marial

I think you need to find out more about the SuperSoil from the nursery before making a decision. It's a brand name and has several mixes available. I don't see any that list mushroom soil.

OTOH, straight mushroom soil is reputed to be an excellent soil conditioner and growing medium.

It's just my opinion, but I think I'd get the mushroom soil from your local guy if you've narrowed it down to these two. He'll be around if you need to ask questions later!

Here is a link that might be useful: SuperSoil products

Ok for the mushroom soil and I looked at the links you provided, too. Thanks.

The local guy with the inexpensive mushroom soil says it's setting under a roof since last year so it's not frozen and he can deliver it rightaway. Soil that's been setting isnt a problem right?

What about the ratio he proposed me: 60/40. I guess that means 60% mushroom soil and 40% generic soil. Is that ratio good? I dont want to burn my plants or anything.

Also does this mushroom soil that I'm adding to my existing garden dirt--does that mean I wont need cow manure? I see it has all kinds of nutrients in it. Will the mushroom soil be sufficient?

What about next year then. Will I have to add stuff to the soil going forward?

Ready to buy.....very happy with your advice.

If your just going to use it to amend the soil you already have, just get straight compost (Mushroom, leaf, whatever). If you need minerals, then get yourself a mix of dirt and whatever compost they have.

No matter what you get, you won't really know if the soil/compost mix is deficient in anything without a soil test.

Good Luck..

The local guy with the inexpensive mushroom soil says it's setting under a roof since last year so it's not frozen and he can deliver it rightaway. Soil that's been setting isnt a problem right?

No, that's not a problem.

What about the ratio he proposed me: 60/40. I guess that means 60% mushroom soil and 40% generic soil. Is that ratio good? I dont want to burn my plants or anything.

40/60 mushroom to dirt would be better but the 60/40 won't hurt anything. Neither would 50/50. Mushroom "soil" is actually mushroom "compost" and like all composts it continues to decompose and must be replenished. Mushroom compost is great for improving soil tilth/texture and water retention but is pretty much nutrient depleted so you don't have to worry about it burning anything. But you will still have to add nutrients for your plants so use the manure (assuming it too is composted already) or some form of fertilizer. The mushroom compost alone won't be enough.

What about next year then. Will I have to add stuff to the soil going forward?

Yes, just like all other forms of organic matter compost, your "mushroom soil" will continue to decompose over time and will need replacement as will the nutrients you choose to use. Most all of us have to add new amendments to our gardens every year. ;)

Hope this helps.

Dave

I thought the mushroom stuff was a cheap substitute for enriched soil. As though it was going to do the same job as enriched soil. My gardener said to get "enriched soil" so maybe I should not let the local guy talk me into mushroom soil after all, if it doesnt have nutrients.

Now I really dont know what to buy again.

I went out and got a soil test and filled it with dirt and I'm going to send it off to the university for testing. The guy that gave me the test kit said to bring the results to him and HE will tell me what I should add.

I'm good at growing vegetables but this soil business is confusing me.

Going to mail my soil sample to the university now....

My favorite local nursery has a good three-way mix of a great 5+ source compost, peat moss and top soil. I'd say go with compost and peat moss in the mix whatever you do. The peat will hold moisture which helps plants not dry out.

Why are you buying soil if your soil is good and your garden was good last year? If you compost and add organic material like hay, straw, leaves, grass clippings, etc to the garden, you can improve your soil yourself. You'll have to be doing that anyhow as the years go by, so why buy soil?

You've gotten a lot of good advice, but here's the thing. You want to bump up your soil with mushroom compost, which is great stuff and readily available from a local source, so what's the problem? Go for it! Then get some alfalfa meal (or another plant meal) to use as a high-nitrogen fertilizer for high-demand veggies, and you're doing fine. Mulch heavily, compost your waste, and your soil will get better and better.

Today I looked at prices for compost/soil bulk mixtures for a magazine article I'm writing. The prices you got reflect a typical spread, but I question why you need 10 cubic yards of compost/soil for 1000 square feet. Much of that space will be pathways, so if you got 5 cubic yards of mushroom compost or whatever, it should spread 3 inches deep over your actual beds. Any soil would be happy indeed to get that much compost!

I would be a little concerned about the soil mixed with the mushroom compost. Could have weeds in it.

Here is a link that might be useful: my website

Laceyvail, I am buying more soil to make my raised beds higher. Last year when the new patch was tilled, I really had to scrape from the paths to get enough soil onto the rows. I had barely enough, I bet those rows were 4-6 inches. My neighbor's rows are like a foot high!

I guess it's my tiller that is too old and too small. My neighbor says he will till my garden for a bottle of vodka. He has a roto tiller and it's big and ideally suited however, he makes me sick that he asks for something in return, a real neighbor would do it for nothing, especially considering all the vegetables I deliver to his back porch all season long...grrrr.

I'd rather suffer with my small $5 tiller that is about 20 yrs old that was purchased at the auction....I'd rather buy 1,000 bucks worth of dirt than buy him a $30 bottle of vodka to do what someone should do for free....all cuz I dont have enough soil. Maybe I do have enough soil, I just gotta rent a tiller to get it up from the rows....the means my rows will be very deep or bite the bullet and get the drunk a bottle of vodka for his martinis. My paths were like gullies last year. Deep.

I'm still waiting for my soil results to come back....

I put 3 bales of hay (or was it straw?!) on the garden last year so that should have decomposed by now. I also put grass cuttings on it.

I cant wait til growing season...........ahhhh...

Would your "generous" neighbor be willing to lend you his roto-tiller for a day if you continue to provide his family fresh veggies. You could even supply the gas.

Oh, and I totally agree that a friendly neighbor would help you out or offer just seeing you struggle with your hand tiller. We find homemade cookies for no good reason help with the neighbor relations.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's gardening adventure...