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- From: BCLuton AT aol.com
- To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
- Subject: [Market-farming] Potting Mixes
- Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:41:41 EST
Hi Andy,
Both Sunshine and Pro Mix have OMRI Approved potting soils now. I'm
not sure who's out there for suppliers in your area but I'm sure you could
contact W H Milikowski in East Syracuse. They carry both brands -
although the OMRI lines - may need to be ordered. I'm sure they'd have no
problem doing so as a pallet. And they do make deliveries throughout
NYS.
Griffin Greenhouse Supply in Auburn is a few miles closer to you but
I've always preferred working with the former.
Mike Mortas
WH Milikowski
6604 Joy Road
E. Syracuse, NY 13057
(877) 473-3609
------------------------------------
I should add that I've never used either products.
We mix our own potting soil which works quite well and is much more cost
effective. Its also nice because you can tweak the recipe a bit depending on
what you'll be seeding at that time. For example we up the compost
percentage for all squash, melons, brassicas, toms/peppers/etc.
We make about three batches per year. We premix the first in fall in
a 500 gallon Rubbermaid water trough and have fashioned a lid for it.
Ideally it sets in the greenhouse so its thawed come spring. We make
another batch in spring and another in early summer for fall
seedlings.
The mix is pretty straight forward. And there is certainly some
flexibility depending on your preferences / availability.
Generally speaking our mix consists of 2 bail's Black Peat
(Sunshine has an OMRI approved peat with no wetting agents), 1 Bag Course
Perlite(1/3yd.), 1 bag Course Vermiculite(1/3 yard), 2 bags garden
lime(this is non-hydrated and is usually in 25lb bags), 50 lbs.
Greensand, 25 lbs Rock Phos., 25 - 50 lbs. bone
meal, +/- half yard of finely screened finished compost.
My gut is that our immediately available feed needs are coming from the
bonemeal and compost. The minerals in the mix become available
later.(perhaps even in the field)
Last year we made a batch with Fertrell Gold Label Starter (2-4-2) which is
OMRI approved this covered the amendments. It was easier than mixing all
three. It seemed to work well. We happened to have it on hand but I
was somewhat concerned using it in a potting mix because of the Alfalfa
Meal. We'd previously played around with straight Alfalfa Meal as a
nitrogen source and found that it seems to suppress germination especially in
smaller seeded crops.
There are a number of good compost producers in upstate New York. My
neighbor at Toad Hollow Farms Natural Compost has a nice product. As do
the Knapps at Cobblestone Valley Farm in Preble. There is a vermi-compost
producer RT Solutions in Geneseo.(I've never used their compost) You
might consider calling Jean Bonhotal at Cornell Waste Management Institute (607)
255-2644 and asking for a list of registered compost producers in your
area.
Good luck.
Brian
PS - Is that your three row seeder listed in Phelps on Craigs
List? Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year. |
-
[Market-farming] Potting Mixes,
BCLuton, 01/19/2008
- Re: [Market-farming] Potting Mixes, Fellenz, 01/19/2008
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