Mushroom
Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: ⢠Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.
It can sometimes be obtained cheaply and in large quantity from local mushroom farms, soil and manure suppliers, and the occasional garden centre.
Traditionally made with well-rotted stable manure, mushroom compost is now generally made using composted straw.
Mushroom compostoften contains chalk and is alkaline in nature. When using mushroom compost, remove any large pieces of chalk that are visible, and use it in moderation, alternating with well-rotted manure or garden compost, these being only slightly alkaline or neutral in their reaction. This avoids excessive build up of chalk in the soil.Mushroom compost is sometimes offered without having first been used to raise mushrooms and being free of chalk is an ideal manure.
Note: there is no connection between spent (used) mushroom compost and the disease honey fungus.
