How much compost?

[MacT]

Hi guys, as my gardening will be in pots and planters is there a "rule of thumb" for filling them with compost as not to overfill and waste compost? which is turning out to be my biggest expense thus far.

[rustylady]

Firstly make sure you have the right size pot or planter for what you intend to grow in it. I fill my pots to within an inch of the top.

[Florence Fennel]

For the biggest pots I put shredded newspaper, grass clippings, bottle tops, polystyrene chips in the bottom before filling with compost. Saves a bit.

[taff]

you'd be amazed at how little compost some things will need. If you can be super-vigilant about watering and feeding, you can easily halve anything you think needs a certain size...
did that make sense?

[Potstubsdustbins]

It really does depend on what you are growing in the pot. For instance I use black buckets for runner beans, one piece of polystyrene in the bottom to allow plenty of root space, but only fill to within 2" of the rim. Runners are greedy plants and in pots require lots of water, if you leave that space at the top you can water much quicker by filling the space.

If you let us know what you intend to grow we could advise better.

Colin

[Two_Sheds]

is there a "rule of thumb" for filling them with compost as not to overfill and waste compost?

I might be way off, but I'm guessing you're sowing seeds into big pots?

If so, start off in small (3") pots instead. You should pot on into a bigger pot once the roots start showing through the bottom holes.

Bought compost is expensive: have you started making your own? Leafmould?