My experance with Mel's mix is that it requres one heck of a lot of water. Of course I plant thick as I can and that takes more water also. My in-ground square foot beds take far less, about 1/4 th as much. I do have good silt loam for the in-ground beds.

Curt

My experience in 4 years with Mel's Mix is that it holds water like a dream and drains excess just as well. How it does it I'm less than sure of, it just does. I find even in summer the top half inch dries out but below that, where the roots are, is still moist. I can't imagine gardening without it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's Garden