[bargainhunter]

Hello
I thought I should put down my observations about the AMK Black Potting soil effect on Leafy Veg seeds cf TREF.

After reading about the wonders of TREF and the glowing report from everyone on GCS, I was practically using TREF for everything!

Then I went to AMK Nursery one day to get some lime powder and mentioned that I wanted to start growing leafy veg - like Little Gem and local lettuce. So the uncle there told me to try a bag of his Black potting soil. I was quite doubtful, because it looked very dense... But I bought it anyway.

Well, I have 2 styrofoam boxes of chye sim seeds and 1 styrofoam box of rhubarb seeds (just experimenting).
And I used 90% TREF and 10% Burnt Earth underneath layer. Nothing happened for a long time -maybe the constant rain didn't give it any chance a month ago. But finally a few sprouts.. And have remained as little spriuts fgor the last 2 weeks.

Then I started a new plastic trough of Little Gem and Local Lettuce seeds using roughly 70% Black Potting Soil and 30% Burnt Earth. And a week later, srpouts and mor growth within 2 weeks.

So...? I'm not sure what to conclude. Too many variables. Rain? Styrofoam box? Soil?

Would anyone be able to give some insights?
thanks!

[Chawanmushi]

Are you using seeds from the same lot as your first lot?
If you are using different seeds then there is no basis for comparison at all cos' your first lot of seeds may have poor germination rate and non-viable seeds. And the second lot of seeds are all viable seeds.

So if you wanna really do a comparison of the soil you got to keep some constant factors and vary only the soil factors.

May I suggest ....
Use two plastic containers of same amount of soil but two different types of soil.
Use the same lot of chye sim seeds. Put them in the same area and give them the same amount of water and sunlight. Then the trial done this way would at least let you know if the soil really matters.

[bargainhunter]

Chawanmushi, on 08 August 2010 - 07:38 PM, said:

Are you using seeds from the same lot as your first lot?
If you are using different seeds then there is no basis for comparison at all cos' your first lot of seeds may have poor germination rate and non-viable seeds. And the second lot of seeds are all viable seeds.

So if you wanna really do a comparison of the soil you got to keep some constant factors and vary only the soil factors.

May I suggest ....
Use two plastic containers of same amount of soil but two different types of soil.
Use the same lot of chye sim seeds. Put them in the same area and give them the same amount of water and sunlight. Then the trial done this way would at least let you know if the soil really matters.

Yea, thanks Chawan - I know my science experiment skills are not being used here... I was just wondering if someone would immediately confirm that the Black Potting soil is more suitable because wetter or something.

I bought the seeds from different sources at roughly the same time: Little Gem/Local Lettuce (Mr Fothergill)from UK JUne trip; the Chinese Chye Sim seeds from SGF stall in July. The rhubarb is old (so not part of question actually).

I'm just wondering maybe different veg like different types of soil....

Yes, Maybe I try to grow the chye sim seeds in Black Potting soil next to the lettuces and see how.
... cannot escape real experiment... control subject etc etc...
ok i try that.

[rummi]

bargainhunter, on 08 August 2010 - 09:04 PM, said:

I'm just wondering maybe different veg like different types of soil....

Hope u wun get too disappointed with the lacklustre answer coming up :hysterical:/>

The local green vegetables grow well in any soil. Grew them in $2NTUC soil, leftover 'rojak' soil from different bags, recycle soil from old pots add a few chixpoos, all can germinate can grow. So I saved the expensive TREF for more 'delicate' plants.

[bargainhunter]

rummi, on 09 August 2010 - 12:47 AM, said:

Hope u wun get too disappointed with the lacklustre answer coming up :hysterical:/>

The local green vegetables grow well in any soil. Grew them in $2NTUC soil, leftover 'rojak' soil from different bags, recycle soil from old pots add a few chixpoos, all can germinate can grow. So I saved the expensive TREF for more 'delicate' plants.

Hello! How's the juicer and juicing? :)/>
O I see - I know kangkong takes any soil, as does sweet potato leaves. But little gem is not quite local right?But it still is responding to cheaper soil (Black potting soil - quite close to your $2 a bag soil). The thing is I'm paranoid about pests etc in cheap soil... frightened by all the stories on GCS. And I don't bake or boil my soil....

But I suppose if you have been successful, it must be right...
I have been composting fruitpulp in one part of the garden - which is near the sweet potato and courgette plants... Maybe that's the soil I can use too for the veg.

thanks

[rummi]

bargainhunter, on 09 August 2010 - 12:57 AM, said:

Hello! How's the juicer and juicing? :)/>
O I see - I know kangkong takes any soil, as does sweet potato leaves. But little gem is not quite local right?But it still is responding to cheaper soil (Black potting soil - quite close to your $2 a bag soil). The thing is I'm paranoid about pests etc in cheap soil... frightened by all the stories on GCS. And I don't bake or boil my soil....

But I suppose if you have been successful, it must be right...
I have been composting fruitpulp in one part of the garden - which is near the sweet potato and courgette plants... Maybe that's the soil I can use too for the veg.

thanks

Juicer and juicing are fantastic addition. In fact, the juicer is starting to look very old despite being only half a year- signs of work and no rest maybe. Hehe.

Little gem, being lettuce, should grow too, though the better of my harvest came from hydroponic pots.

Btw, the 'all soil any soil' recommendation applies ONLY TO LEAFY vegetable. Fruiting vegetable (such as your courgette) gets the newest/richest soil.

[Abby Lim]

Dear BH, you have visited my garden and you can noticed that I use all kind and soil except TREF for all the open air growing plant, since my 50 years growing experience in the past, never use those expensive imported soil, except just bot 1 bag of TREF lately to replace very expensive AV mix for all the angmoh small flowering plants like AV & sinn, that relatively much cheaper than AV mix.

For a quick mix to do yourself in the more econ way, buy 1 $2 poting soil (like the AMK black soil), 1 bag of "fei-tu" @ $2, 1 bag of IBE ($2.50 @ WF), ha will give you a very good drainage for your potting need for most of your plants, if you can add in a same portion of TREF ( it is a soilless compost) in the mix, your leaf veggie will thank you.

[bargainhunter]

Hi Abby
thanks for your advice. I have a lot of ordinary burnt Earth - not IBE from World Farm - it seems to be working well for my courgette, and leafy veg, so I won't buy anymore BE until I finish my 4 bags. I just used 1 bag.

I don't know what is feitu - if I manage to go to World Farm, I will get that. It is very far away - I usually go to Thomson or AMK.

I used TREF mainly for my herbs, fruit veg. But I did add some TREF to mulberry, plumeria and blue pea thats why I think growing very fast.
thank you!!

[ButterflyPea]

can add soya bean pulp to the soil, gives you big and lushful leaves.

maybe you want to consider using volcanic soil. it was highly recommended and it is inexpensive. http://www.greencult...-volcanic-soil/

[bargainhunter]

ButterflyPea, on 09 August 2010 - 01:25 PM, said:

can add soya bean pulp to the soil, gives you big and lushful leaves.

maybe you want to consider using volcanic soil. it was highly recommended and it is inexpensive. http://www.greencult...-volcanic-soil/

Thanks for suggestions, BP! But we don't make our own soy milk anymore... the making cannot keep up with the drinking....

If only WF were closer!! All my problems will be solved... Can'tget all these wonderful cheap and good media - beause I only can get to Thomson and AMK easily....

Can get Vocanic Soil at AMK or Thomson?
Maybe I ask them....
Or someone can tell me if they know.... thanks in advance...

This post has been edited by bargainhunter: 09 August 2010 - 01:35 PM

[ButterflyPea]

bargainhunter, on 09 August 2010 - 01:34 PM, said:

Thanks for suggestions, BP! But we don't make our own soy milk anymore... the making cannot keep up with the drinking....

If only WF were closer!! All my problems will be solved... Can'tget all these wonderful cheap and good media - beause I only can get to Thomson and AMK easily....

Can get Vocanic Soil at AMK or Thomson?
Maybe I ask them....
Or someone can tell me if they know.... thanks in advance...

i dont make soya bean milk also lah. get from the soya bean drink stall. i got from the stall near my office (west coast). owner says farmers get the pulp from him every week ;)/>

[bargainhunter]

ButterflyPea, on 09 August 2010 - 01:38 PM, said:

i dont make soya bean milk also lah. get from the soya bean drink stall. i got from the stall near my office (west coast). owner says farmers get the pulp from him every week ;)/>

O i see. Maybe I can ask my school canteen drink stall. I already get the tea leaves and coffee grounds from her.

[Abby Lim]

bargainhunter, on 09 August 2010 - 12:50 PM, said:

Hi Abby
thanks for your advice. I have a lot of ordinary burnt Earth - not IBE from World Farm - it seems to be working well for my courgette, and leafy veg, so I won't buy anymore BE until I finish my 4 bags. I just used 1 bag.

I don't know what is feitu - if I manage to go to World Farm, I will get that. It is very far away - I usually go to Thomson or AMK.

I used TREF mainly for my herbs, fruit veg. But I did add some TREF to mulberry, plumeria and blue pea thats why I think growing very fast.
thank you!!

A lot of outlet selling the "Fei-tu", I forgot the name in English, it is the volcanic soil, refer to the link that BP refer to, you will know the usage. cold storage , some big shop & save also have it. I think it cost about the same as Tref, 42L Tref @ $19.90, a small pack like 5L Volcanic soil @ $2, but because of it sandy and coco base, help to air, so can do without Perlite which is not too useful for plants in open air subject to rain.

This post has been edited by Abby Lim: 09 August 2010 - 02:34 PM