Last year I grew about fifteen Lacinato or
Dinosaur kale plants in 16" pots and had a good
crop. I ate them regularly 3-4 times/week for
about 9 months.

This year I removed the plants from the pots and
it seems that the roots are only a
fraction the size of the pots - about 6-8"
diameter- suggesting that there are still lots of
nutrients in the old soil.

Last year I bought all the potting soil and now
I'm preparing to plant again and wondering if some
of the old soil could be re-used this year with
the new potting soil. Has anyone tried this before?

I now have a batch of 10 - week-old seedlings
ready for transplanting. The previous plants had
no diseases and the only bothersome things were
whitefiles and white butterflies. I live in north
California.

Comments appreciated.

I reuse potting soil all the time for house plants with no ill effects. I've
never tried it with food crops, though. Is kale a heavy feeder? If not, it
may work fine, especially if you are giving them plant food.

Utopia in Decay -- The future is coming to get you.
http://home.comcast.net/~kevin.cherkauer/site/

Kevin Cherkauer


"RF" wrote in message
...
Last year I grew about fifteen Lacinato or
Dinosaur kale plants in 16" pots and had a good
crop.

I'm preparing to plant again and wondering if some
of the old soil could be re-used this year with
the new potting soil. Has anyone tried this before?

On Jun 7, 3:37 pm, RF wrote:
Last year I grew about fifteen Lacinato or
Dinosaur kale plants in 16" pots and had a good
crop. I ate them regularly 3-4 times/week for
about 9 months.

This year I removed the plants from the pots and
it seems that the roots are only a
fraction the size of the pots - about 6-8"
diameter- suggesting that there are still lots of
nutrients in the old soil.

Last year I bought all the potting soil and now
I'm preparing to plant again and wondering if some
of the old soil could be re-used this year with
the new potting soil. Has anyone tried this before?

I now have a batch of 10 - week-old seedlings
ready for transplanting. The previous plants had
no diseases and the only bothersome things were
whitefiles and white butterflies. I live in north
California.

Comments appreciated.

When I reuse potting soil I add Osmocote time released ferts to it
prior to planting. Have had good results.
Nan in DE

Thanks Kevin for the info. I'm not sure what kind
of feeder kale
is classified as. I will try a few experiments,
like replacing half
the old soil.

Kevin Cherkauer wrote:
I reuse potting soil all the time for house plants with no ill effects. I've
never tried it with food crops, though. Is kale a heavy feeder? If not, it
may work fine, especially if you are giving them plant food.

Utopia in Decay -- The future is coming to get you.
http://home.comcast.net/~kevin.cherkauer/site/

Kevin Cherkauer


"RF" wrote in message
...
Last year I grew about fifteen Lacinato or
Dinosaur kale plants in 16" pots and had a good
crop.

I'm preparing to plant again and wondering if some
of the old soil could be re-used this year with
the new potting soil. Has anyone tried this before?

On Jun 8, 10:04 am, Nanzi wrote:
On Jun 7, 3:37 pm, RF wrote:



Last year I grew about fifteen Lacinato or
Dinosaur kale plants in 16" pots and had a good
crop. I ate them regularly 3-4 times/week for
about 9 months.

This year I removed the plants from the pots and
it seems that the roots are only a
fraction the size of the pots - about 6-8"
diameter- suggesting that there are still lots of
nutrients in the old soil.

Last year I bought all the potting soil and now
I'm preparing to plant again and wondering if some
of the old soil could be re-used this year with
the new potting soil. Has anyone tried this before?

I now have a batch of 10 - week-old seedlings
ready for transplanting. The previous plants had
no diseases and the only bothersome things were
whitefiles and white butterflies. I live in north
California.

Comments appreciated.

When I reuse potting soil I add Osmocote time released ferts to it
prior to planting. Have had good results.
Nan in DE

I kind of do the same thing. I will mix it 50-50 with compost if I
have enough around, or with topsoil from my garden center if I have
to. I also toss in a short handful of 10-10-10.

Chris

Chris wrote:
On Jun 8, 10:04 am, Nanzi wrote:
On Jun 7, 3:37 pm, RF wrote:



Last year I grew about fifteen Lacinato or
Dinosaur kale plants in 16" pots and had a good
crop. I ate them regularly 3-4 times/week for
about 9 months.
This year I removed the plants from the pots and
it seems that the roots are only a
fraction the size of the pots - about 6-8"
diameter- suggesting that there are still lots of
nutrients in the old soil.
Last year I bought all the potting soil and now
I'm preparing to plant again and wondering if some
of the old soil could be re-used this year with
the new potting soil. Has anyone tried this before?
I now have a batch of 10 - week-old seedlings
ready for transplanting. The previous plants had
no diseases and the only bothersome things were
whitefiles and white butterflies. I live in north
California.
Comments appreciated.
When I reuse potting soil I add Osmocote time released ferts to it
prior to planting. Have had good results.
Nan in DE

I kind of do the same thing. I will mix it 50-50 with compost if I
have enough around, or with topsoil from my garden center if I have
to. I also toss in a short handful of 10-10-10.

Chris

Thanks Chris - that's good to know.

RF wrote:
Chris wrote:
On Jun 8, 10:04 am, Nanzi wrote:
On Jun 7, 3:37 pm, RF wrote:



Last year I grew about fifteen Lacinato or
Dinosaur kale plants in 16" pots and had a good
crop. I ate them regularly 3-4 times/week for
about 9 months.
This year I removed the plants from the pots and
it seems that the roots are only a
fraction the size of the pots - about 6-8"
diameter- suggesting that there are still lots of
nutrients in the old soil.
Last year I bought all the potting soil and now
I'm preparing to plant again and wondering if some
of the old soil could be re-used this year with
the new potting soil. Has anyone tried this before?
I now have a batch of 10 - week-old seedlings
ready for transplanting. The previous plants had
no diseases and the only bothersome things were
whitefiles and white butterflies. I live in north
California.
Comments appreciated.
When I reuse potting soil I add Osmocote time released ferts to it
prior to planting. Have had good results.
Nan in DE

I kind of do the same thing. I will mix it 50-50 with compost if I
have enough around, or with topsoil from my garden center if I have
to. I also toss in a short handful of 10-10-10.

Chris

Thanks Chris - that's good to know.


I did some repotting today and found a solution to
my initial question.
I scooped out the soil from last years pots until
there were no more traces
of roots. Usually that was roughly about half the
soil. I refilled with new soil
and transplanted.

I now accept a accumulation of 10 - week-old seedlings ready for transplanting. The antecedent plants had no diseases and the alone aggravating things were whitefiles and white butterflies. I reside in north California.