Spent Mushroom Compost

[Mal]

As the local farmers around me seem to be wanting to hang on to their manure at the moment, I invested in some spent mushroom compost. Now sitting on the 'lottie, ready for use. I have a couple of questions about it though:

1) Is there anything that's not a big fan of it? I was going to avoid it on the root veggies anyway, but I'm presuming that squash etc. will be fine with it?

2) I've got blueberries. I think they need acid soil, and I think that mushroom compost tends towards alkali. I thought of a scheme to save up loads of citrus skins and lay those down first, then top up with the compost over the top. Will that work or is more extensive acidification necessary?

If anyone has any thoughts, it would be much appreciated.

[Flo]

There's not supposed to be a lot of nutrient left in spent mushroom compost but it's brilliant for working into soils that are on the clay end of the spectrum in order to aid and abet drainage. I'd be glad of it on my allotment as I have some good clay as we all do around here - but not as something to add nutrients to the soil. I could be wrong but that's been what I've been told over many years from other gardeners. Might be right as they have been people with a bit of experience.

You really need to go buy the specialist compost that is used for acid loving plants for your blueberries - ericaceous is specially blended for things like heathers, blueberries, azealeas and their mates.

[Cheezy]

Do not use it on your blueberries they will not be happy, as you say mushroom compost has a lot of lime in it.

Because of that you should be OK with carrots, as it is not high in nitrogen (which casues them to fork) also good for all brassica's who love lime, and onions which if it's too high in nitrogen will not bulb up as well.

Pumpkins will be OK, but they do prefer a bit more nitrogen, so I would mix it in with some blood/fish/bone.

It makes a good mulch to keep in mositure, and let the worms drag it down.

Your farmers might not be selling manure if they've been using the aminopyralid from Dow. It's a big problem as many farmer who have used it have not followed the instructions. And this broad leaved herbicide is quite persistent, even in manure made from grass land eaten by cows. It effects beans,potatoes, tomatoes,carrots,lettice. Causing fern like leaf growth.

[Green Aura]

If you drink fresh coffee, save your grounds and put them round the blueberries. It's acidic and compostish. Works on ours!