Jala has given us an update on the growing media experiments. Also, in the past couple of weeks we have found two more resources to add to our posting from spring 2023. First, just as background and to keep everything together: https://golocalfood.org.uk/peat-and-going-peat-free/ here is the research we did in early 2023, and here https://golocalfood.org.uk/peat-free-growing-media-experiments/ are Jala’s experiments she reported to us in July.
Firstly, the growing media. Sizzle helped us with some soil analysis. This can be used to help adjust for 2024 growing season!
Sizzle said our home-produced compost is really good! The best pH ever seen!
“Original soil – Low in N, P and K – needs a boost, could use a standard NPK fertiliser to add in more nutrients; low in Ca – suggest some lime addition as this would increase Ca and Mg.
Tilled soil – Low in N, P and K – needs a boost, could use a standard NPK fertiliser to add in more nutrients; Low in Ca – suggest some lime addition as this would increase Ca and Mg; low in Mg – as above but important to increase.
Compost – Best pH I have ever seen for a compost – unfortunately, meaning it possibly contains a lot of peat from Halls of Heddon. Nevertheless, great (pH-wise) to be used all over the site. Perfect N levels; low in P – could do with a boost; perfect K; perfect Mg.
No dig – Low in N, P, K – needs a boost, could use a standard NPK fertiliser to add in more nutrients; low in K – as above; low in Ca – suggest some lime addition as this would increase Ca and Mg; low in Mg – as above but important to increase.
Overall the results are good, Sizzle would advise the addition of a standard compound fertiliser (20:10:10 NPK) which can be applied in spring to rejuvenate the soils. If GoLocal Food do not want to use an inorganic fertiliser we need to mulch really well with their compost over winter – something like 3-4 inches across the site. We can still plant into the soil with the mulch on top.
One thing to note is that the analysis is ‘water soluble’ so there is likely higher levels of nutrients bound into the soil. This has a much higher cation exchange capacity in comparison to standard growing media, so the nutrients will be bound to the active sites. Soil is very different to growing media, I have based my advice on the reference values from RB209 for root veg and salad crops.”
Right! We have all this as a spreadsheet, with more detail, if anybody is interested – just ask! We know there are some spreadsheet fans out there!
And now, over to two more resources to listen to over the dormant winter months, if you feel like it!
Growing Greener – Why Compost? – Podcast on Spotify
Compost is amazing for your plants, your soil, and the biodiversity in your garden. Pus making your own saves you money. So why do only one third of gardeners make their own? Many think that compost is: “Hard work, prone to failure, smelly and full of rats.”, not so, Ken Thompson, author of ‘Compost’ argues. Ken joins Arit to discuss and dispel the myths and misunderstandings of composting, and to convince listeners that compost is environmental black gold, not a load of old rot.
The Seed Pod – Peat Free April – Podcast on Spotify
Richard and Becky talk to garden writer and organic farmer Sally Morgan about why Peat is such an important resource and about the campaign Peat Free April.
