[JaneK]

I have 3 80 litre pots. Will I be able to treat these as though they were raised beds and top up the compost year on year, or will I have to empty them?

I have been building a compost heap for the past year and I was going to fill at least one with a mix of my compost and old grow bag + some general purpose fertilizer.

The books are all a bit vague on this point.

J

[gobs]

I treat smaller pots like that, as I'm lazy and thrifty.

Only depends, what you are growing in them, a very hungry crop will need feeding on top and you can't keep it going forever.

[loubylou29]

Funny, I have just spent time this morning emptying the trays that had salad leaves growing, but now finished. I seived the soil and put it in new trays for seedlings, addmittedly this is to start off winter veg which will be in the ground in a few weeks rather than sustaining plants long term, but I did wonder if I can use it again once seedling are out?? If I seive it again and bag it up surley I can use it next year If I add extra plant food or home made compost.??
All soil is old,old, old isn't it??

[JaneK]

Hi,

Thank you for this.  Use old grow bag as seed compost. I will certainly put some aside before I fill my pots.

Sounds like I provided I empty the pots every 3 years or so I should be OK.

J