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Living organic soil from start through recycling

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Gascanastan

Gone but NOT forgotten...
Veteran
Foxfarm at 10 bucks...wowzers....who got the gold.??? Is this some kind of inside joke? I feel left out....sob sob sob....I'm telling mom.

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J

jerry111165

I'd be sure to balance it before use though.

Stan, I'm not following you regarding the peat?

Thanks

J
 

Gascanastan

Gone but NOT forgotten...
Veteran
I'd be sure to balance it before use though.

Stan, I'm not following you regarding the peat?

Thanks

J

well...depending on who you ask here......

The regular issue peat I remember purchasing at HD did not come with gypsum or dolomite added. Being peat it is pretty acidic as you know.

I would use the 3-way lime mix or make sure you have a high % of humic material incorporated before using it in a planting mix.


Coot recently has had me thinking I can just use oyster shell and agricultural gypsum then just ditch the dolomite altogether.
 

Microbeman

The Logical Gardener
ICMag Donor
Veteran
well...depending on who you ask here......

The regular issue peat I remember purchasing at HD did not come with gypsum or dolomite added. Being peat it is pretty acidic as you know.

I would use the 3-way lime mix or make sure you have a high % of humic material incorporated before using it in a planting mix.


Coot recently has had me thinking I can just use oyster shell and agricultural gypsum then just ditch the dolomite altogether.

I agree with coot on that, however the reasons I would use any of those is for mineral content and nothing to do with the acidity of peatmoss. IME that is balanced just by a good organic matter/[vermi]compost in your mix. (which I guess you kinda said)

My Mom said to tel you to tell your Mom to watch out eh!
 
J

jerry111165

Stan, per the Old Coots advice I do just that - oyster shell and gypsum - no lime - plus, we gain all the extra nutritional bennies of those two products! It's been working excellent for me for some time now - look maw, no lime! :)

Good call on the quality humus too - methinks therein lies the real secret...

J
 

Gascanastan

Gone but NOT forgotten...
Veteran
That's what you say MM....I guess I could go try it and see for myself. I really doubt I'd have any issue being that is what you and coot claim...so I guess we could debunk that one here also eh...all I need is regular ol unbalanced peat and some compost or EWC..shouldn't be too hard.
I swear to gawd I'll do it...and I WILL tell if things don't go my way...

Jerry...how long now?
 
J

jerry111165

How long what? Have I been using the gyp and oyster? Probably a year or two...no lime whatsoever. :)

Like MM said tho - with quality humus component ya probably don't need either - but might as well cover yer ass and take the nutrition to boot.
 

Gascanastan

Gone but NOT forgotten...
Veteran
My Mom said to tel you to tell your Mom to watch out eh!

My mom ain't afraid of your mom...and my mom says she is gonna tell Social Services on yer ass for welfare fraud...so na na ......
and your mom is soooo fat....that...uh...her shadow need it's own parking space...so there.
 

Gascanastan

Gone but NOT forgotten...
Veteran
How long what? Have I been using the gyp and oyster? Probably a year or two...no lime whatsoever. :)

Like MM said tho - with quality humus component ya probably don't need either - but might as well cover yer ass and take the nutrition to boot.

..Good good...that's what the world needs to hear.

But for the good people out here in TV land what exact % of gypsum and oyster shell to what portion of peat....inquiring minds want to know.
 

Scrappy4

senior member
Veteran
..Good good...that's what the world needs to hear.

But for the good people out here in TV land what exact % of gypsum and oyster shell to what portion of peat....inquiring minds want to know.

I would go at 2-3 cups per 3.8 cf bale. But I also add azomite, crab meal' neem meal and feed with botanicals high in calcium plus my compost and ewc have cal and mag. My thinking is the more the merrier, diversity, different break down rates, trace minerals yada yada. Oh and the ph will come around just give it time......scrappy

And Cootz for your information I missed my ex, but I'm a better shot now
 

Gascanastan

Gone but NOT forgotten...
Veteran
I would go at 2-3 cups per 3.8 cf bale. But I also add azomite, crab meal' neem meal and feed with botanicals high in calcium plus my compost and ewc have cal and mag. My thinking is the more the merrier, diversity, different break down rates, trace minerals yada yada. Oh and the ph will come around just give it time......scrappy

And Cootz for your information I missed my ex, but I'm a better shot now

This is my basic trip also...thanks scrap. That seems about right considering the other amendments and their qualities.
 

ClackamasCootz

Expired
Veteran
Neem meal contains 12% Calcium - elemental Ca++

Crab Meal is 96% Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) which translates into 37% (+ or -) elemental Calcium Ca++

Worm castings are covered with a slime that is uber high in Calcium Carbonate - same numbers as the Crab Meal
 
V

vonforne

..Good good...that's what the world needs to hear.

But for the good people out here in TV land what exact % of gypsum and oyster shell to what portion of peat....inquiring minds want to know.

after the initial mix......amounts are not as important as activity. After a while I just add this and that with my hand or a scoop of some kind. Not very scientific I know but the guy my mom sleeps with now said that was the way he has done it for years.
 

Gascanastan

Gone but NOT forgotten...
Veteran
OMFG...I almost rolled outta my seat.

So the V-man is on it also....good good~

I'm a scoop/handful guy now as well...measuring went out the window a while ago....once you've measured enough....it's pretty easy to see what 1 or 2 cups of anything looks like.

Your moms new BF sounds cool...can we come over for dinner?
 
J

jerry111165

Yuck worms - eeew.

Stan - I honestly don't remember - whatever CC told me at the time - it's the same mix in 12 - 15 gallon containers of a mix I made, I dunno, a year and a half? ago? I'm sure Scrappys answer is a good one.

I made what I think is my best soil yet 4 or 5 months ago - just cuz. It's still all sitting in a big pile out by the compost heaps because the soil I made a year and a half ago is still working perfectly fine - a dozen or so crops later. I simply haven't needed it.

I suppose at some time I should try it out...
 

Scrappy4

senior member
Veteran
Neem meal contains 12% Calcium - elemental Ca++

Crab Meal is 96% Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) which translates into 37% (+ or -) elemental Calcium Ca++

Worm castings are covered with a slime that is uber high in Calcium Carbonate - same numbers as the Crab Meal


Ya what he said^^^^^ president of the dolo haters
 

Gascanastan

Gone but NOT forgotten...
Veteran
Yuck worms - eeew.

Stan - I honestly don't remember - whatever CC told me at the time - it's the same mix in 12 - 15 gallon containers of a mix I made, I dunno, a year and a half? ago? I'm sure Scrappys answer is a good one.

I made what I think is my best soil yet 4 or 5 months ago - just cuz. It's still all sitting in a big pile out by the compost heaps because the soil I made a year and a half ago is still working perfectly fine - a dozen or so crops later. I simply haven't needed it.

I suppose at some time I should try it out...

That's the point I'm at as well....just don't need it now that the soil is well...real soil.
I will replace the crab shell and neem about every other re-amend or more....for the bad bugs ya know.
 
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