This is the second planting mix in my soil recipes that Bluebee, aka Copilot, and I developed using amendments I had on hand. If interested, check out this link to the tomato planting recipe.
Equipment
I have basic equipment that I use for planting. You might come up with others.
- Shovel
- 5-gallon buckets for soil and additional buckets to measure out compost and the half strength Miracle Grow water.
- Handheld hoe and cultivator to break up clay clumps.
- Several tablespoons—like those included with Miracle-Gro—work well in a pinch. I keep them just for this purpose since I tend to be a pack rat
- a quart container for watering
- Wheelbarrow for mixing
Planting Peppers & Eggplants
Soil Amendments per Planting Hole
- 2 gallons of removed soil
- 1 gallon of leaf soil compost or equal amounts of leaf and your homemade compost.
- 2 tablespoons of fine bone meal (for root and fruit development)
- 2 tablespoons of Triple 13 fertilizer
- 1 tablespoon of lime pellets (to help with clay soil structure)
- 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt (for magnesium support)
Mixing:
- Mix thoroughly in the wheelbarrow to ensure even distribution of nutrients. Use the gallon markings on your bucket for accuracy, keeping solids like compost loosely packed while measuring.
Planting the Peppers and Eggplants:
- Place the plant in the prepared hole (adjust depth based on the plant size). Also, these are not like tomatoes where tomatoes fine hairs grow into roots. With that being said, only go down as far as the container of your pepper and eggplants.
- Fill the hole with the blended soil mix, packing lightly around the roots to stabilize the plant.
- About halfway through filling the hole with soil, water the plant with the prepared Miracle-Gro solution. This helps settle the soil and gives the plant a healthy start. The amount will vary depending on soil moisture.
Miracle-Gro Solution for Transplant Shock:
- Add 1/2 tablespoon of Miracle-Gro per gallon of water.
- Stir thoroughly.
- Use this light solution to water the plants immediately after transplanting to reduce shock.
Additional Notes:
- Start with Icicle radishes planted 4–6 inches from stems to loosen soil and improve drainage. (Optional)
- Thin radishes as plants grow, harvesting some while allowing a few to go to seed.
- Mulch with straw, chopped leaves, or pine needles later in the season once excess moisture reduces. I usually add a thin layer, just enough to cover with chopped leaves.
- Fast acting lime pellets are especially helpful for breaking up clay soil, improving texture and drainage while also balancing soil pH and adding calcium to prevent blossom end rot.
- If homemade compost is limited, prioritize using it for the first plants and combine it with leaf mulch to stretch your supply.