Topsoil and Vegetables

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Nhan826 Melville, RI Apr 18, 2012

Hi. I started a garden last year and only used a mixture of grass clippings, lots of topsoil and manure. It turned out great, but I have an issue:

I recently bought and already mixed "Timberline" topsoil (for this years garden). Once I mixed two bags of topsoil, three bags of manure/hummus, and native soil, I read topsoil was bad for vegetables. Up until that point I thought I had an organic garden. Is topsoil bad? This topsoil is pretty standard.

I am concerned if I am doing something wrong and nothing on the Internet helps.

Thanks

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Easybake Arlington, TX Apr 18, 2012

Dirt is good for plants.

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tarheel2az Tonto Basin, AZ Apr 18, 2012

I wouldn't be ovrly concerned.

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cue_chik Palm Coast, FL(Zone 9a) Apr 19, 2012

I mixed a bed last Spring with 1/3 topsoil, 1/3 composted manure, and 1/3 peat moss. The vegetables growing in it this year seem to LOVE this mix. The are growing very healthy an happy an so far (knock on wood) I've had no issues with disease, pests, or deficiencies. As tarheel2az said, I wouldn't be overly concerned with it, I think your veggies will be fine :)

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HoneybeeNC Charlotte, NC(Zone 7b) Apr 19, 2012

I don't think you'll have a problem with your new topsoil as long as you mix plenty of organic material in with it.

Some topsoil comes with lots of weed seeds.

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microbiology1 Foxboro, MA Apr 19, 2012

The reason top soil is not recommended for vegetables is because top soil is frequently processed sewage 'sludge', aka human waste. I didn't know this either I watched Dirty Jobs and then looked into it. Apparently, it is not labelled most of the time on bags so consumers have no way of knowing. It is your choice if you want to use highly processed 'humanure' in your garden. I choose not to.

http://www.usludgefree.org/pdf/hg/hg_bagged_fertilizer.pdf
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/25033409?uid=3739256&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=56063381363
http://www.nj.com/homegarden/tomatoes/index.ssf/2009/04/tips_for_tomatoes.html

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Nhan826 Melville, RI Apr 19, 2012

I appreciate all your answers! I think I should call Timberline and make sure
... That way I can eat my veggies without being disgusted.

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