Question abouts mediums in smart pots

I am growing potatoes in smart pots, they are probably going to be ready fairly soon, but, when I dump the potting mix out and gather up all the potatoes, what about the potting mix? Can I reuse it? Does anyone know? Someone told me that once you grew potatoes in something you should disgard the medium, I know you do that with corn, but can I reuse the potting mix?
joy

You can use the potting mix again for anything OTHER than more nightshade plants: NO tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes or other nightshades (google for a list of nightshades).

I'm using my potting mix again to plant my cole crops in August: cabbages, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cauliflowers.

I've had extensive conversations with other growers about this, and they've given the go ahead on planting the cole crops....

Linda

Gymgirl: Thanks hon, I knew someone had mentioned something about that and thought it was you. I'm just starting out, only my third year, so, had wanted to make sure. I got the feeling the potatoes aren't doing too well; but won't know til I dump them out and am waiting for the tops to die off to dump them all at once. Got so busy picking tomatoes, I had 4 huge okras, too big for anything except saving for seed. I've gotten 4 black beauty eggplants so far and noticed that I have a FL highbush eggplant almost ready for the picking. Getting lots of tomatoes, my neighbors, friends, and family love me. LOL I've been getting two pails of tomatoes a day.

I'm learning from my mistakes though too. I planted too many I think, as I haven't kept up with the pruning and am now having to do it, as I should have planted them two feet apart and didn't. I also, have gotten used to by now, knowing that we get hit all summer long with thunderstorms, now that I know that, I know when to spray, as right now, my garden is all el natural, no pest control at all. I've been picking the tomatoes before they turn completely red to keep the bugs from biting them and squishing bugs by hand daily.

I don't care much for the strawberry topsy turvys, the peppers seem to be doing okay in the upsy downsy's and the topsy turvys for tomatoes though. Next summer, I'll try Bob's vertical stackers for my strawberries.
joy

Just thinking out loud here....

If there is no disease, why not re-use it for anything? The main reason to not use potato soil(from my understanding) is that it uses the same nutrients tomatoes, peppers, eggplants(nightshade family). But since you add new fertilizer to it before replanting, I don't see a problem. Just as long as you are absolutely sure there is no soil disease.

Ray: Thanks. I will check it good for diseases and bugs and will see what I can use it for and try not to use it for nightshade family.
joy

Joy, how do you "check it good for diseases?" I think brother Ray is on to something. If there's no evidence of disease in the crop, would it be safe to say the soil is disease-free?

:)

I would say from her pics that she's disease free as can be. If there is a bad disease it would have shown itself by now. I think the the soil is good to go to do whatever she wants with.

My advice....Clean the soil of any tubers and go for it. Plant as you normally would.



This message was edited Jun 12, 2010 9:33 AM

Joy,
I just harvested two more washing machine tubs of potatoes this morning. I'm in the process of breaking down my portable eBucket, EB garden, and working on what to do with my potting soil.

I emptied all the one-gallon milk jugs I used to Winter Sow my seeds. I had used my coco coir to start the seedlings in, and I'm not about to lose all that potting mix. So, since today I'm starting my cole crop seeds, I'm gonna run all that coco coir and whatever's in it through the microwave for about 20 minutes. Anything that survives, deserves to live....

Then I'll plant my seeds with confidence!

Linda

gymgirl: Just got a new microwave this month, maybe I'll try that idea out, it has a popcorn, pizza, potato, and melt button can you believe it, wonder what button to push. LOL I never dreamed I'd have this many tomatoes; but, here you see it right? We had fried green tomatoes, fried okra for dinner tonight, and tomorrow I'm going to puree up the tomatoes with the bad spots on them and the ones that are getting soft and make some tomato gravy out of them to go over some fried eggplant this week. I'm frying in extra virgin olive oil, so that as ain't bad as regular fried right????
joy