"Muddymike" wrote in message
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"Christina Websell" wrote in message
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"Muddymike" wrote in message
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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:-)

I'm busy with work atm, but I am off tomorrow and will try to post what my
blue book says about how to replicate all the types of John Innes.
My blue book reminds me "John Innes is a formula - not a brand name."
When my brother was small, maybe about 4, my mother was interested in
growing stuff and used to take him to the garden centre.
One day he said to her "Are we going to the shop today to get some John and
Pete?" (peat)
We've never let him forget it, he's 44 now and he still remembers asking
that question. Probably because his name is John.
Tina