Several gardeners don’t have good soil to begin gardening. The soil may have a problem like more acidic or basic, too much sandy or clayey, etc. However, if you have good soil to start with, it will lose its nutrients after every season. That’s where the multipurpose compost comes into play, to maintain fertility and nourish the plants that grow in it. Let’s see Is multipurpose compost suitable for vegetables?
There are several types of fertilizers available in the market. Also, they are specific in nutrients like sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen, etc. But no fertilizer can beat Multipurpose compost in terms of organic nourishment.
Organic compost has microorganisms that help the plant absorb nutrients from the soil.
Composting is an effective and eco-friendly method of composting, which involves using a series of layers of different materials to decompose food scraps and other organic matter. This process is ideal for creating a compost pile because it allows the compost to mature and break down over time. The result is a nutrient-rich compost that can be used for gardening
There are different types of compost available in the market. Each has its own different purpose in the field. But here we discuss multipurpose compost.
Can we use multipurpose compost for growing vegetables?
The simplest answer to that question would be Yes. We can use multipurpose compost for growing our own vegetables in the garden. Multipurpose compost is a type of organic composting method that can be used for both vegetable and flower plants.
However, there is a limitation to using it. Multipurpose compost is not good as targeted composts that are available in the market. They are good for general purposes and can be used while sowing seeds, and growing veggies in containers or pots.
Multipurpose compost can be used for growing vegetables, flowers, herbs, fruits, and more. This is a great way to save money by growing your own food.
How to Use Multipurpose Compost To Grow Vegetables?
Follow the steps to grow veggies in a container using multipurpose compost
Select a pot
Pot or container selection is the most important step of all. You have to choose a perfect size container for your plant. If you are choosing herbs to grow in your container garden, a small pot would easily do that. But, If you are planning to grow vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, etc. A large container of at least 12-inch diameter would be required.
Well, you can use grow bags also as containers to grow herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables. They are cheap, made of fabric, lightweight, and can easily be carried to other places. Moreover, they have a lot of holes that help in the air circulation for the roots.
You can buy grow bags easily online.
Make Drainage Hole
Check if the container you are going to grow your crops has a drainage hole? Whether the pot is of clay or plastic, it must have drainage holes at the bottom surface. Holes are necessary for removing extra water and air circulation so that roots can breathe. It also prevents the root rot from developing. To make the drainage better, add some gravel or pebbles at the bottom before filling the pot or container with soil.
If you are comfortable growing your crops in grow bags then there is no need for drainage holes in that case. They already have holes in the bottom and on the surface of the fabric which provide perfect air circulation.
Making Growing Medium With Multipurpose Compost
You cannot directly sow the seeds in the multipurpose compost. Add sand or perlite to the compost to make a better-growing medium. Pertile is a lightweight and non-toxic additive that goes well with soil. Try to maintain a ratio of 1:1 while mixing Soil and multipurpose compost. All I mean to say is that the ratio should be equal. Now mix them and your growing medium is ready. Fill your pot with this growing medium by leaving the top 4-5 inches.
Note: If you are growing seeds or cuttings then the sand-compost mix is best. But if you are growing vegetables, then garden soil and multipurpose compost mix would work best. The ratio remains the same.
Always grow seeds according to the season. In that way, seasonal crops get better exposure to the conditions in which they would like to grow. Before sowing seeds in the pot add a thin layer of multipurpose compost on the top of the soil. As mentioned above, compost is best for the germination of seeds.
Do not sow the seeds too deep in the soil. Bury them about 1-inch or less In the soil. Also, sow the seeds 3 inches apart if you are planting in the same container. This distance will turn in more germination rate.
When the seeds germinated and seedlings emerge out of the soil, transplant the seedlings into other big pots when they develop proper leaf sets.
Why Use Multipurpose Compost only in Container while growing veggies?
First of all, multipurpose compost is not as good as specific purpose compost available in the market. And multipurpose compost provides nutrients for 5-6 weeks only.
This is the reason that they are considered very good for the germination of seeds. Also, so many container garden vegetables have a short growth time. So, they are best to grow in containers using multipurpose compost. Moreover, they add extra nutrients to the soil and maintain its fertility.
Also Read: How To Grow Aluminum Plant?
Benefits of Using Multipurpose Compost For Growing Veggies
Best for Seeds – If you don’t feel comfortable growing your own nursery seedlings and/or just need to grow many many different varieties of veggies, then multipurpose compost is the best for you.
Most gardening experts agree that this is the best compost for growing seeds. It has a great texture, making it very easy for seedlings to grow. You can also sow and grow herbs and flowering plants.
Multipurpose compost can keep your soil wet longer than potting soil. This property will decrease the need to water your plants. It’s still important to water your compost regularly.
You need to have plants that require lots of water to grow in a pot, and this compost will hold that water for your plant. It’s available in a wide range of sizes to suit most of your needs.
Multipurpose compost is 100% organic and free of any harmful chemicals. There’s nothing to worry about it being weed-free or toxic to the environment.
How To Make Your Own Multipurpose Compost For Growing Veggies?
Making your own multipurpose compost is a very easy and satisfying process. For making your own, you will need a garden sieve, an equal part of the soil, leaf mulch, and a shovel.
To get started with indoor gardening, you will need the following items. Kitchen compost. Mix all these ingredients in a bag. And grow your veggies in containers using your own multipurpose compost.
Few Tips for Users of Multipurpose Compost.
When you make compost, add some water. It will make the compost wet, so it will be easier to re-wet.
This is a great idea to plant some veggies for winter storage. Multipurpose compost has high peat content and should provide nutrients for a few months. Most liquid feed products will work fine too.
A high peat concentration makes it a good water holder. Some companies produce peat-free compost. Buy it according to your needs. Before buying, make sure the bag of compost is not affected by water (water or humidity). Moisture can make your compost compact and smelly.
And we always want our compost to be light, dry, and crumbly, so it stays well-mixed, doesn’t have clumps of soil sticking out, and it’s great-textured.
Read More on Container Gardening.
Thanks For Reading. Happy Gardening.