Bulbs and compost.

[kentishgal]

Ive bought a load of bulbs to plant in containers but dont really want to keep buying loads of compost so can I re-use the tubs Ive been growing veg in this summer?
and would it then be ok to use again for veg next year?? (I know alot of bulbs are toxic if eaten, even the flower water in some cases so does this apply to compost too?)
I know, probably a dumb question!!LOL

[rustylady]

The compost will be fine to use for bulbs, but won't you want to keep them for more than one season?

[Whitespin]

One way to save compost in any container is to fill the bottom half with with old bricks and stones out of the garden then top up with compost. After all most bulbs are shallow rooted so only need a few inches to grow in. I regularly re use compost from all sources, providing there is no evidence of pest or disease and of course a top up with fertiliser helps.

On a similar subject I've bought two large half barrels that are going at the rear of the house in almost permanent shade. Has anyone experience of growing both bulbs and bedding plants in plant pots and plunging the pots in the tubs until they need a period in the sun and continuing the cycle. I know they do this with plants in office blocks and and foyers of hotels.

[bend1pa]

Strictly speaking you are supposed to change the soil in containers each year but I don't bother I've grown bulbs successfully without going to that trouble, but have found that they sometimes fail after 2 or more years if grown in the same soil, eg my daffs ended up with virus.Whether that was down to using the same soil each year I don't know, but the experts advise you not to plant in old container soil as it tends to build up diseases such as fungal and virus infections I certainly wouldn't re-use the soil for the same veg crop. Even when you grow veg in the ground you are supposed to rotate the crop.