Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Infilling Your SFG
SFG Infill Mixes:
The correct composting material is essential if you want to get the best results out of your
SFG,thisisparticularlythecaseifyouwanttorestricttheuseofchemicalfertilizersinyour
growing practices.
Of course the Mel Bartholomew recipe for SFG is well known - 1/3 Vermiculite, 1/3 Peat
moss, 1/3 compost - and has proven itself to be very effective. However don't let this put
you off mixing your own 'magic mix' for your SFG.
For instance Vermiculite helps keep soil light, allows for good airflow, and absorbs and re-
tains water - thus it makes a great addition to any SFG mix. However this can be quite ex-
pensive if you have more than one SFG planned and I have substituted this with the cheaper
Perlite,withnoilleffectsthatIcouldnotice.Iwouldalsoaddthatprovidedyouhaveagood
mix of organic material in your compost, it is possible to either of the two and still have
healthy crops.
LikewisemanyfolksofamoreenvironmentalpersuasionareuncomfortablewithusingPeat
Moss in their mix as this is in their mind just another attack on the eco-system as Peat Moss
is a non-sustainable product that takes centuries to develop and its extraction irretrievably
harms the environment by releasing greenhouse gases into the air.
So is it absolutely essential to use Peat Moss in your SFG? The short answer is no it is not,
anditispossibletosubstitutepeatmosswithmoresustainableproductssuchascoconutcoir
dust which helps soil absorb and retain moisture in much the same way that peat does.
This product is produced from the waste product of the coconut plant - the hairy husk or
outer coating of the nut itself - making it a sustainable alternative to peat moss.
Will Vegetables grow in a pure compost mix?
Short answer - Absolutely! As an example check out the pic below and you will see a prize
Zucchini growing on top of a composting bin - pure compost no 'magic mix' involved.
Generally though, unless your compost has been through a riddle to sort out the rough from
the smooth; the 'pure' compost can be a little untidy and unmanageable for some veggies
that grow better in a more compact (not compressed) growing medium.
