Is Mushroom Mulch Good For Vegetable Garden
In the example if you want to add a 3 inch layer of mulch you will need 10 cubic feet of mushroom compost 3 inches equals 0 25 feet so 40 x 0 25 10.
Is mushroom mulch good for vegetable garden. Due to its alkalinity it is wrong to use mushroom compost for acid loving ericaceous plants. Is mushroom compost good for a vegetable garden. We started about five 5 years ago with one 1 part top soil in you case pond dirt two 2 parts compost i prefer mushroom and one 1 part sand for good drainage. Having purchased several bags i rolled up my sleeves and got to work.
While it works quite well for growing mushrooms it isn t as good for other plants. Mushroom compost can often be bought cheaply in bulk for use as a soil conditioner or mulch. At this point the private grower discards the mushroom compost. Like tomato plants the increase in soil moisture and nutrients aids in overall growth.
I ve been using 10 pounds sterilized compost mushroom substrate which had the highest rating on amazon and also had the greatest number of reviews at the time. Mushroom compost itself is not a suitable replacement for soil. Mushroom compost is a great way to increase production for most vegetable. I also fertilize with organic fish emulsion at a rate of one 1 tablespoon per gallon once a month.
Mushroom compost for gardening. It is usually available as spent mushroom compost referring to the fact it is the compost left over from mushroom farming. 5 purchase your mushroom compost from a. I have added one part compost mushroom and food scraps each year after.
A good mix of 25 spent mushroom compost to 75 soil is a good ratio to start out with for container use and you can fine tune it from there. However it often contains some peat which is no longer recommended for horticultural use due to the damage to peatland ecosystems which contribute to climate change. This is when the grower sells as much of the mushroom compost to the local gardening supply stores nurseries and landscapers as he can. It still has plenty of nutritional value but not enough to meet the for profit grower s intense demands.
Mushroom compost is generally sold in bags labeled as smc or sms spent mushroom compost or spent mushroom substrate. It is mainly used as a mulch and soil conditioner to improve ornamental and vegetable garden. Mushroom compost is also referred to as spent mushroom compost since it obtained from the remains of mushroom farming. Most vegetables grow better in an alkaline soil which mushroom compost provides.
It is available at many garden centers or through landscape supply companies. Image by ian sommerville flickr cc license. Packed with organic matter and often used as a good soil conditioner and a first rate mulch mushroom compost is earning its well deserved place as a gardening staple if you want to make the color in your garden last and keep your blooms and evergreens colorful mushroom compost is your go to choice. Mushroom compost slowly releases nutrients into the soil and encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria fungus.