if I don't have homeade compost this year--what to use before replanting a sq?

each time I harvest a square I am told to add compost and then I can plant something else in the square. we are renting and may move soon so I cannot/am not making my own compost this year. What can I buy that is the best to add to my soil THIS year as I replant? (obviously the all around homeade is the best long term for sure!)

at the nursery today I found a local type compost made from veggie scraps called "Harvest plenty fruit and veggies compst" it also says it's natural and organic. (harvestplenty.com) -- could I work this into the soil or will I need to mix different kinds?!

there's also worm castings?!! (rott 'n apple worm farm-organic)-

WDYT? thanks!

Lollypop, do you have any blended compost left over from making your Mel's Mix? A 5 blend certainly is going to be better than 1 because of all the various nutrients in it.

I did read the info from Harvestblend.com and it states the compost is made from a blend of at least 25 different veggies and fruit.

If you are unable to purchae five types of compost this year, Harvestblend sounds pretty good to me, especially if mixed with worm castings. Once you mix them together, keep it in a closed bin (trash can, a couple of 5 gallon buckets with lids) or put the mix back into the bags. That way it will be easy to move if you do.

This is my fall-back mix to use when a crop has been harvested and the area is being replanted: equal parts of blood meal, bone meal and kelp meal, well mixed up. Eyeball the amount you end up with and add that much of mixed compost, i.e., a bucket of combined bone/kelp/blood meals mixed into a bucket of mixed compost. Stir a trowel-full of the mixture into the area to be replanted, and you're good to plant.

Too bad it's only available in OR, UT, AZ & CO.

Furbalsmom wrote:Lollypop, do you have any blended compost left over from making your Mel's Mix? A 5 blend certainly is going to be better than 1 because of all the various nutrients in it.

I did read the info from Harvestblend.com and it states the compost is made from a blend of at least 25 different veggies and fruit.

If you are unable to purchae five types of compost this year, Harvestblend sounds pretty good to me, especially if mixed with worm castings. Once you mix them together, keep it in a closed bin (trash can, a couple of 5 gallon buckets with lids) or put the mix back into the bags. That way it will be easy to move if you do.

bascially I found a $40 gift card to this nursery for $17 on city deals and so I can also see if they have a 3rd something I could throw in the add some more nutrients-- my questions is this. I WILL have a lot extra/leftover. CAN I just throw it in a 5 gallon bucket with a lid and will it stay good until even next season or does that make it so no air is getting to it and turn it into the bag kind of compost? I could also only mix enough worm castings with the veggie compost as I need for one square at a time and leave the castings in the little bucket they are coming in.

I don't have extra compost from making Mel's mix because my mom purchased it already made how Melllikes it (5 diff composts and all)--I DO have extra mel's mix--I don't want to mix that in right? JUST compost? THANKS for all the help everyone!!!

You won't need to add Mel's Mix when you replant, just the compost. Save any premixed Mel's Mix for when you add a new bed (and I'll bet you will next year)

The compost will store until next year with no problem.

You could even leave it in the bag if you like, just make sure you clip or otherwise close the top and store it in an area that stays dry, like qarage or car port. Wet compost is heavy.

If you put the extra compost in a container, it should be fine, as this product said it was fully composted. You don't have to worry that it will try to continue to compost without air and get anaerobic and nasty. You are just trying to store the completed compost. This is not about trying to compost raw ingredients in a closed container. Yuck!

THANK YOU!! man that makes sense with completed compost--I didn't know it completed that's cool that nature made it that way!! do you have a recommendation for adding a 3rd something to the worm castings and veggie/fruit compost?! also I know I only need a trowel of it so would I do half worm castings walf veggie compost or less worm castings? I think I'll just mix it when the time comes to add to a square.

Nonna.PapaVino wrote:This is my fall-back mix to use when a crop has been harvested and the area is being replanted: equal parts of blood meal, bone meal and kelp meal, well mixed up. Eyeball the amount you end up with and add that much of mixed compost, i.e., a bucket of combined bone/kelp/blood meals mixed into a bucket of mixed compost. Stir a trowel-full of the mixture into the area to be replanted, and you're good to plant.

FFR are you saying that you have equals part of the bone/kelp/blood meal and then add an equal part to all that of MIXED composts and is 5 atleast?! why do you also add the first 3? does everyone else around here use those?! are they organic natural?

bone/kelp/blood meals: Don't know about her blend....but do know they are organic and natural.

Not everyone does this... I have added blood and bone meal when I was inpatient and wanted to give my plants a boost... but they likely would have been just fine without it.

middlemamma wrote:Not everyone does this... I have added blood and bone meal when I was inpatient and wanted to give my plants a boost... but they likely would have been just fine without it.

Another thing I would like to add to this is the simplest form of compost tea. When you acquire or settle on a compost, I would also water with a tea mixture if wanting to give my plants a little boost.

Grab a chunk or two of your blended compost. Put it in a 5 gallon bucket. Add water. Let it sit awhile (a friend lets it sit a couple days, but I'm talking about a couple of hours to a day). Strain the big chunks out. Pour the now dirty water in your garden around your plants. The leftover chunks can go in the garden or back in a small pile to be used again. Obviously, I wouldn't put them back in the bag wet.

That may have more portability to you while giving your garden an instant boost. I would consider this if I were moving soon. As it is, I plan to water this way every couple of weeks if I notice my veggies looking a little weak this season.

thanks!!! so when people talk about "tea" for their gardens are they referring to straining out the water from soaked compost?! THANKS

Lolly, guess I didn't explain adequately about my fall-back mix, the bone/blood/kelp meal comprises one half of the total mix; mixed composts comprise the rest of the mix. Here in this small town, I'm having trouble finding five different composts, hence the fall back. I agree with the majority of the forum, composts are best. No scientific backing for this, but I'd bet the composts give up their nutrients faster than the bone/blood/kelp (BBK) part of the mix....an advantage...but the BBK probably gives as it breaks down, hence longer. Anyone out there know for sure?