Question
QUESTION: Hello Mike,

I'm going to attempt to raise 5 tomatoe plants in 5 gallon plastic buckets on my apartment balcony on the first floor this year. A woman at a nursery told me I'd have to use potting soil when raising them in containers, but a gardening guy at Lowe's said I could use potting soil or gardening soil. A woman friend told me she raises them in 5 gal. plastic buckets and never uses drainage holes in the bottom of the buckets...just puts rocks in the bottom of the soil, and says her's do well.

Can you give me your view of these ideas?

Thank you very much.

Mike E.

ANSWER: Keep in mind, everyone has their own philosophy on gardening techniques and there is no one way to garden successfully. What I attempt to do is provide the methods that give you the best chance for success. Therefore, I have to respectfully disagree with both of them.

Plants grown in containers are very susceptible to disease and other problems if not cared for correctly. The two biggest issues are disease and root rot. Chances for disease can be dramatically reduced by using a sterile potting soil. Soil from the garden can contain soilborne diseases that cannot be overcome in a container.

Root rot is caused by drenched soil that does not drain properly. That is why it is absolutely essential that your pots have drainage holes. Roots must be kept moist, but excessive water literally suffocates them, disabling their ability to take in nutrients from the soil. Prolonged "wet feet" will result in the roots rotting, and eventually can prove fatal to the plant.

Only water when the top two inches of the soil dries out. Always water deeply until the water drains from the bottom of the pot. This will force the roots down, where they can absorb the nutrients needed for strong growth. During dry spells, you may need to water daily. When precipitation is frequent, you may not have to water at all. You can purchase a moisture meter at any garden center. They are very accurate and will help you determine when watering is needed.

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much for your latest reply Mike. I realize now maybe I should have said that the garden soil I was referring to was the garden soil one buys in bags at Walmarts, Lowes, and nurseries..not the type one would get their selves from the garden or local soil. Does this bought at the store, bagged garden soil still have the potential to harbor soil born diseases and viruses or has it been heated or sterilized? And lo and behold, tonight a garden center guy at Lowes told me that garden soil was better because it could breathe better; the potting soil being too compact. Then again, I asked myself,"Why do they grow flowers in potting soil if this soil can't breathe well?"

Thank you again.

Mike E.

Answer
Mike, sorry for the confusion. I thought you were referring to soil taken from the garden. Soil sold through the garden center should be fine. However, I still disagree with the Lowe's representative in his assessment that potting soil is too compact.

You're absolutely correct in that potting soil is designed specifically for containers due to it's ability to retain moisture longer and because it is more friable, which in turn, allows the soil to breathe better. Most of today's potting soils contain slow-release fertilizer to constantly feed the plants. They also contain micro-absorbers to help retain as much as 35% more water, which means less watering and more healthy plants.

The choice is certainly yours. But if you're growing in containers, I recommend a good potting soil with the ingredients described above.

Good luck, and have a great weekend.

Mike