gardening in mushroom compost... HELP
qumum
11 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (10)
bluegoat_gw
11 years agogardenlen
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Mushroom Compost Dangerous for a Mushroom Allergy
Comments (1)That's an excellent question to ask your allergist/health-care provider....See Moremushroom compost or leaf compost?
Comments (2)we use mushroom compost (fresh from the farm) to start our gardens with and to top up when needed, but we also feed the medium by adding all rottable scraps under the mulches we use. the mulches are green type spoilt hay mulches so there is nutrient being added all the time. no matter what migh be in mushroom compost it is all we can access as those mixed soils from the suppliers could contain all sorts of undesirables as well, but in the end you have to use what is economically available. we don't till/dig gardens the worms do that free of charge and effort. len Here is a link that might be useful: len's garden page...See MoreMushroom compost vs. bagged compost: difference?
Comments (6)Just a slightly different take on this. Bagged manure available around here from the box stores has a VERY low content of actual manure -- in most cases only about 10%. Yes it can provide some tilth to the soil but very little in terms of fertility, and in my experience does not really add much to the soil. Mushroom compost, on the other hand, is made up virtually completely of composted manures and has a much higher organic/manure content than the bagged manures available here. Unfortunately, where I live mushroom compost is virtually impossible to find, none of the stores sell it and it is no longer available in bulk any where in SE Michigan that I know of. I did manage to get one load of mushroom compost about 5 years ago and used it as a soil amendment in areas where lime loving plants grow, like hellebores and clematis. Those plants grew like crazy! I know it is somewhat basic but that can be corrected depending on what you are growing and your natural soil pH. I know at Ashwood nursery in England, probably the premier hellebore nursery in the world, they made beds largely of mushroom compost, and their hellebores in the garden were to die for. So....take from that what you want, but wish I could get some more mushroom compost. Having said all that, if you have made beds the way you describe and are adding that much organic matter every year, your soil is probably in great condition and you probably only need to amend or fertilize around hungry plants (clematis, roses, hellebores....) BTW, dehydrated manures are sometimes available bagged, and while much more expensive than the box-store bagged "manures", add much more fertility and tilth to the soil IMO....See MoreAny mushroom compost near Chicago?
Comments (3)Are you really set on mushroom compost and no other compost or fertilizer? If you are interested in compost other than mushroom, there is free compost, mulch and horse manure in Palatine. There is also free horse manure in Morton Grove at the horse stable in the forest preserve on Golf & Central. If you are interested, I can give you directions to the compost in Palatine. Please let me know....See Moreyourhortguy
11 years agoqumum
11 years agomackel_in_dfw
11 years agoKimmsr
11 years agobluegoat_gw
11 years agomackel_in_dfw
11 years agogardenlen
11 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESGet on a Composting Kick (Hello, Free Fertilizer!)
Quit shelling out for pricey substitutes that aren’t even as good. Here’s how to give your soil the best while lightening your trash load
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES12 Tips to Help You Start an Edible Garden
Get on your way to growing your own vegetables with a raised bed or a few containers on the patio
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDThe 8 Tools That Help Bring the Farm to Your Table
Vegetable gardeners get a big assist from these essential helpers
Full StoryWINTER GARDENINGHow to Help Your Trees Weather a Storm
Seeing trees safely through winter storms means choosing the right species, siting them carefully and paying attention during the tempests
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Northern Maidenhair Fern Softens Shade Gardens
Stir up some romance in dark corners with the billowy fronds of native Adiantum pedatum
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHouzz TV: Make a Worm Bin for Rich Soil and Happy Plants
A worm-powered compost bin that can fit under a sink turns food scraps into a powerful amendment for your garden. Here’s how to make one
Full StoryGuest Picks: Herb Gardens for Small Kitchens and Gardens
Up the wall, easily portable or beautifully decorative, these solutions help even the smallest kitchens and balconies get growing
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESMaximize Harvests With Square-Foot Gardening
This efficient edible-gardening technique can help people who are short on space
Full StorySPRING GARDENINGHow to Grow a Rose Garden in Pots
Everything can come up roses, even without a plot of soil in sight. This step-by-step guide to growing roses in containers shows you how
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESKeep Your Cool in the Garden — Here’s What to Do in August
Don’t let summer’s heat go to your head. These U.S. gardening guides will help you make sensible choices for all of your plantings
Full Story
Kimmsr