoil too (if you see my point?!). If its not 'proper' topsoil it probably wont be screened (very well) as if they did, theyd take out so much stuff - thered we nothing left!!