Muddymike wrote:
"Christina Websell" wrote in
message ...
"Muddymike" wrote in message
...
I have several large pots and tubs to fill and refill this
year
and am thinking of getting out the cement mixer and mixing up
my
own concoction of garden soil, home compost and a suitable
fertilizer.
But
1. what fertilizer and what ratio of soil to compost
should I use?
2. should I add anything else? Sand?

This is when you need the info I have written down in my blue
book, which was rubbished by people who said "you can find all
this on the internet"
My blue book tells me how to replicate various John Innes
compost at home. And lots of other things. Make wine from
potatoes? my blue book tells me how. Refried beans? there's a
recipe in there. Etc.
Tina

Ok so what does your blue book say about the ratio of what comes
out of my compost heap to soil and what fertiliser do I add for
my tubs? A search of the internet says I must use peat and that
my soil should be pasteurised on an oven. I don't think SWMBO
would be very impressed by me baking barrow loads of loam:-)

Mike


A recipie which I have used with great success over the years (although
nor very politically correct in this dayband age) is a mix of 3 parts
moss peat to 1 part sharp sane (by volume) with Chempak potting base
added in the correct ratio. It provides a good stable base for the
plants. It ought to be possible to substitute a mor friendle base for
the peat.

Malcolm

ps Before I'm flamed for using too much peat, I now only use it in
small quantities for bringing on plug plants - I've not found anything
better.