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Re: fertilizers -- i'm confused!

Hi Dave,

> I am in the process of setting up a cold frame. The soil mix I have been
> mixing together is as follows:

> 2 good top soil
> 1 peat moss
> 1 sheep manure
> 1 rice hulls

> I would like to ask if I
> Should  add lime to this mix and if this mix is a good general mix for
> the cold frame use.

> Thanks so much,

> Dave

The final pH of your mix will be determined by what goes into it and how much.

Good top soil should have a pH near neutral, but doesn't necessarily - if you
live west of the rockies most native soils are acidic, to the east more
alkaline (the rest of the world I don't know about! ;-).  Then it depends upon
what has already been added ... a soil test will tell you for sure, not only
your pH but what you might be lacking or have in excess.

Peat moss is quite acidic, about 4.5pH, so definitely will need lime to sweeten
it up to neutral (or close).  Here is a general guide that works well for me -
for every 5 imperial gallons (6 US gallons or 23 litres) of peat moss add 2 cups
of fine grade dolomite lime (the powdery stuff).

Sheep manure, once fully decomposed, should be near neutral.  Compost has the
interesting quality of neutralizing acid or alkaline soils.  I think your
proportion of 1 part manure to 4 parts "other stuff" is a good, fairly rich mix.

Rice hulls are a new one to me, I've just had access to them for the first time
this year and haven't used them yet.  From what I understand though they help
loosen the medium and take awhile to break down, eventually becoming humus.
AFAIK, they don't add any nutrition to the soil nor effect the pH.

I think good top soil and lots of compost are all you really need, they are the
best of the best - living soil - but if you already have these materials then go
ahead and use them, they will help.

Good luck,

   ____________________
  |                    |
  |     Bob Carter     | Kootenay Bay, BC, Canada
  |  bcarter@awinc.com | Zone 6b
  |____________________|




Nine times out of ten the statisticians are wrong.

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