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Compost, soil, dirt, growing media鈥�听These听are听all听terms you鈥�ll听hear used in gardening circles and throughout听Dandelion. So, what鈥檚 the difference,听and when should each be used?

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Compost

Compost can be defined as a听鈥榮oil conditioner made from biodegradable organic materials through a composting process.鈥�(1)听听This organic material creates a nutrient rich environment听which听that听helps plants, and especially vegetables,听to听thrive. It鈥檚 created by mixing听鈥榞谤别别苍鈥�听(meaning听nitrogen rich,听such as听grass clippings and vegetable peelings) and听鈥榖谤辞飞苍鈥�听(meaning听carbon rich,听such as听cardboard and other听dry, woody material) waste.听The naturally occurring organisms in this mixture magically turn carrot peelings, egg shells, toilet paper tubes and grass clippings,听into a rich,听crumbly substance often referred to by gardeners as听鈥榖lack gold鈥�.听Not only does compost act to fertilise your plants,听it also improves the soil structure,听by aiding drainage in clay-based soil听or water retention in sand.听听However, as wonderful as compost is, on its own it鈥檚 far too rich for seedlings and lacks the structure and balance required to grow other plants effectively.听Instead,听it performs best as a conditioner听迟丑补迟鈥檚听incorporated into the soil.听听

The confusion with听compost听is that it鈥檚听a term听frequently used by retailers when describing material 迟丑补迟鈥檚 sold in large bags for the purpose of starting seeds or growing young plants. In Dandelion,听and听in听the horticulture community听more widely, this product is听actually听called听鈥榞rowing medium.鈥櫶�

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Growing media听

You鈥檒l see this term used a lot by the Dandelion team. Growing media is an all-encompassing term听that听means听鈥榯he material in which plants grow.鈥�(2)听 While it can refer to a single product (or medium), it鈥檚 frequently a mix of media,听selected based on the age and type of plants being grown, which helps to facilitate root growth and aids in the delivery of nutrients.听It can be water, soil, wood residue,听coconut fibre or听coir, peat, a paper towel,听or听many听other听options.听For those who were fortunate enough to escape high school Latin,听鈥榞rowing media鈥�听refers to multiple options, while听鈥榞rowing medium鈥�听is singular.听Look out for a post on the how and why behind our specific choice of growing medium for potatoes, which we鈥檒l听be expanding on soon.听

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Soil听

Soil is, generally speaking, what most plants grow in. It is a living and variable collection of听components听that听includes, air, water, minerals, and organic material (3).听To varying degrees,听this also includes sand, clay, rocks and other inorganic items. The minerals and material that go into making up the soil will help听to听determine its pH level (4),听which in turn affects how different plants grow.听听For example, blueberries and rhododendrons require acidic soil; without it they grow slowly with yellowing leaves and little to no fruit or flowers. Mineral content can also affect flower colour, with certain hydrangeas showing a spectrum of colours from pink to blue, depending on the soil听they鈥檙e grown in.听听

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