Mel's Mix 2018

For the top 6 inches of the raised bed boxes we are making our own Mel's Mix. We are mixing 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite and 1/3 compost by volume. The compost is a from the bulk bin at Richert Lumber. No other fertilizer or compost source has been added yet. After we filled the boxes it rained for several days and it is draining very well. Initially the dirt was too fluffy to plant anything, it needed to be thoroughly soaked.

Mixing Mel's Mix

Update March 29th, 2018

We did a home nutrient test using a kit purchased from Lowe's. Based on the results, it appears the compost we used was mostly browns waste and completely deficient in nitrogen with minimal phosphorous.

To remedy the nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency in the areas already planted, I was advised to try Miracid by Miracle-Gro. The instructions said 1.5 T to 1 Gallon so I mixed 4 T to 6 gallons of water, each six gallons covered about 10-12 square feet. I applied it to the squares with: snap peas, green arrow peas, carrots, radishes, lettuce, arugula, spinach, marigolds, first set of herbs and strawberries. I did my best not to get it on the leaves but for the seedling lettuce it was not possible. I think I regret using Miracle-Gro because the next day the transplanted lettuce leaves looked more brown almost like they had been burnt. As a long term plan I sprinkled 1 tsp of Bat Guano from Dr. Earth (7-3-1) per square foot and mixed into the top layer of soil where possible which will hopefully at like a slow release fertilizer for the nitrogen.

Update March 31st, 2018

Today we went to Western Garden Nursery where they were advertising a 4 for 3 sale on an organic soil builder called Bumper Crop. It has a mix of chicken manure, worm castings, bat guano and kelp meal which is meant to be applied as a 2-3" layer before planting and then worked to a depth of 6 inches. We bought 8 bags, used 2 for box 3, 3 for box 2 and 2 for box 1.

We were also advised to add Fish Bone Meal (3-18-0) by Gardener & Bloome. It is applied 1 cup per 10 square feet so I used about 4 cups per box and sprinkled some around the marigolds. Everything got mixed in to a depth of six inches. We tried to pull away as much dirt from the existing herb plants to add in Bumper Crop. I dug out the two square feet in bed U are for the tomatoes and filled in with the improved mix. I also added 1 C of worm castings to each tomato square before planting the Early Girl and Sun Gold.

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