Preparing a New Garden Bed: Soil Amendments, Raised Beds & Resources

First‑time gardener cleared weedy area. Asks what garden soil to buy for tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peppers, eggplant, okra, carrots, onions, lettuce, spinach.

Key: Build Soil, Don't Just Buy "Garden Soil"

Bagged "garden soil" is often just topsoil + some compost. Better to create your own mix:

• Base: Existing soil (if not contaminated) or quality topsoil.
• Amend heavily: Compost, aged manure, peat moss, shredded leaves, grass clippings.
• Target: Loose, crumbly, dark, earthworm‑rich.

Raised Bed Recommendation

• Frame with ACQ‑treated lumber or cedar (4' x 8' or 4' x 10').
• Fill with 1/3 each: compost, peat/coir, coarse sand/perlite + native soil.
• Benefits: drainage, earlier warming, no compaction, defined space.

Wood Safety

• ACQ (borate) = safe.
• Avoid CCA (arsenic) and creosote.

Reference Book

Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew — soil, spacing, planting, season extension.

Invest in soil building; it pays dividends every season.