Search
Latest topics
» Spring Flowersby OhioGardener Today at 8:52 am
» What do I do with tomato plants?
by SMEDLEY BUTLER Yesterday at 8:53 pm
» N & C Midwest—May 2024
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 7:14 pm
» Ohio Gardener's Greenhouse
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 7:02 pm
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 5/17/2024, 4:09 pm
» Compost not hot
by OhioGardener 5/17/2024, 8:05 am
» First timer in Central Virginia (7b) - newly built beds 2024
by flossy21 5/16/2024, 5:34 pm
» Help me correct my mistakes for next year please
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 5/16/2024, 4:46 pm
» Cabbage worms
by sanderson 5/16/2024, 1:34 am
» Complicated mixed up bunny poop!
by plantoid 5/14/2024, 7:20 pm
» They don't call 'em garden BEDS for nothing.
by sanderson 5/12/2024, 2:34 am
» Birds of the Garden
by OhioGardener 5/7/2024, 8:26 pm
» Greetings from Southport NC
by sanderson 5/6/2024, 4:36 am
» In the news: Biosolids in Texas.
by sanderson 5/6/2024, 4:19 am
» Rhubarb Rhubarb
by Scorpio Rising 5/5/2024, 7:57 pm
» Mark's first SFG
by markqz 5/4/2024, 12:08 am
» question about the digital tools from the sfg site.
by OhioGardener 5/2/2024, 4:50 pm
» Assistance Needed: Sugar Snap Peas Yellowing and Wilting
by Scorpio Rising 5/1/2024, 8:24 pm
» OMG, GMO from an unexpected place.
by sanderson 5/1/2024, 1:57 am
» N & C Midwest: March and April 2024
by Scorpio Rising 4/29/2024, 1:30 pm
» Lovage, has anyone grown, or used
by OhioGardener 4/29/2024, 12:27 pm
» New to SFG in Arlington, Tx
by sanderson 4/26/2024, 3:13 pm
» Soil Blocks: Tutorial In Photos
by OhioGardener 4/25/2024, 5:20 pm
» Manure tea overwintered outside - is it safe to use?
by Mhpoole 4/24/2024, 7:08 pm
» Advice on my blend
by donnainzone5 4/24/2024, 12:13 pm
» Senseless Banter...
by OhioGardener 4/24/2024, 8:16 am
» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by sanderson 4/22/2024, 2:07 pm
» Sacrificial Tomatoes
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 4/22/2024, 10:36 am
» From the Admin - 4th EDITION of All New Square Foot Gardening is in Progress
by sanderson 4/21/2024, 5:02 pm
» Happy Birthday!!
by AtlantaMarie 4/21/2024, 6:56 am
Google
Compost from the Box Stores
4 posters
Page 1 of 1
Compost from the Box Stores
Hi,
Having just moved to SW FL and realizing that this is about the time to start planting certain types of seeds, I do not have the luxury of making my own compost. I am using a box in the community garden, and I certainly don't want to start with the dirt they have in the box because I don't know what's in it. So down here in FL, what are some of the best-known compost bags to buy from the Box Stores? I will still get my worm compost and mushroom compost from specialty stores.....but it is the manure, leaf, etc that I am concerned about.
Appreciate any assistance.
Softy
Having just moved to SW FL and realizing that this is about the time to start planting certain types of seeds, I do not have the luxury of making my own compost. I am using a box in the community garden, and I certainly don't want to start with the dirt they have in the box because I don't know what's in it. So down here in FL, what are some of the best-known compost bags to buy from the Box Stores? I will still get my worm compost and mushroom compost from specialty stores.....but it is the manure, leaf, etc that I am concerned about.
Appreciate any assistance.
Softy
softync- Posts : 4
Join date : 2022-08-21
Location : SW FL
sanderson likes this post
Re: Compost from the Box Stores
Hi Softy, As long as the bagged compost doesn't have fillers like peat moss, sand, etc., they should be okay. Do be prepared to screen all bagged compost for wood pieces and trash. Even the "reputable" brands have been found to need screening recently. If you can get a manure-based compost (limit to 20-25% of total composts), leaf compost, mushroom compost (read the label carefully) and some worm castings (5-10%), you can get started.
Mushroom composts are made from either a straw/manure mixture or sawdust. These composts are bagged and sold after a few rounds of mushroom growing. There's still plenty of nutrients left in them by the time they are sold. The straw manure is probably the best. No peat fillers.
If any of the composts (not soil amendments, raised bed mixture, etc.) contain peat moss, you will have to adjust the 1/3 part of fluffed peat moss downward. They can be up to 50% peat moss and that means one is paying a high price for the cheapest ingredient!
You can take photos of the composts you have found and post them here. Take photos of the front, the ingredients and the NPK %. If we see any red flags, we will let you know.
Mushroom composts are made from either a straw/manure mixture or sawdust. These composts are bagged and sold after a few rounds of mushroom growing. There's still plenty of nutrients left in them by the time they are sold. The straw manure is probably the best. No peat fillers.
If any of the composts (not soil amendments, raised bed mixture, etc.) contain peat moss, you will have to adjust the 1/3 part of fluffed peat moss downward. They can be up to 50% peat moss and that means one is paying a high price for the cheapest ingredient!
You can take photos of the composts you have found and post them here. Take photos of the front, the ingredients and the NPK %. If we see any red flags, we will let you know.
Compost from the Box Stores
Thank You for the information.
Worm Manure 100%.
Worm Castings, Organic Compost, Vermicompost.
Perlite - is this ok to add in addition to the vermiculite?
For some reason I can only post two pictures. So will have to do this a different way. I need to go back and get the photo of the backside anyway. But thank you for the info. Its a start.
Softy
Worm Manure 100%.
Worm Castings, Organic Compost, Vermicompost.
Perlite - is this ok to add in addition to the vermiculite?
For some reason I can only post two pictures. So will have to do this a different way. I need to go back and get the photo of the backside anyway. But thank you for the info. Its a start.
Softy
softync- Posts : 4
Join date : 2022-08-21
Location : SW FL
Re: Compost from the Box Stores
softync wrote:Perlite - is this ok to add in addition to the vermiculite?
Perlite can be used instead of some or all of the vermiculite, but I have found it to be much less desirable. In my beds where I used Perlite, it gradually floated to the top of the soil, and did not stay mixed into the soil like Vermiculite does. So, if you cannot find coarse vermiculite, you can substitute Perlite, but I would recommend it only as the last option.
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
Re: Compost from the Box Stores
Perlite verses vermiculite - The SFG Foundation is rather strongly advising against using perlite. If you're growing succulents - use perlite. If you're growing vegetables, use vermiculite. Vermiculite has some electrical conductivity like compost does. Perlite does not have EC. Vermiculite holds more water than perlite. Vermiculite holds nutrients. Vermiculite mixed into the Mel's Mix, stays put. Perlite tends to float to the surface with watering.
Re: Compost from the Box Stores
This forum is so helpful. I've been researching compost to purchase. There is a brand called Super Compost that has cow manure, Alfalfa meal and earthworm castings. Is Alfalfa meal ok? I was going to also purchase mushroom compost and Leaf compost.
KarenSB- Posts : 16
Join date : 2022-08-27
Location : Rehoboth Beach, DE
Re: Compost from the Box Stores
KarenSB wrote: There is a brand called Super Compost that has cow manure, Alfalfa meal and earthworm castings. Is Alfalfa meal ok?
IMHO, Super Compost is a highly over priced gimmick. It is marketed as "All Natural Fertilizer/Plant Food", not as compost, and suggests that 8# of Super Compost is equivalent to 40# of regular compost. Thus, I would not recommend it as one of the 5 composts to make Mel's Mix.
Both Alfalfa Meal and Worm Castings are okay in small quantities - 10% or less of the total mixture. Alfalfa meal is a high nitrogen source which slowly breaks down into plant available nitrogen. But, too much of it will cause the soil to be over saturated in nitrogen which will result in lots of plant growth but very little fruit set. Likewise, worm castings are extremely rich in minerals which have already been broken down by the worms to be plant available. Additionally, worm castings are very high in microbial life which will go to work breaking down the other compost.
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
sanderson and KarenSB like this post
Re: Compost from the Box Stores
Thank you!! That’s really helpful.
KarenSB- Posts : 16
Join date : 2022-08-27
Location : Rehoboth Beach, DE
Similar topics
» Hmmm, Compost compost, how do you fair in the compost worldl?
» Help with compost please
» My 'trip' through hydroponic stores
» When do seeds show up in your local stores?
» Make hot compost by mixing my trimmings with civic compost?
» Help with compost please
» My 'trip' through hydroponic stores
» When do seeds show up in your local stores?
» Make hot compost by mixing my trimmings with civic compost?
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|