Wondering how to recycle the old potting soil from your tomato pots and containers and reuse it to power your tomato plants again next year?
Growing tomatoes in pots and containers is a great alternative to traditional gardening, especially for those who happen to have limited space. But one thing is for sure, it can get expensive trying to fill all of those containers with potting soil each and every growing season!
Because tomato plants are such heavy feeders, it can take quite the toll on potting soil by the end of the summer. So much so that by the time your tomato plants are done – the soil is completely depleted of its nutrients and structure. And if you were to try to grow new plants in that same soil again next year, they would all but struggle to survive – let alone produce tomatoes.
But that doesn’t mean you have to throw away all of that expensive soil. As it turns out, there is actually an easy and effective method for recharging and reusing that very same soil again next year. And with great results!
How To Recycle Potting Soil In Tomato Pots & Containers
Since tomatoes are annual plants, they are only able to produce fruit for so long. By the end of the summer, even the healthiest tomato plants start to fade and slow way down in production.
Whether this is prompted by cooler weather, reduced daylight hours, disease, pests or simply age, most tomato plants are on their way out by early fall – if not sooner. This is especially the case for tomatoes that grow in pots and containers due to their limited resources.
Once your tomato plants have reached the end of the line, it’s time to pull the plants from the soil. And when you do, although it may be tempting to put the old plants in your home compost pile – it’s best to leave them out.
Tomato plants are notorious for carrying blight and disease, and home compost piles don’t get hot enough to kill the pathogens and spores that cause them. But the soil? Thankfully it can be saved and recharged in a few simple steps!
How To Save Old Potting Soil – How To Recycle Potting Soil In Tomato Containers & Pots
So how do you give new life to old, worn out potting soil? The best way to do it is by composting it. While you can add old potting soil to a traditional compost pile, it’s best to create a brand-new pile. Having a separate pile specifically for recycling potting soil has a couple of huge advantages.
First, you can adjust the materials to create a loose soil that is perfect for adding to containers and pots. Traditional compost can be a bit heavy and not as well-draining as soil needed to grow in container plants.
Second, it gives you the opportunity to only add materials that break down quickly. And that will give you potting soil you can use as soon as next spring or summer! With traditional compost piles, some of the materials can take a long time to break down. And this delays the amount of time before you can use the soil again. But with a potting soil compost pile – that isn’t the case at all.
Creating A Potting Soil Compost Pile – How To Recycle Potting Soil In Tomato Containers & Pots
So what is the easiest way to create a potting soil compost pile? For starters, choose a small dedicated space in your garden or yard that has good drainage. If you don’t have space, you can also use a large drum or trash barrel with drainage holes.
Begin by removing all of the stems, roots, leaves and other plant material from the potting soil before adding it to the pile. This includes any fruit or seeds that might have fallen onto the soil. If there are roots you can’t remove, chop them up into smaller pieces.
Next, it’s time to add materials that will help to heat the pile up quickly – all while also adding loads of nutrients. Some of the best choices for this are grass clippings, shredded leaves, coffee grounds, and crushed egg shells.
It’s always important to chop up anything that you add to the pile into small pieces. The smaller the pieces are, the quicker they will break down and start to decompose. And for a potting soil compost pile, that’s the biggest key of all to have it ready by next spring!
Adding Fresh Compost – How To Recycle Potting Soil In Tomato Pots & Containers
Last but not least, you need to add the final key ingredient – fresh compost! The finished compost will help give the pile a head start on breaking down. At the same time, it will revive the potting soil with loads of organic matter, nutrients, and good bacteria. These are all items needed to power another year’s worth of growing tomato plants in containers.
Aim to add one part of finished compost for every five to ten parts of potting soil. Add all of the materials within a few weeks of one another to really get the pile heating up fast. Affiliate Product Link: Black Kow Nitrogen Phosphate Composted Cow Manure Fertilizer
Maintaining Your Potting Soil Compost Pile – – How To Recycle Potting Soil In Tomato Containers & Pots
It’s important to turn your pile often. This will help keep the pile hot and active. Although weekly turning will work, giving your pile a turn every couple of days is best to add plenty of oxygen to speed up decomposition.
Continue turning your pile until it freezes solid in the winter. Once the pile thaws out in the spring, continue to turn until everything is fully broken down. Before long, your recycled and re-energized potting soil will be ready to use again to power another year of tomatoes grown in containers!
For more on growing tomatoes in containers, check out our article : Growing Tomatoes In Pots – The 5 Best Tomato Plants To Grow In Containers.
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