REUSE SOIL

I have just cut all my tomato plants down and have about a dozen bags of soil.
is there anyway i can use it , or is it best to get rid of it.this is only soil from
around the root ball, none of the plant itself. but it is full of tiny roots.

Thank you.

 

I am assuming the tomato plants were relatively healthy? Just tired and worn out after producing toms for you this summer?
If you have a compost heap, I would break up the soil/root mass and scatter it as a layer in your compost. If you don’t (!) and you have a hedge, or shrubs, again I would crumble it up, and sprinkle it as a mulch around the base, or stems. The roots will break down quickly, and the compost structure will help suppress weeds, and retain moisture.
But I have a weird attitude to any “goodness”, as my soil is extremely sandy.
More “normal” gardeners will be along soon, I’m sure!

 

I usually just put used compost from summer plants on the surface of my allotment, it then gets dug in in the spring and over a period of time help to break down any clay that I have left.

I'd not use it for potting purposes again as usually the structure seems somehow different from when it was first used.
You could possibly add a base fertiliser and try it, but make sure you grow a totally different type of crop the second time round.

 

I think the only way I might re-use it for potting, is for bulbs. They do best in a relatively poor mix, and if you plan to plant them out in the garden straight after flowering, they would probably do well in the slightly open structure of fine-rooted spent compost

 

I use my spent tomato compost for other plants the following season, I turn it out onto a large canvas chop it up mix it with 20% fresh compost, add 100 grams FBB to each 11 litre pot full and use it for onions, carrots, peas, beans etc and always have good results, my kelso onions gown this way this year have averaged four pounds in weight, 20 inches circumference as they are grown in 12inch pots they would not get any bigger whatever compost I used. Then the spent compost from the onions is spread around perennials as a mulch.
alex

 

Thanks to all of you for replying as i don't have a allotment i will just take it to the tip.

 

As said, it will be fine if you just spread a small layer of that soil around any part of your garden, have done it with my toms /pot plants for many years.

If you must take it to the tip, check that they do allow soil, our local council have now banned soil, allowing only true green plant waste.

 

I just put my old growing medium ( spent compost ) into large pots and break it up into until it's quite fine ( roots as well ) then spread it around perennials etc for the Winter, it provides a mulch for the Winter, especially around borderline hardies such as Salvias etc. You'll find it gradually gets taken down by worms etc into the existing soil/compost etc. to enrich it for next year.

 

So you grow all of your plants in pots, and have no access to open ground in your garden? (Ie it’s all concreted over....)
You have my sympathy and greatest respect, if that is the case...

 

Same here, shake off all the compost from tomato/pepper pots and spread around the garden, always use fresh compost for potting.

 

That seems a shame as it still has a use as a soil improver, taking it to the tip will probably just mean it ends up in land fill.
I bet anyone local, with a garden, would take it off your hands, and possibly collect it.

 

My Hon friend. So sorry. As not being simply a gardening member of this forum but also being a bit of a scientist. Might I respectfully ask you to elaborate on your comment. And for the benefit of our fellow members. To each and everyone of us. What do you and I mean, when mentioning, soil and compost.

 

up to now i think my tip takes it so i will go there. thanks.