Compost Testing and Final Result

13 pots with different compost mixes, same vegetabless, two months' growth.
Plants are Medania spinach and White Lisbon spring onion, set in the pots at 4-6 weeks old, from module trays.
Grown in my greenhouse 4th April to 14th May.

Pots are filled with one of four different composts, and also Homeacres soil, to which I added varying amounts of vermicast/worm compost.
The four composts are:
Homemade 8-9 month old compost sieved to 4mm,
3 year old woodchip sieved to 4mm,
Fresh mushroom compost,
Moorland Gold potting compost.

00:00 Introduction
00:30 Potting compost is any decomposed material, called potting soil in N America
01:10 Using actual soil or 'dirt'
01:25 How I grew the spinach and multisown spring onions in CD60 module trays
02:15 The different base materials in each of 12 pots
03:45 Reasons for adding no vermiculite or feeds/amendments
05:00 Details of the mixes
09:10 Now 16 days later, intermediate stage of growth which is now strong
10:05 Starting with pure soil, then soil with a quarter worm compost, etc
15:45 Four weeks later, results now quite different!, illustrating long term performance
19:25 Encouraging growth improvement from mushroom compost which was fresh
20:55 Likewise, strong growth now from homemade compost
22:55 Make your own cheaper mix
23:20 We learn more by tapping out each pot to check it's root system and vigour
20:32 Worm compost has good nutrients but is often soggy
25:55 Ideas for making combinations for potting mixes
26:55 Make your own if you can, part of being a good gardener

Vermicast I used here is from the wormery of John Atack whose video selection is    • gardening  

The lovely music is from a song about Homeacres by Jacqui Vincent https://jacquivincent.bandcamp.com/re...

My earlier potting compost video is    • Comparing different composts for prop...  

Filmed and edited by Alessandro Vitale @Spicy Moustache at Homeacres in SW England, temperate oceanic climate, spring 2022

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