Veg Trug Compost Replacement

stewyfizz

Used a veg trug for the first time last year. Everything did ok. Decent crop of salads, carrots and parsnips. However is it wise to replace all of last years compost or replace just the top layer? Or even just give it a mulch? 

Dovefromabove

How deep is it ... what sort of compost did you put in it to start with?

Lyn

Also depends on what you intend to grow in it this year, I always like to rotate veg crops, so I wouldn’t grow anything this year that you grew last without changing the compost.  That doesn’t apply to salad crops but I wouldn’t grow parsnips and carrots again this year. 

stewyfizz

It is fairly deep, over a foot and half in the middle. I used peat free multi purpose last year which worked well. I was hoping to do 'same again' as these are the veg we eat most.

Dovefromabove

Multi-purpose compost isn't really suitable for long-term growing ... if you were satisfied with the crops you got last season then I'd empty out the trug ... use the old compost as a mulch on a bed somewhere and replace with new. 

Lizzie27

I would try emptying out half the trug and refilling with John Innes No.3 which is a lot more "gutsy" than multi purpose compost. Mix the two well together. It's worth sowing the same veg again if that's what you eat the most but when the crops start to deteriorate, then you will need to replace all the compost. 

Dovefromabove

I’m just a bit concerned that loam based compost might be too heavy for a trug if it’s the sort that’s raised up on legs. Some I’ve seen don’t look very sturdy.  

stewyfizz

Its very sturdy so i'll try a mix of john innes no3. See how it goes.

Allotment Boy

I agree a 50:50 mix with JI 3 and for a real boost use a compound fertiliser such as Vitax Q4. Veg are hungry feeders and you take away those nutrients when you harvest the crop.