Page 1 of 1
Mixing compost.
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 5:16 pm
by Beryl
I have about half a 75 litre bag of Ericaceous compost left over from my blueberries. If I mix it 50/50 with multipurpose is there any reason why I couldn't use it to pot on in the greenhouse,or are there some veggies that would hate it.
Grateful for any advice. Thanks.
Beryl.
Re: Mixing compost.
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 5:50 pm
by oldherbaceous
Dear Beryl, mixing 50 50 will lower the ph of the compost to about 5.5, so i wouldn't use it for any of the brassica family.
Re: Mixing compost.
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 6:37 pm
by Beryl
Many thanks OH.
Beryl.
Re: Mixing compost.
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:28 pm
by John
With a little sprinkling of ground limestone or similar mixed into the compost mixture I think that it would be fine. If you have any ground dolomite that would be even better as it would provide both calcium and magnesium in one go. Very difficult to give any idea of the amount though.
John
Re: Mixing compost.
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:38 pm
by Beryl
No I don't have either of those John. I'm not very chemically minded but I do have Epson salts, isnt that magnesium?
Beryl.
Re: Mixing compost.
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:01 pm
by John
A veg grower with no lime to hand in the shed - I'm shocked Beryl!!
Lime is really the one that you need as it would have been left out of an ericaceous mix.
John
Re: Mixing compost.
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:14 am
by Tony Hague
Epsom salts (magnesuim sulphate) is a ... salt, neither acid nor alkali, so won't help. Wood ash would be an option, though perhaps more variable than lime.
Re: Mixing compost.
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:10 pm
by Beryl
No John I haven't used lime on the plot for years. Good old horse manure and all my own green waste composted is all I use. So far my brassicas have never failed me.
No wood ash either Tony so maybe I won't risk combining the two composts for potting, just in case.
Thanks for your help.
Beryl.