Does this mix amount sound right?

couponmagic 4/2/2013, 7:58 pm

I have built my first two sfg boxes. Hopefully correctly! I have a question about my Mel's mix.

I used 4 cu ft vermiculite, 3.8 cu ft compressed peat bale and my compost mix is:

1) Mushroom compost - 40lbs
2) Black Hen compost - 20 lbs
3) Moo-nure compost - 25 lbs
4) Earthworm castings - 1 cu ft
5) Foothills compost (created using food residuals and yard/wood trimmings) - 20lbs

I used all the compost and all the vermiculite... but I still had peat left? I fluffed the peat and used a 5 gallon bucket of peat, then of compost, then of vermiculite.

I built 4x4 beds rotating the corners with 2x6s. I expected both boxes would be full when I finished and that I would have a little mix to spare. Did I mess up? Should I move more mix to one box or does this look ok? Thanks!

Does this mix amount sound right? 20130410

Does this mix amount sound right? 20130410

Does this mix amount sound right? 20130411

Does this mix amount sound right? 20130412

couponmagic 4/2/2013, 8:04 pm

Oh, I used all of the mix I made.

**camprn** 4/2/2013, 8:08 pm

Add more compost. Looks good!

couponmagic 4/2/2013, 8:17 pm

camprn wrote:Add more compost. Looks good!

Thank you camprn. Do I need to buy 5 more kinds again to mix? I actually bought an extra bag of the mushroom compost. There is a bunny place near me, maybe I can score some bunny stuff Very Happy

chjbr63 4/2/2013, 8:24 pm

According to the calculator on the home page you should have made 16 cu ft of mix, going by your list you made 12. I would get more vermiculite and compost, you should have about half of your peat leftover. When I made my boxes it called for 14 but after it settled it was 16.

couponmagic 4/2/2013, 8:55 pm

Thank you chjbr63. I confess I didn't use the calculator. I wrote down the numbers from ANSFG which I had checked out from the library. Clearly I botched it up! Yes, I do have a lot of peat left. Probably between 1/3 and 1/2.

bnoles 4/2/2013, 9:14 pm

camprn wrote:Add more compost. Looks good!

I agree with camprn.

Check at Home Depot for Mel's mix, it has everything you need in one bag so you don't have to round up the "Big 5" again.

couponmagic 4/2/2013, 10:16 pm

Thanks Bob! The home depot site doesn't show any Mel's mix in any of the stores near Atlanta that I could find. Ordering it on their website gives you "this item no longer available online". Too bad, that certainly would make things easy and it would be "right" !

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Does this mix amount sound right?

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