You are absolutely right! The soil is the key! I spent about 500.00 on organic soil and amendments, (mushroom compost, composted chicken manure, composted cow manure, perlite, organic fertilizer, etc... to make my soil mix like i wanted it.
I have used grow bags and I use some organic mulch as the bottom filler. It seems to me you can never over water these grow bags. They are great. I thought I t would take a couple of years to recoup my expenses. Boy was I wrong, The first year I paid for the soil and bags plus the landscaping for the area with the amount of vegetables produced. I was impressed ,I did not expect that kind of results. I have never had that success with row crops. And it has NEVER been so easy to maintain the garden. No weeding. Just water a little fun tending and occasional organic fertilizer of composted chicken manure. I use the time saved from hoeing , tilling, raking, pulling weeds, cussing at bugs and sweating - sitting in a chair in the garden and drinking beer.
