Grow Your Own Magazine

Watching Gardener's World on uktv Gardens at the moment and Monty is mixing vermiculite with the compost and then putting another layer of vermiculite on top to stop a crust forming.

So anyone do this? Does it work well? And after you've emptied that seed tray can you reuse the vermiculite/compost mix just as well?

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Rachel

Trying to tame the mad thing called a garden and failing

My Garden Mayhem...inspirational blog for me I hope!

I mix vermiculite with my compost, it seems to make it nicer to work with somehow, but I dont bother with the vermiculte 'lid'.

Thanks Seeing as I can't do much at the moment I'm trying to think ahead!

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Rachel

Trying to tame the mad thing called a garden and failing

My Garden Mayhem...inspirational blog for me I hope!

We started doing this last year as we'd had problems with mould in the propergators. Worked a treat.
Just chucked the old soil into the compost.

I try not to spend any money if I can help it, so no vermiculite. To stop mould, I put a layer of dry compost on top of the damp. To water I do it from the bottom so the top stays dry

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

I use vermiculite on nearly all my sowings, the only ones i don't are larger seeds like peas and beans that are a good 1cm below the compost. For smaller seeds i sow onto the compost surface, press to make sure they are in contact and then sprinkle about 0.5cm vermiculite on top. I get excellent germination usually and the compost doesn't dry out so quickly.

I don't bother mixing it in with the compost, but i add gritty sand instead. i rarely use propriatary 'seed' compost, i just use regular multi-purpose or potting compost, so the sand improves the drainage.

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There's vegetable growing in the family, but I must be adopted
Happy Gardening!

I tried the vermiculite 'lid' on a few sowings and concluded that it made no difference at all, so now don't bother. I do mix it in with the compost though, and for those seeds who require covering just use compost (JI seed)

I've taken to using vermiculite on top of small seeds and it seems to work very well - the seeds seem to have less trouble pushing through.

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http://inelegantgardener.blogspot.com
Updated 13th September

I think if you are careful not to compact the surface of the compost (by watering from above etc) you should have no problems with seedlings breaking through. I have tried using vermiculite, (and still sometimes mix with compost for fuchsia cuttings) but generally speaking I manage with just multipurpose or seed compost.

I use it on top and then just then just dampen it with one of those misters for house plants.
deb