New from SC with some questions

Hello new gardening family. I'm on my way to awesomeness like you, and I have some questions. My Lowes is having a killer sale on Miracle Gro Soil for Gardens - ending tomorrow. I know I may be broaching the unpardonable sin to even consider it, but it does say that it contains important nutrients, peat moss, and manure. Is this close enough to MM to get me started for my first season? I am at a point of wanting to just get started already, and don't have a ton of time this week to track down all the stuff I'd need to create MM (and if I can save money in the meantime, that would be a happy thing).

Does anyone have any experience with this product, and would you recommend it? Or should I stick to what's recommended here and suck it up? I do want the family to have a successful first year to encourage us to keep at it.

My second question would be about lovely PVC hoops that I've seen people attach to their boxes. I recognize that they're to support covers, but I'm wondering if I couldn't combine that with a trellis and have it multi-task. Anyone tried that?

I know I'm forgetting a few other questions, but I guess you're not going anywhere... I'll remember when I put my brain back on in the morning.

So, if you're still reading, I guess I should go ahead and introduce myself. I'm a SAHM/part-time piano teacher. I have the world's best husband (no, really!), and 3 amazing red-headed daughters. I've had a nagging voice in the back of my head to learn how to garden, and because of other obligations, projects, newborns, etc., I've put it off. (To everything, turn, turn, turn...) This year I'm actually out of excuses, and I'm not even looking for one. I'm totally excited to get this going. My husband and I have already built our gorgeous box - at least to us it's gorgeous. We're not particularly handy, so this was a super fun accomplishment for us.

Well, that's me. Please be patient and gentle with me and my ignorance. I'm excited to get started. Thanks in advance for all the help and wisdom you're willing to share!

Tracy

I hope I'm not too late but I would stay away from Miracle Gro Soil for Gardens it has things you don't want if you are going to grow organicly. So glad you are finding time to garden. Stick to the MM and you will be amazed. It seems expencive at first but the money you will save on fertilizer will make it pay in the end.

Thanks Shannon for your reply. I had actually reposted my question in another section, and got that very same good answer. And I am preparing to mix my MM ingredients this very day. I hadn't re-read the book at the point of this first post (I read it a couple of years ago from the library, and was trying to get started from memory).

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to point me in the right direction.

You'er welcome and have fun. For me mixing the MM was the hardest part.