Hi all,
I am looking for advice as to what growing medium to use for my greenhouse border. Last year I used bought compost which worked out expensive. I was looking at a mix with mushroom compost but I have read it can contain a lot of pesticide residue. would like some feedback on this to see if there are cheaper ways than using bought compost. I will be growing toms cuts peppers and chillis in the borders of two greenhouses.
Thanks Steve
There are many answers to this but the following information would be helpful.
What is in it now?
What did you grow in it last year
Once I know this I would be in a better position to give an opinion.
Mine are all filled with soil, heavily fortified with homemade compost. Sometimes I put well rotted manure underneath. I work on a two year rotation which is tomatoes followed by anything other than tomatoes. I often slip in a crop of salad or carrots in between. I change the soil every two years, or three at a push.
I have raised beds in my GH and they've been filled with 'anything and everything'. Because those beds felt 'huge' to start with, I didn't even try to get them filled up in one go...it would have cost fortune with bought 'stuff'. So, I started with 'few inch' target in mind for each year.
I used 'cheap-end' multipurpose, top-soil, grit, sand, manure, straw, grass clippings..etc . I treated my borders like giant compost bins. Bought stuff where and when it was in offer (keep eye on 'out of season' stock that many places want to clear out for winter)
What I planted while the soil level was 'growing', was planted in bottomless flower buckets..filled with homemade/multipurpose mix...and roots from the plants would be able to get out into borders as and when they wanted. It worked wonders :icon_cheers:
After first few years, in winter, I gave the borders thorough liming, which was flushed down with loads of water...that gave me another couple of years growing in 'same soil'. I have partially changed the soil now twice in last 10 years, but still carry on growing my toms in bottomless buckets, sunk into borders...the soil in buckets get changed each year....and, I keep liming and flushing the soil every other year too. I keep mulching the borders with 'what ever is handy at the time', last year it was half rotted straw.
Over the years the borders have developed their own 'life'...I keep adding organic matter, adding 'natural' fertilizers and using seaweed..trying to condition and 'feed' the soil rather than just looking after plants. My borders are now 'over due' with another partial soil change, but since I haven't had any indication of disease or other issues...I carry on without change until there is first signs of need for it.
I suspect I have finally found balance with the beds ecosystem and I shall carry on looking after the soil...maybe the soil changes have become a unneeded job now.. :icon_cheers:
Quotemaybe the soil changes have become a unneeded job now.
I have found that as well Goodlife but then again I have more than one greenhouse so I am better placed than most to carry out a rotation system.
But I agree with your method of improving the soil each year and the ring culture.
That is how I started prior to getting my other greenhouses.
When I asked my questions in my previous reply what was in my mind was what you and Winecap have so eloquently covered.
I also found that treating each bed as two halves works as well I.e. Treat each half as if they are separate beds. So this method will double the rotation area.
Thank you all for your advice. I have taken this on board. TG I have nothing in them now. Last year one greenhouse was toms the other cucs,chillis and sweet peppers. I intend to do the opposite in terms of position this year. I am interested that you have managed to keep pretty well the same medium over a long time good life just adding a bit more as you go. I thought that you got a build up of salts in the soil.....does the liming help with this?
Quote from: steve1967 on April 30, 2015, 16:39:18
Thank you all for your advice. I have taken this on board. TG I have nothing in them now. Last year one greenhouse was toms the other cucs,chillis and sweet peppers. I intend to do the opposite in terms of position this year. I am interested that you have managed to keep pretty well the same medium over a long time good life just adding a bit more as you go. I thought that you got a build up of salts in the soil.....does the liming help with this?
The 'salt issue' is mainly concern if you use 'chemical fertilizers' as it doesn't build up same manner with 'natural' ones (manures, blood-fish-bone meal etc). Liming and particularly 'flushing' the soil afterwards with copious amount of water will help to get rid of built up salts.