Soil preparation isn’t optional — it’s the foundation of your entire season. Hemp may be hardy, but the difference between an average plant and a healthy, vigorous one starts with the soil you build long before the transplant touches ground.
At Ranchera Familia, we rely almost entirely Vital Garden Supply on to build and maintain our soil systems. Their living soil, soil builder, and organic amendments give us everything we need to create rich, biologically active beds that support strong growth from start to finish.
Here’s exactly how we prepare our soil using Vital’s product line.
What Hemp Wants From Its Soil
Healthy hemp thrives when the soil provides:
- Light, fluffy texture
- Strong drainage and aeration
- High organic matter
- Balanced pH (6.0–7.5)
- Stable minerals
- Healthy microbial activity
- Room for deep root development
Good soil doesn’t just hold the plant — it feeds, breathes, and protects it.
The Three Vital Garden Supply Products We Depend On
We use Vital because their soil blends and amendments support long-term soil biology. Here are the three staples in our system:
1. Vital Living Soil (Base Soil)
Vital Living Soil is our primary base for both beds and pots. It comes rich with organic matter, compost, humus, and living microbial communities. This soil has the structure and biology hemp needs from day one.
Best for:
- Raised beds
- Living soil gardens
- Outdoor gardens
- Direct planting
- Full-season growth
- Reusing beds in regenerative systems'
It’s one of the most reliable living soils we've used on the farm.
2. Vital Soil Builder / Soil Conditioner
Vital Soil Builder is essential for improving structure, aeration, and microbial diversity, especially in reused beds or native soil blends.
We use Soil Builder to:
- Refresh tired beds
- Improve clay-heavy or compacted soil
- Strengthen microbial populations
- Add organic structure to sandy soil
- Enhance moisture retention without waterlogging
This product is key for long-term soil health.
3. Vital Amendments & Top Dressings
Vital Amendments & Top Dressings provide slow, steady, biologically friendly nutrition throughout the season.
We apply amendments:
- At transplant
- Mid-season
- Before flowering
- After heavy watering or rain
- Anytime soil needs a biological “reset”
These amendments feed the soil ecosystem, which in turn feeds the plant — the way nature intended.
Raised Beds vs. Pots vs. In-Ground (Vital Soil Methods)
Raised Beds
We run Vital Living Soil + Soil Builder.
Provides ideal drainage, warmth, soil life, and root volume.
Pots (5–30 gallons)
Vital Living Soil works beautifully in containers.
We add a handful of Soil Builder for extra structure and aeration.
In-Ground Planting
We blend Soil Builder directly into native soil, then top with Vital Living Soil for a nutrient-rich planting layer.
Farm-Approved Vital Soil Mix (Beginner-Friendly Recipe)
If you want to build your own mix using Vital products, here’s a simple formula:
- 40% Vital Living Soil
- 40% compost or topsoil
- 20% aeration (pumice, perlite, or rice hulls)
- Optional: A handful of Vital top-dress amendments for extra biology
This blend is perfect for hemp — breathable, nutrient-stable, and microbially active.
Why Aeration Matters in Vital Soil
Aeration is one of the most overlooked components of hemp cultivation. Even the best soil struggles without enough airflow.
Aeration keeps the root zone:
- Oxygenated
- Draining properly
- Microbially active
- Protected from compaction
- Ready for strong early root growth
Adding extra aeration material to Vital soil is never a bad idea, especially for large pots or heavy-watering climates.
Final Soil Prep Before Planting
Once your Vital soil mix is blended and your beds or pots are filled:
- Shape the soil surface evenly.
- Water lightly — enough to settle the soil, not soak it.
- Allow the soil to rest 2–3 days so microbes activate.
- Apply a light Vital amendment top dress if needed.
- Transplant gently into the settled soil.
This simple routine sets the stage for a strong, healthy season.
Vital Living Soil
https://vitalgardensupply.com/collections/soil
Vital Soil Builder / Soil Conditioner
https://vitalgardensupply.com/collections/soil/products/vital-soil-builder
Vital Amendments & Top Dressings
https://vitalgardensupply.com/collections/fertilizer-soil-amendments
