From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Newville, PA

Is mushroom compost a suitable compost to use in the patch? I have been looking around to see where I can get a large load of compost and this popped up. I just want to make sure that this is something that would work with pumpkin plants instead of against. Thanks!

3/25/2015 2:01:59 PM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

1)There are different substrates for different mushrooms and techniques (cottonseed hulls, meals, sawdust, wood shavings, manures, etc...) What was this compost made from?
2)Are you planning to grow in this spot this season? (mushroom compost is generally well suited for fungal microbial growth, but should be given time to compost/break down even more into a soil like texture (add green) before using in season)
3)If this compost is already "soil like" then it is ready to go! Good luck.

3/25/2015 5:18:37 PM

Newville, PA

The one guy I talked to said the mushroom compost he has is two years old and very dense. He can only deliver 6 yards of it at a time because of the weight. It is $175 for 6 yards (delivered) but if I waited and wanted fresher it would be cheaper. He did not tell me what all is in the compost mixture so it has me a little hesitant to give the go ahead to deliver.

3/25/2015 10:01:59 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Mushroom soil is the primary additive for my patch. I also bury vines with it. It must be aged out in the open where rain can leach some salts out. 2 years should be good. It will raise your pH and it is good to know where the soil came from because they can tell you the analysis and ingredients. Don't get it right from the mushroom plant though because it will not be aged. Mine comes from Giorgio originally and it is pH 7.5. The only way to counter this from raising patch soil pH too high is to add elemental sulfur. So if your patch is already high in sulfur then forget it altogether.

One more comment, $175 for 6 yards delivered is a ripoff. The sellers get it for no cost in most cases because the mushroom plants MUST get rid of the spent soil constantly. I pay $12 a yard if I pick it up or occasionally I put up with a tri axle dump truck driving on my yard which costs around $200 delivered. Not sure the exact yardage there but a heck of a lot more than 6, like 3 times more. It won't hurt to ask for a better price or shop around.

3/30/2015 11:45:08 PM

Newville, PA

The email I received, the guy said because it is over two years old, it is very dense. So dense that because of the weight, he can only deliver 6 yards. I figured that was a little too high...so I have been looking around. Since I do not have a way to pick it up, I need it to be delivered. So far, I have found the two, this one and one that will deliver 60 yards for $495...which is a little too much.

3/31/2015 8:19:09 PM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

I use it and love it. Ask him where he gets it, then call them and see if they have an analysis sheet on it. It's a bit of tracking, but worth the effort. It's 30.00 a yard here, undelivered.

4/1/2015 6:28:38 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Dang I guess I am fortunate to have a huge mushroom plant 10 miles away... Just far enough to not have to smell it but close enough to get it cheap!

4/1/2015 9:44:50 AM

Newville, PA

The one I found has their compost for $2 a yard, but the delivery would have been $375 to bring it to my location. I am going to call them again since I do not need as much as I thought so the cost will decrease.

4/1/2015 8:29:47 PM

Ct

Try renting a pickup and get it yourself. PA. has several mushroom companies so it should be fairly local for you. Giorgi Mushroom is one that I went to. I drove 3 hours from Ct. For me it seemed to work best after getting it in fall and tilling it in for the next season. Probably cost you $10 for the compost.

4/5/2015 4:34:32 PM