I need some help getting my mix right-ready to plant

[rnewste]

Craig,

I believe as a minimum, you need to "dilute" either Potting Mix brand with between 15% to 20% Perlite. The well respected Pro-Mix BX contains 14% Perlite and 5% Vermiculite, for reference. Straight Potting Mix will simply get too compacted during the course of the growing Season.

If you REALLY want to Tweak the Combo Mix, use a 3:2:1 ratio of Potting Mix, Decorative Groundcover Bark, and Perlite.

This is what you can experience:



Green, from top to bottom....

Raybo

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Nice looking plants Ray and I await your 2010 progess reports. I do have some extra perilite sitting in the garge so I will try and amend a few with the extra and see what happens this year. That is what makes this so fun experimenting to find out what works best.

Craig

[tulsanurse1]

To clear up any confusion, the MG is potting mix, not soil. Sorry bout the confusion.

[b54red]

Is the mushroom compost that bagged stuff or did you get it fresh from a commercial mushroom grower? The reason I ask is from what I have seen there is a huge difference in the product; just as there is in cow manure. The bagged stuff didn't have the texture that the compost from the grower had. I planted two tomatoes one fall a few years ago in pure fresh mushroom compost and when I took out the 8 ft tomato plants that had completely filled my small greenhouse by early summer the compost was still light and fluffy and drained well. The best thing about it was it needed almost no fertilizer and no lime and cost around 35 dollars a ton. Needless to say I put a lot in my garden.

[tulsanurse1]

It is a bag of Fafard Mushroom Compost.

[sprtsguy76]

I would go with a 5 part pine bark (assuming its fairly fine/small pieces), 2 part potting mix and 1 part perlite mix. I think all the plants you listed would do well in a mix like this. I know you have other products too, but that would be 'my' ideal mix out of your choices. Good luck.

Damon

[tulsanurse1]

I super appreciate everyone's response for helping me trying to figure all this out. Today I made another post, without remember about this one, and todays post had a complete list of everything I had. The post is "I need help some help getting my mix...". Is there anyway you all could look at the list and comment there. I don't want to have to take all this stuff back, but will if necessary. I'm sorry for the almost duplicate post. I am new here and will be sure to pay more attention in the future. Thanks, Laurie

[tulsanurse1]

Hey, I could do one tomato plant with MG and one Sta Green and see how it goes. Could or should I incorporate my mushroom compost, manure along with the pine barks I will be adding.

[rnewste]

Laurie,

I recall an expression that goes something like this: "It is the Journey - not the Destination that is important in Life". Perhaps it was Wilson on Home Improvement where I heard this.

Anyway, I have been growing tomatoes for 35+ years, and I am still learning new things every day. The key is: Patience. I realize you have a hundred questions about choices, but rest assured, you will not get it totally "Right" for perhaps 3 Seasons.

The journey along the way will be frustrating, with moments of rabid exhilaration. Savor the good moments - - and learn from the trials that did not go as hoped.

Learn from the collective experiences and Wisdom posted here. Do searches on "Containers", and other key words on Tomatoville. There is a wealth of residual knowledge reposited in the archives that you can learn from. I truly have.

Raybo

[Suze]

Two threads merged at tulsanurse1's request. She's since gotten some more ingredients besides the gro bricks initially mentioned, and I just wanted to mention that to avoid confusion.

Please see this post for what she's currently asking about and has to work with now.

http://www.tomatoville.com/showpost....65&postcount=6

[attilla1000]

Ray is the mulch you use made up of nuggets or is it shredded? I'm thinking about using your mix in my regular containers.

[rnewste]

attilla,

The Bark Fines component are ground conifer bark (NOT Hardwood) pieces, about the size ranging from a Dime to a Quarter:



Available at many Home Depots, called Groundcover Bark. 2 cubic ft. for about $4.50 per bag:



If this is not available in your area, as a last resort you can substitute a product called "Clay Soil Conditioner". The goal is to keep the Container's mix as light and aerated as possible. For me, a 3:2:1 ratio worked best for my plants last Season.

My good friend Damon "sprtsguy" is using a more aggressive 2:5:1 ratio favoring the Bark Fines. He and I will be comparing trials during the Summer, as we live about 5 miles from each other.

Raybo

[attilla1000]

Thanks I appreciate the help.