Where To Purchase Mels Mix?

metweezer 4/24/2013, 10:13 pm

I used to grow my flowers and veggies in my own SFG on Long Island, NY over 20 years ago. I've spent the last 13 years in FL and now I am back in NY to start all over again. I am looking for Mels Mix in my local Home Depot but they haven't heard of it, even though their website says they have it in stock. I am willing to do some traveling to find Mels Mix and would really appreciate any info anyone could provide as I would rather not mix my own. Thanks in advance for any help.
Regards, Steve

pamiikey 4/25/2013, 9:43 pm

metweezer wrote:I used to grow my flowers and veggies in my own SFG on Long Island, NY over 20 years ago. I've spent the last 13 years in FL and now I am back in NY to start all over again. I am looking for Mels Mix in my local Home Depot but they haven't heard of it, even though their website says they have it in stock. I am willing to do some traveling to find Mels Mix and would really appreciate any info anyone could provide as I would rather not mix my own. Thanks in advance for any help.
Regards, Steve

Can you order it online and have it shipped to your local store? I know they do that with some items.

metweezer 4/25/2013, 10:52 pm

I did order it online but my only option was to pay for shipping. I am paying $40.00 shipping for the 4 bags I ordered from the Home Depot website. It's a shame, but I really want Mel's mix. As far as next year goes, I will see if it is being shipped to a local nursery or Home Depot.

Mel's Mix seems to have compost from a lot of sources which are not available to me here in LI, NY. I am sure I'll have good luck.
Thanks So Much,
Steve

**camprn** 4/25/2013, 10:57 pm

Probably cheaper to make your own, which is pretty easy. I suggest adding some more compost to the Mel's mix when it arrives and you get ready to add it to the garden box.

Welcome to the SFG Forum! happy hi

metweezer 4/25/2013, 11:01 pm

I appreciate the info but I thought Mel's Mix had a lot of different sources of compost and that is why I purchased it.
Steve

**camprn** 4/25/2013, 11:18 pm

It does, but the extra compost if for insurance for you... Even though it is labeled 'Mel's Mix' the manufacturing is farmed out, there are no regulations to speak of and sometimes the product isn't all it's cracked up to be; there were some problems with some of it last year. I have heard nothing good or bad about this year's mix, I am just suggesting that more compost is a good thing. Wink

southern gardener 4/25/2013, 11:41 pm

please post back how your garden does with the pre made mix...........

levans313 6/19/2013, 12:12 am

I have 2 boxes (4x4). One is filled with MM we made last year using our own compost and the other is filled with bags of purchased MM. Last year's garden was robust. This year, the box filled with home made MM is performing better than the store-bought MM. My green peppers and green beans are yellow and scrawny, but the onions and lettuce in the same box are growing well. Conversely, green peppers and green beans in an adjacent standard in-the-ground planter are deep green and luscious. What nutrient could be lacking in my purchased MM?

southern gardener 6/19/2013, 11:55 am

levans313 wrote:I have 2 boxes (4x4). One is filled with MM we made last year using our own compost and the other is filled with bags of purchased MM. Last year's garden was robust. This year, the box filled with home made MM is performing better than the store-bought MM. My green peppers and green beans are yellow and scrawny, but the onions and lettuce in the same box are growing well. Conversely, green peppers and green beans in an adjacent standard in-the-ground planter are deep green and luscious. What nutrient could be lacking in my purchased MM?

We had problems with the pre made mix as well. things out of the mix grew well, but in the mix...was a problem. We ended up re doing the mix with our own homemade stuff. There is a guarantee on the back of the bag if you call the manufacturer. You can PM me for more info if you'd like.

**camprn** 6/19/2013, 12:05 pm

southern gardener wrote:
levans313 wrote:I have 2 boxes (4x4). One is filled with MM we made last year using our own compost and the other is filled with bags of purchased MM. Last year's garden was robust. This year, the box filled with home made MM is performing better than the store-bought MM. My green peppers and green beans are yellow and scrawny, but the onions and lettuce in the same box are growing well. Conversely, green peppers and green beans in an adjacent standard in-the-ground planter are deep green and luscious. What nutrient could be lacking in my purchased MM?

We had problems with the pre made mix as well. things out of the mix grew well, but in the mix...was a problem. We ended up re doing the mix with our own homemade stuff. There is a guarantee on the back of the bag if you call the manufacturer. You can PM me for more info if you'd like.

Levans313 wonders what nutrient could be lacking and my thinking first off is nitrogen deficiency. But in all likelihood it's not just one nutrient missing.

Regardless of the current mix, I believe the solution will be found in homemade compost. You will not add more Mel's mix to the beds but you will be adding compost. Do you have homemade compost you can use to add an inch or two onto the surface of the mix (topdress)? That will most likely show improvement in your plants.

**RoOsTeR** 6/19/2013, 1:50 pm

levans313 wrote:I have 2 boxes (4x4). One is filled with MM we made last year using our own compost and the other is filled with bags of purchased MM. Last year's garden was robust. This year, the box filled with home made MM is performing better than the store-bought MM. My green peppers and green beans are yellow and scrawny, but the onions and lettuce in the same box are growing well. Conversely, green peppers and green beans in an adjacent standard in-the-ground planter are deep green and luscious. What nutrient could be lacking in my purchased MM?

Do you happen to have any photos for comparison purposes?

levans313 6/21/2013, 2:28 am

camprn wrote:
southern gardener wrote:
levans313 wrote:I have 2 boxes (4x4). One is filled with MM we made last year using our own compost and the other is filled with bags of purchased MM. Last year's garden was robust. This year, the box filled with home made MM is performing better than the store-bought MM. My green peppers and green beans are yellow and scrawny, but the onions and lettuce in the same box are growing well. Conversely, green peppers and green beans in an adjacent standard in-the-ground planter are deep green and luscious. What nutrient could be lacking in my purchased MM?

We had problems with the pre made mix as well. things out of the mix grew well, but in the mix...was a problem. We ended up re doing the mix with our own homemade stuff. There is a guarantee on the back of the bag if you call the manufacturer. You can PM me for more info if you'd like.

Levans313 wonders what nutrient could be lacking and my thinking first off is nitrogen deficiency. But in all likelihood it's not just one nutrient missing.

Regardless of the current mix, I believe the solution will be found in homemade compost. You will not add more Mel's mix to the beds but you will be adding compost. Do you have homemade compost you can use to add an inch or two onto the surface of the mix (topdress)? That will most likely show improvement in your plants.

I'm not sure how to reply, so if this post looks funny, sorry. Unfortunately we don't have any more home made compost, that's why we bought bags of pre-made MM. I'll have to buy some compost, I guess....and start a new batch!
There's a nearby pine forest with a thick mat of decomposing pine needles. Under the top layer is a nice moist dark layer of natural pine needle compost. Would that be beneficial? I'm wondering if it would have seeds in it or be otherwise lacking since it isn't made of 5 or more ingredients. What would you call that?

grandpashorts 6/21/2013, 4:09 pm

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I don't have any problems with the pre mixed mix.

southern gardener 6/21/2013, 4:17 pm

Your garden looks fantastic! What do you have on the bottom of your beds? weed cloth etc? I see you're from Arizona. We were trying to work out getting our Mels Mix from the Arizona plant since we (and many others) had so many problems with the mix from the California plant, but the manufacturer wouldn't do it Sad

Congratulations on a beautiful garden!!

**RoOsTeR** 6/21/2013, 4:20 pm

Great to hear grandpa! Most reviews for the mix are in fact positive. Thanks for sharing the great pictures Very Happy

grandpashorts 6/21/2013, 4:23 pm

I used 4" x 8" x 16" cinder blocks lined with a weed barrier.

levans313 6/21/2013, 4:40 pm

Now that's what I'm talkin about!!! Love that garden! But here's mine...not so hot. Here's my sad green beans, very yellow and puny.

Where To Purchase Mels Mix? Strugg12

Notice the green beans (back right) and green peppers (secong row center) are sickly, but the lettuce and peas (back left) are healthy. Hmmmm?

Where To Purchase Mels Mix? Mm_sto11

TexasTracy 6/21/2013, 9:56 pm

My garden with the premixed MM isn't performing as well either. I just added some compost to my beds to see if that helps.

**RoOsTeR** 6/21/2013, 10:02 pm

Look at all those peppers! And lettuce! And broccoli! Where To Purchase Mels Mix? 3170584802

**camprn** 6/21/2013, 10:19 pm

RoOsTeR wrote:Look at all those peppers! And lettuce! And broccoli!

Yeah I think it looks pretty darned good!

Lindypin 7/25/2013, 7:13 pm

Here in Moreno Valley, Ca. we can't get the pre-mix, but at our local gardening center they have the large bales of vermiculite (3.5 cube $38) and peat moss (3.8 cube $24), plus they have large bales of a compost mix which contains five different compost ingredients already mixed. It's called BUMPER CROP and a 2 cube bag is $6. My question is for a 4' x 8' x 6" raised box is 16 cubes enough after it settles? Thank You.

**donnainzone5** 7/25/2013, 7:52 pm

Lindy,

I'd suggest Googling Bumper Crop compost. Make your decision based upon the info you find.

Marc Iverson 7/25/2013, 9:31 pm

Uh oh ...

**camprn** 7/25/2013, 9:43 pm

Marc Iverson wrote:Uh oh ...

This is cryptic and unhelpful. What do you mean?

Marc Iverson 7/26/2013, 1:08 am

camprn wrote:
Marc Iverson wrote:Uh oh ...
This is cryptic and unhelpful. What do you mean?

I mean that

I'd suggest Googling Bumper Crop compost. Make your decision based upon the info you find.

after the strong review for the product, sounds like a warning about it.

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