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Gilbertsville PA

Would mushroom soil be good to add to your patch in the spring time ?
thanks

1/28/2004 7:46:35 PM

Norton, MA

Do you mean mushroom compost. If so put it all in.

1/28/2004 7:53:03 PM

Montoursville, PA

Mike........go ahead with mushroom compost. I would use up to three inches this spring and more with manures in the fall. Leaves are strictly a fall addition or compost material this summer. Try your best to get a good compost pile going for fall and spring use next year.

1/28/2004 9:09:49 PM

[email protected]

Doc and Mike,

Any ideas where to get mushroom compost in bulk in our area? Northeastern PA I have found isnt a haven for bulk composting facilities, or atleast none that I have had the pleasure of discovering. I have often wanted to put 3-6 inches on, but havent found it in more than 40 pound bags. I have given some thought to Zachs home hydroponics out of North Tonowanda New York that has what he calls Pumpkin master pallets. Very interesting combos here.. Take a look and tell me what you think..

Pumpkin Master pallet# 1 (189.99 plus 40 bucks S & H)
90 Pounds mushroom compost
20 pounds Mexican bat guano (10-20-0)
55 pounds Peruvian Sea Bird guano (11-13-3)
20 pounds Ecogrow M (20-6-12)
4 gallons Fish emulsion fertilizer (5-1-1)
4 gallons Dark Energy (foliar or soil)
------------------------------
Pumpkin Pallet # 2 (Same price as pallet # 1)
110 pounds Algamin Kelp meal (1-0-2)
4 gallons ALaska Fish fertilizer (5-1-1)
55 pounds Peruvian Sea Bird guano (11-13-3)
------------------------------
Pumpkin Pallet # 3 (169.99 + 85 bucks S & H)
245 pounds Worm castings
20 pounds Mexican Bat guano (10-20-0)

I like all three, but was wondering what you, the pumpkin community would go for if you went for any of these. I could drive to N Tonowanda and get it to save me the S & H, just curious what you people are thinking..

1/28/2004 9:55:55 PM

Western Pa.

Find the nearest mushroom plant. Some plants sell all their compost to a single contractor or greenhouse. Several mushroom plants in my area have folded up, their stockpiles are depleting rapidly. Sells for $12-$16 a yard.

1/28/2004 10:40:12 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Must agree with Dwaine and Kilr, get it delivered by the yard or ton. Call a trucking company in your area and ask what they deliver. They will find it and drop it in your driveway...

Glenn

1/28/2004 11:46:35 PM

Saegertown Pa.

I have used mushroom soil for the past five years if you use to much it will stunt the plants and you will have a hard time setting pumpkins. In the fall I only use two three inches I have used up to five to six inches in the past and had nothing but trouble. I have never used it in the spring but if I did I would get it in as early as you can and no more than a inch. The biggest mistake you can make is using to much of any thing and throwing every thing out of balance.
Quinn

1/29/2004 5:51:53 AM

Western NY

rocky, if you're serously interested in ordering, let me know. i go to buffalo once in a while, and my sister lives in N. Ton. There's a new Gander Mountain store up there now, so that's reason enough to go.

Andy

1/29/2004 8:42:16 AM

Montoursville, PA

Rocky.....great looking stuff but!!!! Think 1000 sq. ft. to figure from my response here. A good organic dressing would be a maximum of 25lbs of organic 5-3-2 or something even lower numbered. Now I'll pick on Pallet #2 I would not use over fifteen to twenty pounds of kelp meal a year because it contains a growth stimulant as well as it's other known good qualities. As to Alaskan Fish Oils. Good stuff for sure but last summer I used a gallon and a half per the suggestions of Craig Lembke. Craig sells an equal cold pressed fish oil that may even be a tad better at a most fair competitive price. Fertrell a firm you already deal with sells kelp meal for about $30.00 for a 50lb. bag. Fertrell Fish is 5 gal. per about $30.00. Don't know if it is cold pressed or hot squeezed. They also have dry organic base mixed fertilizer from 2-2-4 all different ways up to 4-2-4. Even with these the suggested rate of application would be 25 lbs. max or half a bag per 1000 sq. ft. The cost of those bags is from $8.00 - $10.50. I used last year's pricing. For into the ground products Fertrell were you get your Azomite is hard to beat.
....Pallet #1 appears to have a synthetic Eco Grow M. I do not know of any way to make that organically and I see no need for that kind of Kick-Poo-Joy Juice. :) And four gallons of Dark Energy???? You can make and call it that from fish, kelp and molasses for about fifty cents a gallon.

....Not knocking your find there but I see way to much Nitrogen from some sources and unballanced inventory need per my best understanding. As pointed out I think you can do better reading up in your own Fertrell catalog given to my by North Slope Farm in Mount Pleasant, Pa. Tony and I have for the most part just placed our orders based on my comments above. If it would make any geographic sense I could pick up your's with ours. However beware! I have very wicked delivery costs. :)

1/29/2004 2:30:05 PM

Oz

kaolin mushroom farms....?
add peat moss ,canadian works for me.
ive been told not to use cypress "mulch"

1/29/2004 3:46:47 PM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

Hey Rocky:

I have a buddy who has a gardening shop down here who has bulk mushroom compost trucked up from Lancaster. I usually trade him a pumpkin or two at the end of the season in lieu of a few pickup truck loads. Let me know if you need any more information.

Ned

1/29/2004 9:01:07 PM