Lady Bug Brand Rasied Bed Mix - Anyone have experience with it (Austin, TX based company)

I am starting my first SFG on s balcony, sow will be starting small with two 2 x 4 boxes and probably adding another two in the fall or winter.   I have the first box built (great fun project with my son) and have been searching around Houston for the components for Mel's mix.   I came across a retailer yesterday that probably carries enough different composts, but they also had a mix that they claim is based on the SFG recipe for Mel's Mix.  May run be just a bit more, but there would not be the leftovers as with the 5 composts and others if I make my own.  Before I go forward with this, I wanted to inquire on two points:
a) Anyone here has had experience with this mix - Lady Bug Brands Raised Bed Mix.  Any input pro or con would be greatly appreiciated. Since i am new, I cannot post a link.

b) The bag and website indicates it contains coir and peat, but no indication of the percentage.  I know from the book that peat is preferred, but again, if anyone has used this, I would appreciate hearing about your results.

Also, this forum is great, I have learned a lot in a few hours browsing around here.
Thanks,
Tom

Yes, some have used it with consistently poor results; you are better off making your own and can control the quality of composts.

camprn wrote:Yes, some have used it with consistently poor results; you are better off making your own and can control the quality of composts.

+1   With that said, if storage is a real problem, then a ready mix may be the way you have to go.  You will probably have to amend it shortly with some fertilizer.  Just be prepared.  Question:  What are the 5 different composts that you have found?

PS:  A few Newbies have used inferior ready-mix or made the Mel's Mix improperly.      Including me.

The Houston Home Depot carries Natures Way Mel's Mix. (has a picture of Mel on the bag) However, member of the forum have reported poor results until they amended the mix with some additional composts/fertilizer.  This might be a start/base.

FYI, I recommend any of the Black Kow products,  Black Kow, Black Hen, and their mushroom compost.  If I had to use the pre-made mix, I would add a bag of Black Hen to every 2 bags of it.  Yes, I know the bag of Black Hen says fertilizer, but it is still made from composted chicken manure.  

Kay

Hi Tom,

Welcome to the forum.

I'm near Dallas and used the Lady Bug product in a pinch last year. I wasn't happy with the results from that bed.  The Lady Bug mix is pricy and I believe it just doesn't have the compost blends it needs for good results.  It would probably be fine as a component of MM, but not stand alone.  

Gloria

camprn wrote:Yes, some have used it with consistently poor results; you are better off making your own and can control the quality of composts.

agreeeeeeeeeeee!!!

walshevak wrote:The Houston Home Depot carries Natures Way Mel's Mix. (has a picture of Mel on the bag) However, member of the forum have reported poor results until they amended the mix with some additional composts/fertilizer.  This might be a start/base.

FYI, I recommend any of the Black Kow products,  Black Kow, Black Hen, and their mushroom compost.  If I had to use the pre-made mix, I would add a bag of Black Hen to every 2 bags of it.  Yes, I know the bag of Black Hen says fertilizer, but it is still made from composted chicken manure.  

Kay

Proceed with caution with the pre-made Nature's Way product.  I've worked with 5 bags and my experience was that quality is inconsistent.  For me, I now use my own MM as a base and might add a little Nature's way to stretch it.

I also like Black Kow.  The cow compost has a great consistency and I've never had a bad bag.  I can't say anything about their chicken and mushroom products because they are always out of stock in my area.