This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Seed / potting on compost? Manure?
Jordan Carter
Posts: 81
in Fruit & veg
I have a couple of questions to ask. First of all, most of my seedlings have now germinated (courgettes, butternut squash, pumpkins, kohl rabi, zinnias, sunflowers, although still waiting on the tomatoes!)
Last year when starting off indoors, once they outgrew their initial seed pots, I moved them into larger pots and just filled with more seed compost. They grew great and I got a great crop. I never used potting compost. So it it just a waste of money? Or are there actual reasons for using it?
And secondly, I purchased some farmyard manure from my allotment shop and plan on digging it in to each of my beds this weekend. Will it be ok to plant straight into it or do I have to wait?
Last year when starting off indoors, once they outgrew their initial seed pots, I moved them into larger pots and just filled with more seed compost. They grew great and I got a great crop. I never used potting compost. So it it just a waste of money? Or are there actual reasons for using it?
And secondly, I purchased some farmyard manure from my allotment shop and plan on digging it in to each of my beds this weekend. Will it be ok to plant straight into it or do I have to wait?
0
Posts
Seed compost has little nutrient, as the seed has enough food to get going in the endosperm. Potting compost has more nutrient in. If you leave a seedling in seed compost it will slow down and not grow as well.
Farm year manure has to be well rotted before you dig it in, although potatoes will tolerate it only partly rotted. If it is still steaming or smelly it is not ready to use. Well rotted manure has little or no smell and is pleasant to use.
Best source of farmyard manure is a farmyard. Free, if you have one nearby. Horse manure is almost as good and also free for the carting from your local stables.
If you're buying it in bags it will be well rotted; it will also be horribly expensive, considering that it's literally a load of crap!
Thanks for the responses
450 litres? That's a lot of you know what!
If it's well-rotted (it'll tell you on the bag) you can spread it straight away. Let the worms do the digging. I can't believe that they'd be selling the fresh stuff (straight from the horse's mouth?) in a gardening shop.
Ah - four 50litre bags? 200 litres? That sounds more like it.
Thanks for the advice!
Edit - It seems you can't use the 'pound' sign on this forum?
As I understand it, seed compost is usually lower in nutrients, and possibly freer -draining, than general.potting compost, because seedlings do better without the extra nutrients.
Having said that ... Which? do a test of composts each year, and this year they found that Verve multi-purpose compost (B&Q own brand) was just as effective for raising seeds as their seed compost which was, like most seed composts, more expensive. I have used Verve MP this year with very good germination and growth, and it's handier - and cheaper - just to have the one type of compost on the go.