Mels Mix shopping list. Help?

I agree, do the best you can.  Plants are pretty forgiving.  And in a pinch, blood and bone meal make for a nice slow release bolster for top dress.  I have not used fish emulsion, or seaweed mixtures, but I would!

+1 to Scorpio & Llama

I too fretted about getting my 5 composts. In the end, I only had 3 to start...cow manure, chicken manure & mushroom compost, AND I still grew things.

It is my understanding that the reason for the 5 different sources is because each one provides different nutrients and ends up with a near neutral pH. So if you have your own compost from leaves, kitchen scraps, etc. you are using multiple sources. Add in the manure and eco and you should be good.

Nature's Care Really Good Compost looks pretty good for bagged compost. This spring I am having to top off with bagged composts as the rain in Jan and Feb hindered any attempts at turning the winter compost pile. Whole Foods veggie-based compost is another, but I use Ecoscraps compost as the veggie based.

Thanks LlamaMama...I appreciate the advice.  I will quit fretting & make my mix and fill my boxes.  My seedlings are overflowing my dining room table and need a permanent place to rest.

ME

ralitaco wrote:+1 to Scorpio & Llama

I too fretted about getting my 5 composts. In the end, I only had 3 to start...cow manure, chicken manure & mushroom compost, AND I still grew things.

It is my understanding that the reason for the 5 different sources is because each one provides different nutrients and ends up with a near neutral pH. So if you have your own compost from leaves, kitchen scraps, etc. you are using multiple sources. Add in the manure and eco and you should be good.

Yep.

Ralitaco and Mellen, and anyone else,   You're welcome and Best wishes!

ralitaco wrote:+1 to Scorpio & Llama

I too fretted about getting my 5 composts. In the end, I only had 3 to start...cow manure, chicken manure & mushroom compost, AND I still grew things.

It is my understanding that the reason for the 5 different sources is because each one provides different nutrients and ends up with a near neutral pH. So if you have your own compost from leaves, kitchen scraps, etc. you are using multiple sources. Add in the manure and eco and you should be good.

 I'm not sure if nutrients in themselves play an important part of the composting process..
What is important in composting is to get those microbes working, developing, building a base that's appealing to plants.
I look at it this way.
I go out to dinner and a plate is placed before me with a slice of meat, a scoop of potato's, and a scoop of carrots..
I eat if for nourishment.
Now in the next room, I can see a massive table of all kinds of sea food, meats of all kind, steamed, fried, iced, and pickled vegetables... I say to myself...wow would I love to be eating there.
Nutrients in compost them selves are not available to plants, microbes work the nutrients making them suitable for plant uptake. flooding the area known as the rhizosphere. just like a grinding machine. Look at worms, they feed moving through the soil, digesting as they travel. Leaving behind a most precious  commodity.
Remember when chemical fertilizers are used 80% leaches down through the soil. The only fertilzers that are used is what is passing through the rhizosphere where root tip can absorb them
This is all proven when compost tea is used on plants, I did it a season ago...massive growth on peppers that were drenched with the tea, normal or stunted growth on pepper plants without.
Big plant in middle is basil, look and compare foreground and background peppers...way different in size...then went on for a nice crop


In my opinion compost should be the most important item in gardening.