Soil Question (again)

[chris]

Popped down B&Q and Wickes earlier today to see what offers they had on compost/top soil.

I saw that B&Q had some B&Q Organic Living Soil Improver 75 Litres, 0000003723203 for just less than a fiver a bag. How is this different to compost/manure? It says it's from green waste and peat free, so an ideal alternative to peat.

I'm about to get some top soil delivered, but if it turns out to be *rubbish, I'd like to know if I can use some of this with it and plant in straight away (given march is a week away).

I also have a load of compost from bags I've bought whilst it was on offer throughout Winter, etc - can I mix this in with the top soil too?

What's the difference between soil improver & compost bought from the shops also? £5 for 75l isn't that bad, but B&Q do have 50l compost bags - buy two get one free - working our at £13.98 for 150l, which is more but then I also saw some grow more grow compost sacks (organic) that say cut the top, roll it down and then plant your leeks/carrots/spuds directly into the sacks - they werearound a fiver again, working out at 10p a litre according to the signage.

I'm afraid I may have left it a little late, as I can't find any decent soil provider arond here that isn't extortionate. Given that I'm forking out for a greenhouse, i'd like to try and keep the soil costs down as much as poss

[rustylady]

Where do you need the soil/compost for? The greenhouse or the garden?

[Two_Sheds]

How is this different to compost/manure?

It is made from composted bark and composted green waste plant material: it will be quite 'rough' and twiggy.
Manure is, well, you know what manure is.

I also have a load of compost ... can I mix this in with the top soil too?

yes, mix it all in

What's the difference between soil improver & compost bought from the shops also?

Soil improvers (well-rotted manure, garden compost etc) tend to beef up the soil a bit.
Multi-purpose compost is a bit light & fluffy for veg growing, although it's OK for starting them off.

[PAULW]

Popped down B&Q and Wickes earlier today to see what offers they had on compost/top soil.

I saw that B&Q had some B&Q Organic Living Soil Improver 75 Litres, 0000003723203 for just less than a fiver a bag.

Whats in it SHERGAR sh1t?
Its nice to see a new class of super rich that have taken an interest in becoming allotment holders

1 Whats wrong with your soil at the moment

2 Wales is full of horses is there no stables near by

3 Why the rush

[chris]

A new class of super rich? If I were super rich, I'd have someone who I could get all this done for me ! Plus I'd not be living in bloody Caerphilly, no matter what the wifes said. The reason for moving here from Cardiff is that the house prices were *a lot* cheaper (i.e. we're talking about 70k difference for the same size house).

1) No soil in there at the mo I had to dig some beds out (all slate/pebbles/chippings).

2) There's a riding school yes, but certain veg can't go in freshly manured ground - so that's why I was asking if the improver was ok to use.

3) I've a load of seedlings ready and waiting to go out - plus I'm impaitent

[PAULW]

CHRIS
Thought you were super rich paying a fiver for a bag of compost, there are threads around the site with people giving the best price for compost the one I use and quite happy to recomend is Wickes 300ltr for £12,
IMO soil improver is just that for adding to heavy soil not as a replacement for soil no nutriants or goodness in the stuff.
I have seen an advert from one of the big soil suppliers for loam which should give you a better base to work from, dont know what the price is but should work out cheaper than your £5 bags of compost.

[Bigmallly]

Check out this thread Chris, it may be of interest to you.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...fers-here.html

[chris]

Ah I see thanks for the link, didn't see that offer in my local b&q but will double check tomorrow!

Not sure what word I used for rubbish, but sorry Sarah

[Two_Sheds]

Not sure what word I used for rubbish, but sorry Sarah

rhymes with quite, starts with SH

*slaps naughty wrist

[chris]

Just phoned a top soil supplier locally to me, who said he'd advice growing spuds the first year in the soil provided, as they'll go black if there's anything wrong with the soil? (30/tonne) - if I wanted clean soil safe for veg, then it's around 125/tonne..

Has anyone else heard of owt like this?

[chris]

bugger it!

I'm going to use rolawndirect (well a supplier of - £64/tonne) - organic, veg + fruit stuff - seems to be decent and the bird on the phone was v.helpful

[chris]

Here we go. I'd like to say my good byes now, as I'm having 3 tonnes delivered tomorrow - dropped over the back wall (loose).

My wife is seriously going to kill me when she sees the mound heh, she wasn't happy that I found an amazing garden centre in a town not too far away, and I just went in there and dropped a wee suprise on the credit card!

[Bren In Pots]

My wife is seriously going to kill me when she sees the mound heh,

Tell her it must be a big mole hill

[chris]

Or maybe a Triceratops walked through the garden and dropped it's load...

I'll try, but I don't think it'll work heh.

[Two_Sheds]

the bird on the phone was v.helpful

wow. I haven't heard that since the 70's