Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: adri123 on January 09, 2016, 10:30

Title: Conditioning Soil?
Post by: adri123 on January 09, 2016, 10:30

Hi

In the PT we have 8 large raised beds.  I'd like to condition the soil and will be adding some home made compost and other things.  I have seen plenty of examples of other beds in tunnels where something like vermiculite has been added to the soil to improve aeration and drainage etc.

Is it vermiculite?  I'd like to buy a lot of the stuff so where would you get say a bulk bag?

Thanks in advance.

Adri

Title: Re: Conditioning Soil?
Post by: sunshineband on January 09, 2016, 12:05

Vermiculite lightens the soil so that air can be incorporated more easily whilst it is free draining. Perlite is similar.

Best place for bulk buy is eBay, and for beds I would choose the coarsest grade.

It will work out quite pricey to get enough to use in this way, so perhaps do one bed at a time to see if it is helpful. Your soil might already be light and free draining of course!

Title: Re: Conditioning Soil?
Post by: Norfolkgrey on January 09, 2016, 13:04

If you only want it for beds you can get 100lt sacks of large grade stuff from a builders merchant around £10 + vat. AKA Micafil or silvaperl, they use it for flue linings

Title: Re: Conditioning Soil?
Post by: sunshineband on January 09, 2016, 14:56

Quote from: Norfolkgrey on January 09, 2016, 13:04

If you only want it for beds you can get 100lt sacks of large grade stuff from a builders merchant around £10 + vat. AKA Micafil or silvaperl, they use it for flue linings

Now there's a thought ......

Title: Re: Conditioning Soil?
Post by: adri123 on January 09, 2016, 22:17

Been to builders merchants and bought 5 sacks of 100l

Thx to the repliers!

Adri

Title: Re: Conditioning Soil?
Post by: compostqueen on January 10, 2016, 17:22

Mmmmm sounds a bit artificial.  You can use sand, mushroom compost, spent hops, muck. All natural. I would shy away from anything that wasn't. Do you know what this stuff is made from? 

Title: Re: Conditioning Soil?
Post by: Norfolkgrey on January 10, 2016, 18:33

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermiculite


Edit to fix link