Topsoil is basically the mineral soil layer from the ground: sand/silt/clay plus some organic matter. It is heavier and more “soil-like” than potting compost. It holds nutrients and moisture better, but it can also compact in pots if used too heavily.
For potting on your courgette, yes — you can mix some topsoil into your compost/coir mix, but don’t make it the main ingredient.
A good courgette pot mix would be roughly:
2 parts peat-free compost
1 part coir
1 part topsoil
plus a small handful of chicken pellets mixed through the lower/middle part of the pot, not right against the roots.
So, for your courgette pot, I’d aim for something like:
50% compost, 25% coir, 25% topsoil
That gives you:
- compost for nutrients and biology
- coir for moisture-holding and lightness
- topsoil for weight, minerals and longer-term nutrient-holding
For courgettes, I would not use more than about one-third topsoil in a container, because they like a rich but open mix. Too much topsoil can make the pot heavy, dense, cold and slow-draining.
When planting, put the courgette in slightly deeper than it is now, but don’t bury the leaves. Water it in well, then keep it sheltered from wind for a few days. Courgettes hate cold wind almost as much as they hate being dry.
Do i really need to cover holes in pots ( 10 inch plastic)and can i just use a bit of tissue initiallly to stop compost falling/washing out? ( I DONT HAVE ANY MESH)Thought for a second
No, you don’t really need mesh over the holes.
For a 10-inch plastic pot, especially with a compost/coir/topsoil mix, the compost may drop out a little at first, but it usually settles quickly after watering. The drainage holes are more important than keeping every crumb in.
A bit of tissue is okay as a temporary liner, but use it lightly:
Best quick options:
- A single layer of kitchen roll/tissue over the holes: fine. It will rot away.
- A scrap of newspaper/cardboard: also fine.
- A few dead leaves or a bit of old plant material: fine.
- A broken bit of old pot/crock angled over the hole: fine, but not essential.
Avoid stuffing the holes tightly. You want water to escape easily.
For your courgette or beans, I’d just put one thin bit of tissue or newspaper over the bottom holes, fill with your mix, water gently the first time, and that’s enough. After a couple of waterings the compost will bind together and stop escaping.
Thought so just wanted confirmation
Yes, your instinct was right.
A thin bit of tissue/newspaper is perfectly fine just to stop the first flush of compost dropping out. It’ll break down, and by then the compost will have settled. Main thing is don’t block the holes tightly — drainage matters more than losing a spoonful of compost.
Spoke abojt this b4 was thinking i could plant a couple of courgettes inot the compost heap… can you suggest how to proceed.. should i remove some of the pile, level out and then mix in some compost and coir and a bit of topsoil and plant into this?Thought for a couple of seconds
Yes — that looks like a good candidate for a compost-heap courgette trial, but I’d make a proper planting pocket rather than just sticking them straight into the rough heap.
I’d proceed like this:
1. Flatten the top a bit
Take the loose strawy/woody material off the very top and set it aside. Level the mound so you have a broad, stable planting area rather than a peak. You don’t need to remove loads — just enough to make it less lumpy and less dry on top.
2. Make two planting pockets
For each courgette, scoop out a hole about 30–40 cm wide and 20–25 cm deep. Space the two plants as far apart as the heap allows — ideally 60–90 cm apart, because courgettes sprawl.
3. Fill the pockets with a richer, finer mix
Use something like:
2 parts compost
1 part coir
1 part topsoil
That is very similar to your pot mix. The compost feeds, the coir holds moisture, and the topsoil gives it a bit of body. Mix in a small handful of chicken pellets per pocket if you have them, but keep them mixed through the lower part rather than touching the roots directly.
4. Plant slightly proud, not in a dip
Plant the courgette into the pocket so the rootball is level with the surface or just slightly raised. You don’t want a soggy crater around the stem. Firm it gently, water it in well, then mulch around with some of the strawy compost you removed.
5. Shelter is the key issue here
That corner looks reasonably protected by walls and the shrub/tree, which is good. Courgettes hate wind. If they are still soft from indoors, give them a few days of hardening off and maybe use a temporary cloche, fleece, or even a cut-off plastic bottle collar overnight if it turns cold.
6. Watch for heat and dryness
A compost heap can be rich, but the top can dry out quickly, especially with woody material. Water deeply into the planting pockets rather than just sprinkling the surface.
I’d probably plant one courgette first as the safe experiment, then a second one if you have enough room and spare plants. Two could work there, but one well-grown courgette can become enormous.