Sowing seeds this morning I observed that although my compost was recently bought (100 litre bale) it was rather lumpy and not of a fine quality. I am able to buy peat dug locally that is of a very fine texture . I realise that this has not got the same 1ngrediants as compost but could it be used for seed sowing as I feel that my compost is not fine enough. Perhaps i could add a small amount of Vitax Q 4 to the peat mix to help the seedlings. what are people's thoughts.
Regards Brenjon
Peat as a sowing medium
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter
Hello BrenJohn
It can be very frustrating buying compost these days - you pay a good price for what you hope will be some good quality stuff and it turns out to be poor mixture.
As you can get good quality peat for making your own compost you will need a fertilizer base to provide the right nutrient levels and to neutralise the acidity of the peat.
The only one I know of that's available to home gardeners is this from Chempak.
http://www.gardendirect.co.uk/multipurpose-base-p-73
You can order online from GardenDirect but minimum postage charge on one packet will make it a bit expensive. I have seen it in some Garden Centres but even if its not in your local one they might get you some if they sell the other Chempak solubles. You will also need their peat wetter:
http://www.gardendirect.co.uk/peat-wetter-p-82
This is excellent for getting good water retention in the peat and makes it much easier to re-wet if the compost dries out.
I have used their potting base with moss peat and got an excellent compost. As long as you are thorough with the mixing you can't really go wrong. If you are making large quantities try to borrow a cement mixer.
Hope this helps.
John
It can be very frustrating buying compost these days - you pay a good price for what you hope will be some good quality stuff and it turns out to be poor mixture.
As you can get good quality peat for making your own compost you will need a fertilizer base to provide the right nutrient levels and to neutralise the acidity of the peat.
The only one I know of that's available to home gardeners is this from Chempak.
http://www.gardendirect.co.uk/multipurpose-base-p-73
You can order online from GardenDirect but minimum postage charge on one packet will make it a bit expensive. I have seen it in some Garden Centres but even if its not in your local one they might get you some if they sell the other Chempak solubles. You will also need their peat wetter:
http://www.gardendirect.co.uk/peat-wetter-p-82
This is excellent for getting good water retention in the peat and makes it much easier to re-wet if the compost dries out.
I have used their potting base with moss peat and got an excellent compost. As long as you are thorough with the mixing you can't really go wrong. If you are making large quantities try to borrow a cement mixer.
Hope this helps.
John
The Gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men’s lives, the hours spent fishing Assyrian tablet
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
Thanks John. That does help. I was thinking of using the compost and just putting the peat on top just 1/4 inch deep where the seeds would be sown,. with a small amount of Vitax Q4 mixed in the peat. How does that sound
Regards Brenjon
Regards Brenjon
Hello again
I think that it will be difficult to add Vitax to the peat at the correct rate unless there is some info on the packet. Germinating seeds can be very sensitive to high levels of nutrients.
Probably the thing to do on a small scale is, as you've suggested, fill the tray to within a 1/4 in or so below the top and sow the seed but then cover with a sieved layer of the same stuff, finally lightly tamping it down. A fine top layer always helps emerging shoots but young roots are tougher and don't seem to mind a rougher compost.
For large seeds like peas and beans I don't think that a coarse compost will matter but for smaller seeds like lettuce this layer method should give the best results.
John
I think that it will be difficult to add Vitax to the peat at the correct rate unless there is some info on the packet. Germinating seeds can be very sensitive to high levels of nutrients.
Probably the thing to do on a small scale is, as you've suggested, fill the tray to within a 1/4 in or so below the top and sow the seed but then cover with a sieved layer of the same stuff, finally lightly tamping it down. A fine top layer always helps emerging shoots but young roots are tougher and don't seem to mind a rougher compost.
For large seeds like peas and beans I don't think that a coarse compost will matter but for smaller seeds like lettuce this layer method should give the best results.
John
The Gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men’s lives, the hours spent fishing Assyrian tablet
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
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Mike Vogel
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I have found my worm-compost to be good seedling medium. I add SM3 to it for good measure.
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I would mix something with the peat, say 3 parts peat and 1 part sand or vermiculite or perlite or a mixture of them. They should make it wettable. Possibly also add a very small amount of base fertiliser but if you are only using a layer above your lumpy mixture probably not needed.