Getting ready to mix my first organic soil, input please

Been wanting to mix my own soil for awhile and today I picked up some amendments. Let me know what you think. I'm planning on using an organic pro mix soil as a base that is a peat based soil. Here's a list of stuff I have.

• 30 lbs of worm castings
• 10 lbs bone meal (planning on using 5 lbs for the mix)
• garden lime 1 cup
• Excelerite remineralizer and micro-organism multiplier (instead of azomite) 1/2 cup
• 3 1/2 lbs of blood meal
• Humic acid 2 tbs

Will add this to about 9 cubic feet of the soil. I just started a couple of vermicompost bins last week, so I'll be making teas, and topdressing with those. I have a compost pile out back. I'll get some Epsom salts if I need to. Let me know what you think. Input will be appreciated. I also bought a big bag of chicken doo doo to throw on the garden, maybe I could mix some of that in there too.

I was wondering, where will my plants get the potassium in this mix?

Anyone???

I would get some kelp and alfalfa meal if you can and add some of that in place of some of blood/bone meal. You can see recipe I used for my soil in my sig if you're interested.

Thanks, I mixed it up right before I seen your post. I'll get some for recycling the soil

You can drench with coco water or mix in freeze dried coconut powder instead of Epsom. 15:1

I put food grade diatomaceous earth in my mixes as well [1 cup per cu ft.] I get it cheap from Red Lake.

What does the diatomaceous earth do for me? I have it mixed on a tarp in the garage. Gping to put it in garbage cans tomorrow!!

Mr.Knight said:

What does the diatomaceous earth do for me? I have it mixed on a tarp in the garage. Gping to put it in garbage cans tomorrow!!

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Provides increased CEC [cation exchange capacity] and a whole host of other things.

OK here is what I mixed

Base Soil- Pro Mix All Purpose 12 cf

• Canadian Sphagnum peat moss (75-80% by volume)
• Perlite
• Limestone
• wetting agent

Worm castings 30 lbs

Blood meal 12-0-0 3 1/2 lbs

Bone Meal 4-12-0 5lbs

Epsom salt 3/4 cup

Garden lime 1 cup

Excelerite remineralizer & and micro-organism multiplier- 1/2 cup

Powered humic acid 2 tbs

Orgainc Vegetable & Tomato Food 1/2 cup 3-0-4 1/2 cup

• For the bacteria

I'm going to let that cook and water with some compost tea's. If there are any glairing deficiencies please let me know. I'm thinking about running out and getting some diatomaceous earth before in put it in the garbage cans.

Mr.Knight said:

OK here is what I mixed

Base Soil- Pro Mix All Purpose 12 cf

• Canadian Sphagnum peat moss (75-80% by volume)
• Perlite
• Limestone
• wetting agent

Worm castings 30 lbs

Blood meal 12-0-0 3 1/2 lbs

Bone Meal 4-12-0 5lbs

Epsom salt 3/4 cup

Garden lime 1 cup

Excelerite remineralizer & and micro-organism multiplier- 1/2 cup

Powered humic acid 2 tbs

Orgainc Vegetable & Tomato Food 1/2 cup 3-0-4 1/2 cup

• For the bacteria

I'm going to let that cook and water with some compost tea's. If there are any glairing deficiencies please let me know. I'm thinking about running out and getting some diatomaceous earth before in put it in the garbage cans.

Click to expand...

I would add some more perlite. I dont see any listed outside of what is in the promix. I used equal parts peat moss/perlite/EWC and/or Compost for mine.

Based on whats in that ProMix, you only have 2-3Cu Ft of perlite and 9-10 cu ft of peat moss. I'd add at least 1 of those 3.5 cu ft bags you can get from HD for under 15 bucks.

Also, I wouldn't go crazy with the compost teas. Can do more harm than good if you go overboard with them. Its really not necessary during the cook time unless you're in a hurry to use it early or you used lower quality compost/EWC.

How many cu ft were your worm castings?

Thanks for the response!! I'll get some perlite.. The castings are .75 cubic feet.

Mr.Knight said:

Thanks for the response!! I'll get some perlite.. The castings are .75 cubic feet.

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You're gonna need a lot more than that or you can add compost. You dont have to use equal parts, but you have over 10 times the amount of peat moss.

The EWC/Compost is that part that contains the microbial life you want to develop in your soil. Try and get at least 8 more cu ft of EWC or compost in your mix. Right now your mix is basically a bunch of peat moss which is not ideal.

Thanks, I'll add both compost and castings

I added 5 cubic feet of compost and a couple of gallons of composted manure. Then water and letting it cook for a month, before using some for my garden.