Mercy StephensThe bedrock of any healthy indoor plant is the type of soil you grow it in. An experienced gardener knows that the land he chooses is the cradle of growing beautiful and healthy plants in raised beds. Though you can provide adequate water and light for your plants, without the right soil, they will not thrive. Here are three recommended potting soils for growing tomatoes.
Generally, many opine that the best soil for tomatoes is loose, loamy soil. We picked the Fox Farm Organic Potting Soil as the best soil for tomatoes since it is loamy. It requires no mixing whatsoever, has a fantastic pH, and releases its organic nutrients slowly.
Contents
Soil For Planting Tomatoes: Comparison Table
| Soil | Top Feature | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Espoma Organic Potting Soil | Increased moisture retention. |
| 2 | Fox Farm Organic Potting Soil | Slowly releases nutrient for about 90 days. |
| 3 | Proven Winners Premium Potting Soil | Yields sprightly flowers |
Buying Guide: Soil For Planting Tomatoes
Nutrient Varieties
To grow healthy and juicy tomatoes, especially in raised beds, you need the proper nutrients. Thus, the first thing you need to consider is the nutrient content of the potting soil you want to buy.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the primary nutrients for tomato and the main ingredients in fertilizer. The growth and chlorophyll production of tomatoes is dependent on the nitrogen content of the soil.
Phosphorus, on the other hand, helps tomatoes produce energy and cope with stress from the environment. Lastly, potassium helps in photosynthesis, fighting off diseases, and the quality of the seeds.
The secondary nutrient needs of tomatoes include calcium magnesium and sulfur. They need these nutrients in fewer quantities compared to the primary nutrients.
Calcium protects tomatoes against diseases and improves their cell health. Hence, tomatoes with high calcium content are more nutritious. Chlorophyll production and photosynthesis rely on magnesium, and its deficiency limits tomato growth.
Sulfur is used in making amino acids and proteins. However, its deficiency causes yellow leaves. Other nutrients that tomatoes need to grow are micronutrients which are required in a small amount. These nutrients include iron, zinc, boron, chloride, copper, molybdenum, and manganese.
Soil Type And Components
Growing tomatoes is very easy, even in raised beds. Yet, you still need to use the right soil for the best result. You can use just about any type of potting soil to grow tomatoes in raised beds except those with heavy clay.
Clay is notably difficult for roots to grow in because it’s hard and prevents smooth water movement. Loam, on the other hand, is ideal for growing tomatoes and other plants, even tomatoes. It offers the right ingredients for moisture, nourishment, and plant growth.
The ideal soil for tomatoes should retain nutrients and moisture. Inorganic potting soils, for example, contain peat moss that helps them retail nutrients.
Therefore, the more peat moss in the potting soil, the more nutrient and moisture retention it will have. Apart from nutrients and moisture retention, another feature to look out for in potting soil is air circulation. Light and fluffy potting soils have good air circulation and provide maximum airflow to plants for adequate growth.
Ultimately, the density of the potting soil you choose to use for tomatoes in a raised bed is significant. The lighter the soil, the better, as it will offer adequate air circulation and provide the right density for tomatoes.
Organic/Inorganic Soils
Using potting soil for growing tomatoes in raised beds is almost no different from growing in the ground. Besides, the ideal potting soil for tomatoes in raised beds should have a resemblance to the native soil.
Yet, unlike the native soil of tomatoes, some potting soils lack living organisms that aerate the soil and break down microbes. However, potting soil manufacturers make up for this by adding earthworm cast and other organic or inorganic materials.
There are two types of potting soils to choose from – organic and inorganic. Organic potting soils are more substantial, made using organic matter, and more expensive than inorganic ones.
Inorganic potting soils are manufactured from industrially-made ingredients. But they lose their nutritional value faster compared to organic potting soils, which are reusable. Once you’ve made your choice – organic or inorganic – considering other essential things become more comfortable.
Water
Research shows that tomatoes grow best in soils with good drainage compared to waterlogged soils. This fact means you have to buy potting soil with average moisture retention and one that won’t get waterlogged.
Furthermore, watering is essential when growing tomatoes in raised beds. To prevent the spread of soil diseases and fungus growth, its best to water tomatoes at the base.
Soil pH
The ideal soil pH value for growing tomatoes is between 6 to 6.8 – slightly acidic – a suitable pH range for most vegetables. The good thing about pH is that you have to test the soil before planting and after about three years.
The soil’s pH value helps you make sure it’s perfect for tomatoes to germinate in and produce fruits.
Soil Depth
The amount of potting soil to use depends on the kind of tomato you intend to grow. Tomatoes grow down instead of growing out, but they do not grow deeply.
Ensure you plant your tomato plants in deep potting soil, at least two-thirds of the plant under the ground. This approach helps tomato plants grow the necessary root system.
If you haven’t found a raised bed yet, we picked the Greenes Fence Premium Raised Bed. It is made from cedar, and it’s U-shaped. Setting it up is easy, and longevity is assured because cedar is rot and insect resistant.
Best Soil For Tomatoes In Raised Beds: Our Reviews
Here’s what we think about the three potting soils we mentioned above.
#1. Fox Farm Organic Potting Soil
Features: Designed for raised bed and container growing, enriched potting soil, slow release of nutrients, includes premium ingredients, and protective Pearson’s gloves, etc.
The Fox Farm organic potting soil is regarded by many as excellent soil. It contains excellent organic plant food for gardening, raised beds, and container growing. It does not require any form of mixing and slowly release plant nutrients for up to 3 months.
The Fox Farm soil is a combination of earth and sea in one bag – just like Aquaman. We think the idea behind it is to offer gardeners the chance to grow plants using top-shelf quality natural potting soil.
Fox Farm fills this soil with goodies. First, it contains loamy soil and natural ingredients such as forest humus and crab meal. Secondly, you’ll find ocean fish, bat guano, and worm castings in it. The result is an aerated, light, and fertile potting soil for healthy plant growth.
This soil is a 38.5-quarts potting soil with a weight of about 80 pounds. It has a soil pH value of 6.3 to 6.8, which is the pH value for the optimal fertilizer performance. Also, it does not require any additives.
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#2. Espoma Organic Potting Soil
The Espoma Organic potting soil is one of the best organic potting soil that avid gardeners use to grow tomatoes in raised beds. It is made by Espoma, known for making gardening products that improved yield.
Espoma’s potting soil is a vibrant organic 8-quarts potting soil for indoor and outdoor gardening. It features a Myco-Tone water-saving formula that improves water retention and is ideal for tomato growth.
The soil reduces drought stress on plants. When using organic potting soil to grow tomatoes in raised beds, you need to ensure you store it properly. Espoma designed the soil in such a way that it can be stored at room temperature to prevent mold or bugs.
Did we mention that the soil has improved moisture retention and that this reduces the sprouting time of seeds? Regarding contents, the soil contains the essential and micronutrients required to grow tomatoes.
Aside from the water retention, there’s also nutrient retention for long periods. The Espoma Organic Potting soil has the right mixture of physical, chemical, and biological matters. Its physical components are moisture retention of the soil, air circulation, and compactness.
The chemical components include the nutrients stated earlier, the right pH value, and the absence of herbicides. Lastly, the biological components refer to the abundance of organic matter – humus, and helpful soil organisms.
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#3. Premium All Purpose Potting Soil
Features: Four packs, 1.5 cu ft bag, Canadian sphagnum peat moss, dolomite lime, controlled release of fertilizer, excellent drainage, and aeration.
Premium All Purpose Potting Soil is an inorganic potting soil that offers you the expected value from the best potting soil. It’s expansive soil in large packs suitable for outdoor gardening.
Talks from experienced gardeners in different forums show that soil is key to solving most plant potting issues. But the price is on the high side, especially for starters. The soil comes in a four-pack 1.5 cu ft bag. You can use this soil for almost all potted or raised bed plant types – herbs, shrubs, annuals, and perennials.
It’s manufactured by Proven Winners and contains a 50 to 60% blend of Canadian sphagnum peat moss. Also, it contains perlite, dolomite lime to regulate pH value, and processed softwood bark.
The soil is designed to slowly release its packed nutrients along with the help of a wetting agent. It comes with premium drainage, air porosity and is formulated to produce healthy plants. And it also comes with some fertilizer, but you will need to add more to the soil as your plant develops.
The Premium All Purpose Potting Soil is a medium-weight potting which is a bit heavier than other potting soils. Due to its weight, it needs extra drainage and care to prevent waterlogging that may hinder plant growth.
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FAQs: Planting Tomatoes In Raised Beds
Do tomatoes grow well in raised beds?
The roots of a tomato plant are known to grow deep, which is why people are encouraged to buy fabric grow bags instead of plastic containers. Since they are deep drinkers, the raised bed needs to be deep. A depth and thick 12-inch soil layer will be good for the tomato.
What soil do you put in a raised garden bed?
The soil in a raised garden bed should be composed of many things, including 60% topsoil, 30% compost, and 10% potting soil. This ratio is the recommended ratio for people making their soil. Fortunately, if you purchase potting soil, they have been mixed in a better proportion than this.
Do I need to line my raised garden bed?
Yes, the raised garden bed should be lined. This lining will serve as insulation for your plants against temperature changes. It will also keep the weeds from growing where they are not wanted.
Conclusion
As we mentioned earlier, growing tomatoes can be a tough job, and getting things done always appear to be difficult at the initial stage. To make things a lot easier, start by making a list of the materials you need to grow, especially the soil and the raised bed.
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