Gardening & Landscaping
elviebird
member
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Sq Foot Gardening - soil question
I know Mel is very adament about using his compost/vermiculite/peat moss mixture. But I've heard from other's that all the vermiculite and peat moss is an unnecessary expense and may even dry out too quickly. Any experiences with his mix or an alternative? Thanks!
Due 12/20/11 ~ Lost our Muskrat at 9w2d
4/25/12 ~ Our angel, Persephone James, is here!
4/25/12 ~ Our angel, Persephone James, is here!
Re: Sq Foot Gardening - soil question
I used zeolite/perlite for the vermiculite and used coconut coir for the peat moss. The zeolite/perlite because it's locally mined and I could get it super cheap. And coir because I like it's sustainability more than peat moss.
My version of Mel's mix doesn't dry out too quickly, but it does drain easily. While the top surface (ay 1-2 inches) may be dry, the lower depths are nice and moist. I will say Mel's mix is friable, meaning it doesn't really have the cohesion or strength to support some plants. But after 3 years I have added enough organics and mycorrhizal innoculants to my beds that I have a nice soil-microbe food web going.
peat moss is cheap (and retains water), it's the vermiculite that is $$$. I've been happy with our raised beds w/ "Mel's Mix", but you could certainly make the substitutions the pp did.
Mel's Mix drains well because of the peat moss & vermiculite, so I wouldn't say they are "unnecessary."
Basically, Mel's Mix is potting soil with lots of compost in it.
Gretchen Evie, born 7/8/2012 at 35w5d