I thought compost "improves" soil primarily by changing its texture, not by offering food for plants - as a few here have said, the NPK is largely used up / washed away within a few weeks. The idea I think is that sandy soils get some big old bits to hold water and nutrients rather than everything draining through out of root reach, and clay soils get chunky bits which create drainage channels and air pockets for roots to grow into and worms to explore. Sand would therefore be an improver (for clay soils), as would bits of twig, grit etc, but keep feeding (NPK / more compost as a mulch) if you want the plants to thrive.
As regards planting / filling pots, yep, no way I'd use garden compost from the bins for seeds as it'd be far too rich for the poor little mites - seed compost first and then MPC to pot up when the existing compost runs out of gas.
Thanks Bright star I haven't bought any potting compost for the last two seasons, I been sowing my seeds in MPC with vermiculite, It doesn't seem to of affected the seedling, they germinate / grow etc. I will be still using potting compost but got put off with GC selling old stock a few years ago, seedling wasn't happy. I been to lazy to get any this year
I don’t like seed compost and sow in MPC mixed with vermiculite. There’s more goodness in that so I can leave the seedlings in there for longer thus making a stronger root system before pricking out. I don’t use propagators or light bulbs, I prefer to wait for Natures Own when seed growing.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
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I thought compost "improves" soil primarily by changing its texture, not by offering food for plants - as a few here have said, the NPK is largely used up / washed away within a few weeks. The idea I think is that sandy soils get some big old bits to hold water and nutrients rather than everything draining through out of root reach, and clay soils get chunky bits which create drainage channels and air pockets for roots to grow into and worms to explore. Sand would therefore be an improver (for clay soils), as would bits of twig, grit etc, but keep feeding (NPK / more compost as a mulch) if you want the plants to thrive.
As regards planting / filling pots, yep, no way I'd use garden compost from the bins for seeds as it'd be far too rich for the poor little mites - seed compost first and then MPC to pot up when the existing compost runs out of gas.
I haven't bought any potting compost for the last two seasons, I been sowing my seeds in MPC with vermiculite, It doesn't seem to of affected the seedling, they germinate / grow etc. I will be still using potting compost but got put off with GC selling old stock a few years ago, seedling wasn't happy. I been to lazy to get any this year
I don’t use propagators or light bulbs, I prefer to wait for Natures Own when seed growing.