Made a mistake-help

lorimay7 4/17/2012, 9:58 pm

I am new to SFG and did some research and made boxes and bought what I thought i needed for the mix. I just bought the new SFG book and started reading and realize I made a big mistake with the compost. We only bought mushroom compost to mix with the peat moss and vermiculite. I didn't get a few types of compost. Everything is planted and growing but now I am afraid things may not grow as well as they would if I would have had more types of compost. What can I do? Can I make a liquid mix or something to pour into my dirt?? Is my garden doomed?? Mad

Thank you for your advice in advance!!

Lori in Florida

**camprn** 4/17/2012, 10:13 pm

Hi Lori, welcome to the forum. Do you have any room in the top of your box, meaning, what is the depth from the top of the box to the soil surface? If you have a few inches you can top dress with a few types of compost around the plants already in place. When the season is done you can turn all that compost into the mix.

**walshevak** 4/17/2012, 10:15 pm

Well at least mushroom compost is usually a good compost. You did do the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 mix, just using one compost. As long as things are growing well, leave it alone. In the meantime, mix up a batch of 5 blend compost and have it on hand to add between crops or top dress heavy feeding or long lasting plants. If the plants start having problems, go the compost tea route. I would double the amount of 5 blend that I add to the spent squares before a new planting. IE 2 trowels full instead of one. Just my opinion

Kay

lorimay7 4/17/2012, 10:59 pm

Camprn-no room-6" deep boxes filled to the rim. Smile

Kay-yes, I did the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 at least. Where is there info on doing a compost tea? (I haven't finished the book yet-is it in there?) Should I just google for a recipe? I was hoping there would be something like that to help if things started looking bad.

I just googled compost tea and it seems like you make this tea from a compost pile..I don't have one. Can I make the tea from a mix of compost I buy?

Thanks!
Lori

**walshevak** 4/18/2012, 8:20 am

Check this out. I use Quiltbea's method using my 5 blend. Your are in the Black Gold distribution area, Black Kow, Black Hen - good stuff. Maybe some bat guano and worm casting. Knowing the quality of the Black Gold brand composts, I just added 2 other maybe composts from the box stores. Things are growing good.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t5592-compost-teas

This should get you through this year. MM tends to settle anyway, so next year stir in enough 5 blend to bring the box back to 6 inches. All is not lost, just may need to be a bit more diligent on adding compost tea this year.

Kay

lorimay7 4/19/2012, 9:16 pm

Thank you very much for your help!! Smile

Happy Gardening!!

Lori

givvmistamps 4/20/2012, 12:52 am

Hi Lori, it looks like you already got an answer to your question, but I wanted to say Made a mistake-help 396615

I'm your neighbor to the east, just getting started this year also.

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