soil mix question

17 years ago

Hi I am back again. I have my lumber cut and coated with boiled linseed oil and am ready to put together. I am now ready to mix my soil and I have a few question. I am mixing soil for 4 4x4 gardens. I have two 3.8cuft bags of peat, Two 18lb bags or 2A course vermiculite which I am going to exchange for extra course. This is about 1/8 grainuals and I think it is to fine. Am I right?

I am mixing my compost with 3 40lb bags of Horticultural Grade Compost Humus, 3 40 lb bags or organic soils cow manure, 3 40lb bags or All Natural Plant and Soil Booster which is made up of Poultry Litter, sawdust, and woodchips. I think the Poultry mix could be a little strong so maybe somebody could tell me. I also plan on mixing in more compost which is made by a company up the road but I don't know what is in it. Also I am not sure how much of these ingredients I should mix to make the 1/3.

This forum is the best thing I ever found. I posted earlier with a question and got best answer. Hope someone can help me Thanks

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Comments (6)

Ray Scheel
17 years ago
I think most of us lean towards compost-heavy mixtures, and the more variety the better. My guess is that what you have is going to be a little shy on the vermiculite and peat side of the balance, but well within the range of mixes popular within the intensive gardening community. Even if one of your composts is a bit strong, mixed in as one of several composts plus the peat and allowed to sit for a week or so it'll be fine. I don't use vermiculite at all, but would only go up to extra coarse if it didn't cost you more.

In other words, what you have is pretty close to ideal, take it and mix it together, then see what happens this season.
lakescrapper
Original Author
17 years ago
I just found out the compost up the road is made with grass and leaves so if I ad this I think I am getting a pretty good variety. Thanks for the help.
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justaguy2
17 years ago
I agree with Ray. What you have is good to go, don't bother exchanging the vermiculite, it is just there as a water retainer and somewhat balances out the acidity of the peat (vermiculite ranges from neutral to strongly alkaline depending on it's origin). Within a season all grades of vermiculite become tiny particles anyway.

What you have on hand is great and should provide you with great results this season. The single most important part of any intensive growing soil is the compost. Get the compost right and everything else takes care of itself. The only problem with a pure compost bed is it shrinks rapidly in volume with warm temps while peat and vermiculite are less affected volume wise.
lakescrapper
Original Author
17 years ago
I called the grower supply where I bought the course vermiculite and they were willing to exchange it for the extra course for the same price so I said order it. He didn't know how large the bags were so I ordered 3. I am going to make a flower box for my wife after the veg. one is built so I think I will use it all. Thanks for the help it is priceless!
fred7142
17 years ago
I have noticed that the "compressed" peat doesnt really expand much. I found that the 3.8 cuft bags really only expanded to a little more than 4 cuft. I thinking of a class action suit jk :). This seems to me my mission in life to educate folks on the unexpanding nature of compressed peat. I actually had to purchase more more peat than mels book or the bags might indicate you need. I am also of the frame of mind now that you can go heavy on the compost material and you wont be disappointed. Any way you go i dont think you will be disappointed.
lakescrapper
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks I think I will go out and buy another bag of peat. I just got my extra course vermiculite and it looks a lot better.

soil mix question

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Ray Scheel

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