Soil Basics

The single most important thing to know about container soil: never use garden soil in pots. It compacts, drains poorly, and suffocates roots. Instead, use a quality potting mix - I like ones with perlite, peat or coir, and vermiculite. For vegetables, mix in some compost and a slow-release organic fertilizer at planting time. Refresh your potting mix every season - by the end of summer it's compacted and depleted. You don't have to replace it entirely; I usually mix about one-third fresh potting mix with two-thirds of the old stuff, add a handful of compost, and it's good to go.