Soil too loose?

14 years ago

Hello everyone,

I've been gone a long time from Garden Web - had a very demanding job that required a lot of travel so my veggies garden was converted to a rose garden :P Now I'm back to a less hectic job ... I've decided to start a new garden.

I've just built up my soil and planted my seeds and transplants. I'm wondering if my soil is too loose and perhaps lacking in compost. I used peat moss (2x2.2 cubic feet compressed bales), pine bark compost (3 x 40lb bags), (1 x 40lb bag) mushroom compost, (2 x 40 lb bag) cow manure compost and (5x 8.8quart bags) vermiculite. Part of the problem is I'm not sure how the different measurements compute out to the correct volume to make sure that I've got a 1:1:1 ratio.

Anyway, now when I water, the soil compresses down. In addition, I'm seeing a crust form over the soil on my transplants. I have a feeling there is too much peat moss and not enough compost. Any suggestions or thoughts? Thanks!

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Comments (4)

wbrannon
14 years ago
Mel recommends Mel's mix of 1/3 vermicullite, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 compost.

Works for me.
zatil
Original Author
14 years ago
wbrannon, yes I'm aware of that - my issue is that the measurement in the bags of stuff I got is different. Weight vs. volume.
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howelbama
14 years ago
Zatil,

Wbrannon's answers are so helpful..lol

Anyway you have to just kind of eyeball it for the most part and always go by volume, not weight. Out of all three components of the mix you would want to err on the side of too much compost as opposed to too much of either the peat or vermiculite. If the mix feels too loose, you could always add some more compost in. Don't stress about it being perfect, I'm sure you will do fine with what you've got
angela12345
14 years ago
Here is what I did ... Mixed all my different composts together first. Then took a bucket and did a scoop of each compost, peat moss, vermiculite. Kept at it until I ran out of something. (I think I ended up with leftover vermiculte). Be sure to fluff up the peat moss first !! It doubles in volume from when it is compressed.