Q.I Recently Added 8 3×6 Raised Beds, 2 Ft Deep To My Garden/greenhouse Area. We Line The Bottom With Logs And Fill The Rest With C
ompost. I planted various seeds, lettuce, radishes, beets, & carrots. The seeds really struggled to take off and ultimately shriveled and died. I even covered the beds w/ tobacco cotton to provide shade from the hot sun. My question is : was the compost too hot for the seeds? I have since mixed in potting soil, top soil and plan to add vermiculite, perlite and a bit of sand maybe. Any suggestions??
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Yes, I do think it is too hot for the seedlings. It should be amended with potting soil rather than topsoil, though. Top soil can be a little thick too, depending on the consistency of it. Adding perlite or vermiculite will ABSOLUTELY help. It will need to be mixed in thoroughly. It is worth noting that out of those, lettuce seeds will need some light to germinate. I would recommend spreading those where they can get some light.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/compost-as-soil-amendment.htm
