What type of potting soil should I choose for my seedlings?

Soil can be of different types depending on its composition. Different types of soil are suited to different crops: you don't grow cacti or orchids in the same soil as fruit trees or flowers. When you're planting seedlings, you also need to take this into account and choose a soil suited to what you want to plant. So we're going to take a look at different types of potting soil to use for your seedlings.

The different types of soil to use in the vegetable garden

You may need special potting soil to encourage certain seedlings. Here are the main types of potting soil that you can mix with garden soil or use as is for sowing.

Universal potting soil

This is a rich but basic potting soil that will not suit all plants. It is generally quite stringy and sometimes contains larger pieces, sometimes not being decomposed properly. Its quality can therefore vary depending on the brand and where you buy it. If you want to use it for seedlings, remember to sift it... or choose a special seedling potting soil.

Special seedling soil

This is a special potting soil that will encourage seedlings. It is essentially peat potting soil and sand. It also contains perlite. It is possible to make your own seedling compost from the above elements added to garden soil and compost.

Loam potting soil

Loam potting soil looks like a mixture of clay, humus and sand. Loam soil is well drained, retaining moisture and nutrients. It tends to be acidic. Use it for roses, but also for lettuce, melons, tomatoes, raspberry bushes, strawberry plants, or cabbages, beans, lettuce.

Limestone potting soil

Limestone potting soil is alkaline. It does not naturally retain water. Thyme, cornflowers, pear trees and marjoram appreciate it. Use it for sowing spinach, beetroot, sweetcorn, cabbage or lilac. Organic matter should be added to enrich it.

Peat potting soil

Horticultural potting soil, for example, is peaty and also contains manure. This potting soil is acidic. Peat soil is rich and facilitates plant growth, but peat is a special material and its extraction destroys the natural environment (peat bogs). It is best avoided in sustainable agriculture and replaced with compost.

Heather earth

This is a special potting soil that contains sand, allows water to pass through and is acidic. It is formed by the decomposition of organic matter such as leaves. So-called 'heather soil' is usually purchased, as real heather soil is rarer. It is particularly suitable for plants that like acidic environments (hydrangeas, witch hazel, etc.).

Clay loam

Clay loam is compact, rich and retains water. Sow your summer and winter vegetables (lettuces, tomatoes, spinach, cabbage...), fruit trees, ornamental trees, perennials in it. Consult the sowing calendar to find out when to plant these and then when to transfer them to the vegetable garden.