Mushroom Compost

Linda · February 9, 2007

Hi, I received a 20 lb bag of mushroom compost recently. It came from an herb farm.

Can I add this to the pots that I will be growing tomatoes in, use it only in my raised beds with tomato plants or keep it away all together? It looks like very rich soil but I am not sure how it was processed. As a last recourse I can use it with my flowers in a separate garden in my front yard.

Linda

NCTIM · February 9, 2007

I can tell you that several years ago I aquired several bags and used it as a soil amendment on a few tomato, bell pepper and squash plants. I had beautiful plants and a great harvest. If the stuff wasn't so expensive, I'd use it all the time. I am growing too many plants now to even consider it.

Tim

Linda · February 9, 2007

Thanks, Tim. I've never used it before but heard great things....I was just a little hesitant. :

Linda

bluelytes · February 9, 2007

LINDA,
That is what I am using to put into my 5gal containers for tomatos.

Regards;
bluelytes

**Lee** · February 9, 2007

I would not use too much of it in pots due to the heaviness of the material. Potted tomatoes do better (IMHO) with a mixture of "garden soil" such as the mushroom compost and a potting mix.
The key is light and fluffy potting mix to prevent heavy compaction of the roots as the season progresses.
Personally, I would go with a 80/20 or 70/30 mix of potting soil to mushroom compost.

Lee

velikipop · February 10, 2007

Linda, I echo Lee's advice with respect to manure in containers. Be careful not to add too much. Not only is it heavy but it will give you lots of leaves.

Alex

cdntomato · February 10, 2007

I love using organic mushroom compost as a thick mulch.

In side-by-side comparisons, plants with mushcomp-mulch were far less bothered by disease. Splash-back better? More nutrients? Don't know why, but just know that it worked for me over the 3 years that I had access to some. Container growing has not been as successful in the 2 years since, although some of that

is probably due to other factors.

Enjoy your bounty!!!

Jennifer, who normally has 400+ containers of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and herbs as well as 2 acres at a friend's farm

Linda · February 10, 2007

Bluelytes and Jennifer,

Thank you for letting me know that you have used this before.

Lee and Alex,

I appreciate the advice. Since I don't have enough of it for all my plants I plan on using it for those varieties that I have more than one plant. I'll use some with the mushroom compost and some without to compare how they do. Lee, thank you for the percentages. I think I'll use the 80/20 and see what happens.

Linda

February 9, 2007	#1
Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: north central Florida Posts: 5	Mushroom Compost Hi, I received a 20 lb bag of mushroom compost recently. It came from an herb farm. Can I add this to the pots that I will be growing tomatoes in, use it only in my raised beds with tomato plants or keep it away all together? It looks like very rich soil but I am not sure how it was processed. As a last recourse I can use it with my flowers in a separate garden in my front yard. Linda

February 9, 2007	#2
NCTIM Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: zone 8 NC Posts: 286	I can tell you that several years ago I aquired several bags and used it as a soil amendment on a few tomato, bell pepper and squash plants. I had beautiful plants and a great harvest. If the stuff wasn't so expensive, I'd use it all the time. I am growing too many plants now to even consider it. Tim __________________ "You can observe a lot by just watching." - Yogi Berra

February 9, 2007	#3
Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: north central Florida Posts: 5	Mushroom Compost Thanks, Tim. I've never used it before but heard great things....I was just a little hesitant. : Linda

February 9, 2007	#5
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	I would not use too much of it in pots due to the heaviness of the material. Potted tomatoes do better (IMHO) with a mixture of "garden soil" such as the mushroom compost and a potting mix. The key is light and fluffy potting mix to prevent heavy compaction of the roots as the season progresses. Personally, I would go with a 80/20 or 70/30 mix of potting soil to mushroom compost. Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

February 10, 2007	#6
velikipop Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 768	Linda, I echo Lee's advice with respect to manure in containers. Be careful not to add too much. Not only is it heavy but it will give you lots of leaves. Alex __________________ I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf Bob Dylan

February 9, 2007	#4
bluelytes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 250	LINDA, That is what I am using to put into my 5gal containers for tomatos. Regards; bluelytes

February 10, 2007	#7
cdntomato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 554	I love using organic mushroom compost as a thick mulch. In side-by-side comparisons, plants with mushcomp-mulch were far less bothered by disease. Splash-back better? More nutrients? Don't know why, but just know that it worked for me over the 3 years that I had access to some. Container growing has not been as successful in the 2 years since, although some of that is probably due to other factors. Enjoy your bounty!!! Jennifer, who normally has 400+ containers of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and herbs as well as 2 acres at a friend's farm