Help! How did I miscalculate???

Belle87ad 6/24/2012, 11:57 am

Hello all! Happy Sunday!!! I'm currently in my backyard mixing my mix and filling my boxes. When I bought all the stuff for Mel's mix, I made sure I had the correct measurements of everything. I have 2 4x4 boxes with boards 8 inches high. I bought 10cubic feet of peat moss, vermiculite, and a 5-way collection of different composts measuring 10 cubic feet. Well. I seem to have WAY too much Mel's mix. I have both boxes full and there is still so much left over on my tarp. Did I severely miscalculate?? Thanks!!

**rowena___.** 6/24/2012, 12:03 pm

10 cubic feet of peat moss???

that stuff expands like crazy.

but by my calculations, you only needed 3.5 cubic feet of each material per box.

southern gardener 6/24/2012, 12:04 pm

did you buy 10 cf of EACH material or total?

boffer 6/24/2012, 12:06 pm

Here's our MM calculator.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/h22-mel-s-mix-calculator

Yep, you might as well make another box!

Belle87ad 6/24/2012, 12:12 pm

....ten of each....I used the mix calculator on the forum!!! Sigh. So if I bag up all the extra mix is it still good for next year? I think DH would have a small heart attack if I buy supplies for another box....

cheyannarach 6/24/2012, 12:16 pm

I personally would give hubby a small heart attack and fill another box Wink

! But yes you can store it for next year!

**rowena___.** 6/24/2012, 12:20 pm

yes, you can bag it and save it. the calculator specified 10.67 cubic feet TOTAL, of which each ingredient you need 3.56 cubic feet.

Belle87ad 6/24/2012, 12:23 pm

Hahaha well maybe I can just surprise him in a few weeks and fill a whole new box with just broccoli and cauliflower. Then he would be a happy man.

Urghh this is so frustrating. It couldn't have been made any simpler and I managed to botch it up. Well at least I have an explanation as to why I have so much extra. I guess on to building my grid (first time with a power drill. DH actually gave me the go ahead to figure out how to use it. This will be interesting) and finally planting some seeds!!! Thanks for your SUPER fast help everybody!! Enjoy the weekend!!

**Turan** 6/24/2012, 12:29 pm

How much is left over? You should have 9cuf give or take a lil. That is enough for one more bed or a few buckets with pumpkins and tomatoes planted in them. tongue

As you read around here you will find that buckets are an integral part of SFG for many Laughing

If it is more than that it suggests your peat was compressed and you will need to add compost and vermeculite to get the mix in balance. It works great to have too much compost but poorly to have too much peat.

**Turan** 6/24/2012, 12:33 pm

rowena___. wrote:yes, you can bag it and save it. the calculator specified 10.67 cubic feet TOTAL, of which each ingredient you need 3.56 cubic feet.

Total for one bed. Double for 2 beds.

yolos 6/24/2012, 12:34 pm

Also, ususally the MM will settle. Then you will have some left over to top off the boxes.

SwampCatNana 6/24/2012, 12:38 pm

I almost made the same mistake with my MM. Until I read somewhere that the peat is a COMPRESSED 3 cu ft. Actually comes out to 8 or 9 cu ft when opened!
However, I'd rather have too much than too little!
Lee

Belle87ad 6/24/2012, 12:42 pm

I'm feeling a bit panicked now. I used a lotta compost but also a lot of peat moss. Luckily, I stopped with the third bag of peat moss cause it was just looking like a ridiculous amount of MM. I have access to a lot of rabbit poo (my neighbor has 26 rabbits), should I work in extra rabbit to the boxes already filled?

Ugh this is just not a good start.

cheyannarach 6/24/2012, 12:54 pm

Use the poo! Don't worry you are not off to a bad of start as you think you are! I promise! When I filled my back beds I read peat, vermiculite, compost... easy peasy right so I went to the city dump and brought a truckload of city compost home, and filled the boxes. A little later I came in and read about how many types and mixing them, ugh, I thought I was doomed so I topped it all off with some good compost after that and everything is growing just great! It's just a learning experience, that's all!

**rowena___.** 6/24/2012, 2:10 pm

Turan wrote:
rowena___. wrote:yes, you can bag it and save it. the calculator specified 10.67 cubic feet TOTAL, of which each ingredient you need 3.56 cubic feet.
Total for one bed. Double for 2 beds.

GOOD CATCH! that is correct, total for one bed. i understood though that she actually had 10 cubic feet of each material/30 cubic feet of total mix which leaves plenty more for another bed or some containers.

having extra is a nice luxury! i am constantly scrounging for materials to fill beds, containers, buckets, pots, cups, planters, hanging baskets, and every empty vessel my husband and child have not claimed.

Triciasgarden 6/24/2012, 4:03 pm

Ooooh, extra, sounds like gold to me!

Pepper 6/24/2012, 4:19 pm

is wishing for that kind of access to rabit poo!!!!!! That is the gold standard

Belle87ad 6/24/2012, 4:28 pm

Thank you everybody for making me feel better!!! I've got seeds all in one of my boxes and really REALLY wanted to put all my seeds in the second box but it's peaking at 95 degrees here and my back had just about had it. Feel super proud of myself though and I can't WAIT to see the first hints of growth!!! Tomorrow: put seeds in the other box and smile sweetly and maybe beg for hubby to build the critter cages (and pray that tonight, a certain kitty who passes through doesn't decide to use my bed as a giant litter box---in fact I think I will cover my newly seeded box with the tarp tonight just to be safe!).

**walshevak** 6/25/2012, 1:32 pm

Mixing another batch of MM today for up potting peppers from medium pots to buckets and planting a maple tree in a 1/2 whiskey barrel. My son's lot is almost pure sand. Peppers outgrew their existing pots.

Kay

**walshevak** 6/25/2012, 1:33 pm

in fact I think I will cover my newly seeded box with the tarp tonight just to be safe!).

Good thinking

Belle87ad 6/25/2012, 5:38 pm

It all worked out!! I'm glad now that I have extra mix. I took kitty litter containers and put squash in them to free up some boxes and put them against the trellis. Also got some buckets and put cherry tomatoes and cukes. Also, my niece and nephew stay here every other week. Think I will give then their own little buckets with their favorite veggie to plant. I'm glad I made a mistake!!!

CindiLou 6/25/2012, 11:37 pm

Belle87ad wrote: mistake!!!

Extra MM is never a mistake! You can use it also as you harvest a square. Just add a trowel and replant!

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