Best soil for a raised bed?

Michael Mace michaelcmace@gmail.com
Sun, 13 Jul 2014 00:34:03 PDT
I'd like to ask for the wisdom of the list.

 


I'm building a raised bed this summer to hold surplus bulbs. It'll be
contained by pressure treated lumber, about seven inches (18 cm) deep, 3'
wide (1 m) and 25' long (8 m). It will have hardware cloth on the bottom,
and will sit over native soil that has been solarized.

 

Since I'll be using it for surplus bulbs, I don't want to take the time and
expense to do the pots-in-plunge media thing that many folks on the list use
in beds. Instead, I'll just plant the bulbs directly into the bed, allowing
them to mix gloriously over time. (Well, I hope it'll be glorious.)

 

My question to the list is, what sort of soil do you recommend that I use in
the bed? The same as my potting medium, or something else? The problem with
my usual potting mix is that it breaks down in a few years, and I want this
bed to last.

 

The bulbs in the bed will be Moraeas, Glads, and a few other miscellaneous
winter-growing things from South Africa and California.

 

Any advice on the soil (or anything else)?

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

 

San Jose, CA (zone 9, min temp 20F / -6C)




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