Home brew potting compost

[Gruntfuttock]

I have been experimenting with making my own potting compost this year and am very happy with the results.

Here are my recipes based on the John Innes Institute recipes created in the 1930s and still very relavant today.

My recipe for small amounts based on John Innes.
1 scoop = 2 pints


JI #1 Base for young plants and seedlings

10 pints Loam 5 scoops
4 pints peat 2 scoops
2.5 pints sand 1 and a quarter scoops of sand
1 oz Blood fish & bone
1 oz Lime

JI #2 Base for houseplants and annual tubs

10 pints Loam 5 scoops
4 pints peat 2 scoops
1.5 pints sand three quarters of a scoop
1 pints grit half a scoop
2 oz Blood fish & bone
1 oz Lime

JI #3 Base for shrubs in tubs

10 pints Loam 5 scoops
4 pints peat 2 scoops
1 pints sand half a scoop
1.5 pints grit three quarters of a scoop
3 oz Blood fish & bone
1 oz Lime

Ericaceous = Same as above, but no lime.

These values may be changed where required. E.g. semps require JI #2 but change 1 pint grit to 14 pints grit.