Anyone ever use mushroom compost?

[feminazi]

I was at a local nursery last night checking out their bulk compost for my sheet mulching experiment and all they had in bulk was something called "mushroom compost". Have any of you used anything like this and did it work out ok?

I would prefer to use a compost with some manure in it....it just sounds so much...uummmmmm.. richer. The mushroom compost did not appear to have any manure. They were closing so I didn't get a chance to talk to anyone about it.

TIA.

[TygrBright]

1. Mushroom compost is excellent compost!

You don't need manure, per se... the value of compost is in the organic matter and the micro-organisms it supports. Because members of the fungus family live by decomposing organic waste, they're some of the best compost-makers around, and produce nutrient-rich, ready-to-use organic matter rich with all kinds of food for soil microorganisms. If you really want the area to take off running, scatter a light coating of bio-activator (inactive but live soil microorganisms,) before you put the weed-barrier part of the sheet mulching down. Wet it down, put down the weed-barrier material (thick layer of old newspapers, corrugated cardboard, whatever...) wet that down, then your compost layer, wet that down, then your mulch layer. If you get it all in just before snowfall you might be ready to plant as soon as next spring.

Good luck! Here's my thread on sheet mulching:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=246x4245

I added another layer and it all settled in nicely. Hoping for good snow this year!

anticipatorially,
Bright

[feminazi]

2. Thanks, TygrBright!!

You always provide helpful responses. Mushroom compost it is!

BTW, I don't think I have to worry about snow....it hasn't snowed in this part of CA since about 1975. :)

[feminazi]

3. Whoa...the dreaded 666 post!

:scared:

[OnionPatch]

4. Mushroom compost does have manure in it!

Mushrooms are grown in manure in caves. Mushroom compost is the partially used and decomposed manure and "duff" leftover from that process. At least this is what I was told at my local nursery.

I buy a truckload or two every gardening season to mix into my vegetable garden soil. Repeated application has really improved my clay soil, turning it all crumbly and black. I also side-dress with it throughout the growing season and I've had very good results.

[feminazi]

5. Glad to hear of your success

Especially since I spent this weekend shoveling 3 yards of it into the backyard. Then I covered it with a nice layer of straw. I can't wait to see how it turns out this spring.

[NJCher]

6. yep, by the truckload

Is the way to buy this compost. It's about 4 a bag otherwise.




Cher