What is vegetable topsoil?

Vegetable topsoil is a screened loam blended with enough organic matter to plant into straight away, aimed at food crops rather than lawns or general landscaping. Ours is screened to 10mm, peat-free, and made without manure.

Do I need to add compost to vegetable topsoil?

Vegetable topsoil does not need compost mixing through it before planting, because the organic matter is already blended in. Where compost earns its place is the following autumn, once a season of growing has drawn that organic matter down. I explain why the two do different jobs, and why a bed filled with compost alone sinks, in topsoil versus compost.

How much vegetable topsoil do I need for a raised bed?

A raised bed wants 200 to 300mm of soil in it. On concrete or a patio it wants 300mm as a minimum, and my guide to a raised bed on concrete covers the build. A 2.4m by 1.2m bed takes 576L at 200mm and 864L at 300mm, so a 700L builders bag fills it to nearly 250mm. Allow 10 to 20% extra for settlement: 634 to 691L at 200mm, and 950 to 1,037L at 300mm.

Is vegetable topsoil safe for growing food?

Vegetable topsoil from us is graded to BS3882:2015 Multi Purpose and tested for contaminants against the standard, including for residential use with home grown produce and for allotments. It is also aminopyralid free, which matters more than most buyers realise.

What is the difference between vegetable topsoil and premium topsoil?

Vegetable topsoil is the fertile one, blended for cropping, while premium topsoil is a sandier, faster-draining loam built for new lawns, turfing and general landscaping. Choose by the job, not by the word ‘premium’.

Can I grow carrots and parsnips in vegetable topsoil?

Carrots and parsnips fork and split in ground that has recently had organic matter added to it, so a freshly filled bed is not where I would sow them. Use that bed for beans or brassicas first and sow roots into it the following year.