Just stumbled into some coast of Maine products and decided to take full advantage. I wasn't quite ready but will not find this again easily so bought what I thought was good. Here is what I bought: Coast of Maine Penobscot blend 1 cu ft ($7.99 bag) Coast of Mainee bar harbor blend 1 cu ft Coast of Maine lobster compost 1 cu ft Bag of Vermont cow shit 30lbs I need to work with this and anything missing needs to come from Home Depot or lowes. What else do I need here??? Also.. How many parts of each to add? Leave out cow shit? My plan is to use some of the Penobscot blend for a few weeks in small container to start things out. I don't think this needs to cure does it? Meanwhile, blend others on a big tarp in the basement. Space is not so much an issue for me. Grow plan is something like 6-8 plants, 4x4 tent. Is there enough here for that?? Also.. First grow in a very very long time. Comments????? Happy growing to all!!!!
Hi Blondie. The Coast of Maine products are pretty darn good. I've used them a bunch before I started making enough of my own soils and composts from scratch. The problem that I've found with them is that they are pretty heavy and dense, and don't drain very well which can become a real problem. If I were you I would mix the 4 bags of CoM products and the manure together and then add an equal amount of ProMix to it to lighten it up. I am suggesting ProMix because it is easily bought at Home Depot/Lowe's and already contains a little bit of lime to help buffer the pH of the sphagnum peat it is made from. There is a good chance you will want to add some other kind of aeration to the mix but you'll know when you mix the ProMix and the CoM products mixed up. The ProMix does contain a little perlite already so you may be fine without adding any more aeration but no matter what please just make sure that you end up with a light and fluffy/well drained mix. You're also going to want to add some "plant food" to this mix. You can keep a little bit of the ProMix and CoM/manure (lets call that your "base" mix) aside to start your seedlings and small plants in butt there's really not much general nutrition in these items to get you through the long haul. I'd suggest just picking up some Epsoma Plant Tone or Garden Tone or a similar blended organic fertilizer right at Home Depot or Lowe's. For each Cubic Foot of your base soil mix you'll want to add around 3 cups of the blended organic fertilizer. Once you mix this all together, then wet it all and let it sit for a few weeks. You can be growing in the base mix anyhow while the fertilized mix is cycling. Feel free to ask away and welcome to the forum. j
Thanks for the info. Actually got coast of Maine based on an old thread from you.! I just finished putting my tent together and mixing soil. Got a huge tarp of dirt minus suggested additions. I thought the lobster compost had a bunch of good long haul nutrients, as did the Penobscot blend?? Guess that's not the case? I'll pick up additions in a day or two. Thanks.
They really don't which is why we add dry organic soil amendments to the mix. I think you'd be fine with a simple blended organic fert, which is why I suggested the Epsoma brand, although many are similar and just fine - Dr Earth and Down to Earth make a few too. Of course kelp, neem, rock dust and a few others would be nice but the basic blended fertilizer would be real cheap and work good too. Keep us posted. J
I just found locally coast of Maine earthworm castings (supposedly..). Would this do and is it better than suggested material??? Want to hear some good luck???? Walking down the street day ago. Walk by someone's recycling and there sits about 15 quart size plastic soil containers. Good for seedlings and clones I thought!! Correct???? I grabbed them and am planning to use. They were clean so I'm not worried about contaminants. I'm close to get started. Need a hanger for my light then I'm set...
Pro Grip, best $15 bucks I ever spent, or at least in the top 3. Was $15 bucks on ebay 4 years ago. Ended up with 3 sets. Don't get imitations or look alikes, Pro Grip does industrial tie downs/hangars and is the real deal. Wet
Thanks. Got epsoma garden mix and got some hangers! Need some other items for soil but will hang my light tonight and start my bag seeds. Was waiting for Girl Scout cookies but looks like they are not going to make it. Oh well. Thanks for advice here.