Reusing soil

Hi

I grow a selection of salads, tomatoes, chillies and some herbs like basil in containers on my balcony and the compost/soil i use is either coco coir or peat. I throw the old plants in the green waste bin, however i don't want to throw the old soil away. As I don't have a garden with anything like a compost heap and considering i live in a fairly small apartment, i need some advice on what to do with the old soil, can i reuse for next season?

Cheers!

 

Hi Gardenboy,

You can do but it will be depleted of nutrients and could be building up diseases & pests if you grow the same things in the same containers.

You could add some fertilizers & practice the same rotation that you would in a garden. A 4 year rotation where you move roots, brassicas, potato family & beans each season.

If its only a small amount of soil, you could sterilise it bit by bit in the oven or microwave.

I know what you mean, I wouldn't want to get rid of soil either.