Preparing soil for vegetabls and herbs

[donna.oliveiro]

Hello ...

Can anyone help. I havent a very large space so I have decided that I wat to grow my own vegetables and herbs in pots. I know that herbs can be grown in pots. I also know that tomatoes, chillies and basil can be grown in pots too but is this technique possible for potatoes and onions as long as the pot is a good size?

Also, I have some old soil that I cleaned and 'de-weeded', but can this still be used with some new compost for growing my herbs and vegetables or should I just bin it and get new compost.

One more thing, what is the use of vermiculite? I have read articles and a few seem to mention this, often. Should I use it or is that for the more advanced gardener?

I'm sorry for all the questions ... and grateful to anyone that can help ...

Thanks everyone,

Donna x

[johnygreenfeet]

just give it a go all sounds ok mix your old soil with compost or organic matter potato's will be fine in pots and so will onions u don't need vermiculite
but it will help with water/air/warmth etc herbs like poor soil do best when neglected veg like (sun/love/water/soil) if you have all you carnt go wrong

[JO,JO]

also you could add a slow realeae fertiliser as well, through the growing period

[ClayGarden]

vermiculite is a volcanic material. It holds water well, but also help with draining if waterlogged. Nutrients in it too.