What is the reason to adding the peat? (Moisture retention?) I am doing on organic grow so I want to make it as eco friendly as possible, hence excluding the usage of Peat Moss due to the unsustainability in the sourcing of the material. If this is necessary, is there an organic alternative I can add?
If you use peat free compost , there are things you can add to it (not peat) to improve drainage etc. Have a look at this, there's a fair bit of information here which l hope will help
MPC is multi purpose compost - available as peat-free, or not
With the mix you have recommended, what can I use instead of John Innes as I am looking to grow fully organic?
Would I be able to plant directly into your mix with certain vegetables? (Cucumbers, Lettuce, Courgette, etc...)
I am looking to reuse the soil to grow other produce over a 12 month period (divided into 3 grow cycles, refreshing the soil after every cycle) and then bin it, would this be possible?
There's not a lot of peat in JI and you can get peat free JI. I'm guessing the peat is used to hold water, so replace with something similar. Some of the peat free composts are quite water retentive (wool-based possibly), so that would work. I don't think coir would hold water. Vermiculite also holds water, so maybe just adding a bit more of that would work. You won't find real loam anywhere, topsoil is probably the closest you'll find.
I know you want to provide the best environment for your plants, but don't overthink it too much - given the basics, plants will grow and fruit well - it's what they want to do
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I agree with Pete, I think you are in danger of over-thinking it, easily done when you are starting out! I appreciate your need to avoid peat but vermiculite and perlite have environmental impacts too, there is always a trade-off somewhere. The simplest way would be to buy a bag of peat-free seed compost, such as Sylvagrow, for sowing. Then use a multipurpose compost (mpc) for potting on. A peat-free mpc may still need sieving to remove larger woody bits even for potting on. Tiny seeds like tomatoes and peppers need a fine mix and the seed compost will give you this. Large seeds such as courgettes I sow direct into mpc. I’m not convinced about coir, and your proposed potting on mix is certainly underpowered, I think.
If you are keen to try courgettes there are some smaller, climbing courgettes that should suit your limited space, even so, I would allocate 2x2” per plant and a foot depth.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I agree with Pete, I think you are in danger of over-thinking it, easily done when you are starting out! I appreciate your need to avoid peat but vermiculite and perlite have environmental impacts too, there is always a trade-off somewhere. The simplest way would be to buy a bag of peat-free seed compost, such as Sylvagrow, for sowing. Then use a multipurpose compost (mpc) for potting on. A peat-free mpc may still need sieving to remove larger woody bits even for potting on. Tiny seeds like tomatoes and peppers need a fine mix and the seed compost will give you this. Large seeds such as courgettes I sow direct into mpc. I’m not convinced about coir, and your proposed potting on mix is certainly underpowered, I think.
If you are keen to try courgettes there are some smaller, climbing courgettes that should suit your limited space, even so, I would allocate 2x2” per plant and a foot depth.
I have looked into SylvaGrow® John Innes Seed Compost and it seems that it isn't organic. Do you know of an organic alternative I could use? Whether it be pre mixed or me having to do it myself?
As mentioned in one of my previous posts, I am on a tight budget so cost efficient methods would be extremely appreciated!
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Have a look at this, there's a fair bit of information here which l hope will help
https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/compost/article/should-i-buy-peat-free-compost-agoem9L4NI04#:~:text=compost test results.-,What is in peat-free compost?,, perlite, grit and manure.
Would I be able to plant directly into your mix with certain vegetables? (Cucumbers, Lettuce, Courgette, etc...)
I am looking to reuse the soil to grow other produce over a 12 month period (divided into 3 grow cycles, refreshing the soil after every cycle) and then bin it, would this be possible?
I'm guessing the peat is used to hold water, so replace with something similar. Some of the peat free composts are quite water retentive (wool-based possibly), so that would work. I don't think coir would hold water.
Vermiculite also holds water, so maybe just adding a bit more of that would work.
You won't find real loam anywhere, topsoil is probably the closest you'll find.
I know you want to provide the best environment for your plants, but don't overthink it too much - given the basics, plants will grow and fruit well - it's what they want to do
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
If you are keen to try courgettes there are some smaller, climbing courgettes that should suit your limited space, even so, I would allocate 2x2” per plant and a foot depth.
As mentioned in one of my previous posts, I am on a tight budget so cost efficient methods would be extremely appreciated!
I've not used it myself but I've heard other people say they use it and it's fine.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.