From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Martinsburg, Pa

Just wanted to see if anyone was using mushroom mulch, I cover my vines with soil and some compost, then to keep the weeds down and retain the moisture I cover everything with mushroom mulch. I guess my question is, is it ok to use the mushroom mulch?

1/18/2011 8:44:58 PM

Martinsburg, Pa

sorry message in wrong subject

1/18/2011 8:46:15 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

first year i used mush soil i went from 500 pounders to 900-1200 pounders but i use as a soil builder not as mulch. generally the attitude on the site is be weary of it due to high salts but i do not have a problem with the stuff i can get. i guess my question to you is how well does it surpress weeds and how well do your pumpkins grow when you mulch. it is a concept i would be interested in trying.

1/19/2011 11:54:14 AM

Martinsburg, Pa

You almost cant even find a weed in my patch, that is if you keep up with spreading it. I also figure it to be a good soil builder but I am not quite sure what its doing or adding to the soil. I have not seen any negatives when using it. It's a little harder to tell how much moisture is in the soil because the top layer dries out pretty fast but if you put your finger in a couple inches you can tell how well it retains the moisture. I try to buy at least one year aged mushroom mulch as well. As for how well they grow, I have to seen a difference in how they do grow bigger when using it. Thanks for the responce orangeneck

1/19/2011 5:44:27 PM

South Hero, VT

I had to find out what mushroom compost is composed of, so I found this link and share it here: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=28&storyType=garden

1/19/2011 6:35:15 PM

Martinsburg, Pa

thanks for that link Steve, good info in it.

1/20/2011 10:41:58 AM

Claysburg , PA

Hey mossyoak shoot me e-mail . james.carson@cannondale.com

I`m from just over the hill from you.

1/20/2011 12:07:40 PM

Eugene,OR

Mushroom compost can have a high salt content...so be careful of that.

1/21/2011 12:21:02 AM

Martinsburg, Pa

I think what I'm finding out is if you get aged stuff the salt content is significantly lower than when its fresh. so thanks to all that replied

1/21/2011 6:15:15 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Good info now I know why my winter rye didn't germinate this fall I had put the Mushroom soil down a week or so earlier. My neighbor did his just the opposite: planted rye about 2 weeks ahead of the mushroom soil and his came up beautifully.

I wonder, did I actully kill the rye seed with the mushroom soil or is germination just delayed until it leaches some?

1/23/2011 1:52:17 PM