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What did I do wrong?
4 posters
What did I do wrong?
I made my mix yesterday and followed the recipe in the book on page 101 exactly. It was supposed to make 6 4x4 boxes and I wanted to fill 3 4x4 boxes so I cut the recipe in half and used:
2 large bags of vermiculite (I believe the bag said 3.3 cf each)
1 bag (cube?) of peat moss
8 cf of compost (6 40 lb.bags of compost and 2 heaping 5-gallon buckets of composted manure)
I mixed it all up and shoveled it into the boxes but it only filled 2! And that is without wetting it down at all. What in the world did I do wrong?
2 large bags of vermiculite (I believe the bag said 3.3 cf each)
1 bag (cube?) of peat moss
8 cf of compost (6 40 lb.bags of compost and 2 heaping 5-gallon buckets of composted manure)
I mixed it all up and shoveled it into the boxes but it only filled 2! And that is without wetting it down at all. What in the world did I do wrong?
SewingMom-
Posts : 19
Join date : 2010-10-23
Location : Winnebago, IL - Zone 4b
Re: What did I do wrong?
measure the depth of the mix in your boxes. I suspect it is more than 6 in.
Kay
Kay
A WEED IS A FLOWER GROWING IN THE WRONG PLACE
Elizabeth City, NC
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walshevak
Certified SFG Instructor-
Posts : 4374
Join date : 2010-10-17
Age : 80
Location : wilmington, nc zone 8
Re: What did I do wrong?
Thanks for your reply:)
Well the boxes are definitely 6 inches but the ground under is not quite level so maybe that is the problem. I'll have to measure when I go out to the farm later.
So what would you do if you were me - make a bunch more mix or start putting plywood bottoms on the boxes?
Well the boxes are definitely 6 inches but the ground under is not quite level so maybe that is the problem. I'll have to measure when I go out to the farm later.
So what would you do if you were me - make a bunch more mix or start putting plywood bottoms on the boxes?
SewingMom-
Posts : 19
Join date : 2010-10-23
Location : Winnebago, IL - Zone 4b
Re: What did I do wrong?
I did the math based on what you posted:
* 2 x 3.3 = 6.6
* I'm not sure what size of "compressed" bag of peat moss (doubles when fluffed) you had, so I'm guessing a small one (2.4CF?) since you could only fill 2 boxes with the mix you made = 4.8
* each 40 lb. bag of compost equals approximately 1CF = 6
* 2 heaping 5 gallon buckets: estimate = 1CF
This would only make about 18 CF of MM or about 6 CF per box. Not enough. You should have at least 8 CF of MM for each box. 10CF per box works better after it settles a bit.
Check out our Mel's Mix Calculator for some help on how much of each ingredient you need:
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/f85-mel-s-mix-calculator
I hope this helps!
* 2 x 3.3 = 6.6
* I'm not sure what size of "compressed" bag of peat moss (doubles when fluffed) you had, so I'm guessing a small one (2.4CF?) since you could only fill 2 boxes with the mix you made = 4.8
* each 40 lb. bag of compost equals approximately 1CF = 6
* 2 heaping 5 gallon buckets: estimate = 1CF
This would only make about 18 CF of MM or about 6 CF per box. Not enough. You should have at least 8 CF of MM for each box. 10CF per box works better after it settles a bit.
Check out our Mel's Mix Calculator for some help on how much of each ingredient you need:
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/f85-mel-s-mix-calculator
I hope this helps!

Blackrose-
Posts : 710
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 49
Location : Aurora, Ontario, Zone 5a
Re: What did I do wrong?
In case the calculator is not working today take a look at thisBlackrose wrote:
Check out our Mel's Mix Calculator for some help on how much of each ingredient you need:
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/f85-mel-s-mix-calculator
I hope this helps!![]()
FABULOUS CHART! that Middlemamma put together!! thanks MM!

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