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Mushroom compost
Having sourced mushroom compost in Cornwall, our local nursery advises against its use, because of the straw and nitrogen content. Cost and volume are problems too. £200 for a 10 ton load and where to put it in our quarter acre garden! I'd be willing to make the space, if it can be used safely over the whole garden - flower beds predominate - and possibly share with some friends. Any advice gratefully received. Or should I settle for composted bark, which I can get as a bulk cheap deal from the nursery?
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Interesting question. I do wonder what the nursery mean: straw is a key component of mushroom compost and makes it what it is - light and fluffy when rotted. As for nitrogen, I wonder what problem they see there? I really feel that a lot of advice is offered which sounds technical, 'scientific', but with little validity. I was advised not to use mushroom compost, or green waste compost, because they are 'too alkaline'. Then today at a talk, somebody said they had been advised to avoid green waste compost because of its acidity! Someone will always find a reason....
I have used spent mushroom compost for 25 years with great success, on vegetables, flowers and fruit. I advise you to buy 10 tons for £200 delivered, it sounds a great deal. My only question is how rotted the compost is: if a lot of straw still stand s out, it needs composting some more (say 2 months) before spreading where vegetable seeds are to be sown. But it can be spread around established plants or where vegetable plants are to be set out.
Composted bark - I would avoid it for vegetables, unless extremely well composted with few woody bits discernible. Use it around perennial flowers etc. Bark is more mulch than manure and also encourages a lot of woodlice.
I recently had a reply from a scientist in Northern Ireland who has been involved with mushroom composting, who wrote
"As far as I am aware, few pesticides are now used in mushroom production, rather producers now rely on biological control. The one 'nasty' which is not now used is formaldehyde (used for pickling dead bodies) which was used to kill off mushroom beds at the end of their life and prevent spread of infections."
Thanks for the advice, Charles. Thoroughly enjoyed the course and learnt so much, which we're beginning to apply. And loved the B and B too! Thanks to you both.