Topic: Making your own potting compost

[tonybloke]

perhaps another reason that seed compost is made with low nutrient levels is so the manufacturer doesn't have to purchase the nutrients to add?

[lincsyokel2]

perhaps another reason that seed compost is made with low nutrient levels is so the manufacturer doesn't have to purchase the nutrients to add?

Nah, the cost of adding a 7-7-7 fertiliser to get the EC to 500 in a retail multipurpose compost mix  is here nor there relatively speaking.  Remember that many of the  compost makers dont buy fertiliser, they buy raw materials (like urea and rock phosphate)  and make there own.

On the other hand the cost of compensating a grower for 20,000 african violets because the seed compost you supplied to the grower was too hot and fried the seedlings would run well into 5 digits. Only from that point of view is it cheaper not to put it in the mix !

[tonybloke]

perhaps another reason that seed compost is made with low nutrient levels is so the manufacturer doesn't have to purchase the nutrients to add?

Nah, the cost of adding a 7-7-7 fertiliser to get the EC to 500 in a retail multipurpose compost mix  is here nor there relatively speaking.  Remember that many of the  compost makers dont buy fertiliser, they buy raw materials (like urea and rock phosphate)  and make there own.
On the other hand the cost of compensating a grower for 20,000 african violets because the seed compost you supplied to the grower was too hot and fried the seedlings would run well into 5 digits. Only from that point of view is it cheaper not to put it in the mix !

I have a friend who grows 1.5 million units per yr, got a 'bit peeved' when his compost (sinclair) was very low in N, (too much wood) it put him back almost a month with his schedule.

[genlistlass]

Last year I got myself a Flymo Pac a Shred garden shredder (slightly damaged plastic bin but usable) on the internet for under ? £90. Usually they are £200-£170...... I'll see if I an find the link for these.

Used it on woody twiggy bits in the late summer/autumn and just threw the shreds on the scruffy bit of my garden behind the raised veggie patch where the big weeds grow. I just trod the weeds down before I threw the shreds on.

Looked at them two days ago and all the tall weeds have gone and now there is a nice layer of composting looking stuff. So will chuck that over the veggie patch soon plus some alpaca poo from the stud up the road.

As you can see, I make it up as I go along  ;D

Gen in NBL where it is a balmy 4.5C at 5am !