I have just dug over my vegetable patch. Should I dig in compost, garden mix, vegetable mix, sheep pellets, and blood and bone? Which one should I use, I am very confused after reading articles on this subject.

What you choose to do will depend on how big your vegetable garden is. Are you able to access additional  organic matter such as home made compost, rotted leaf litter, rotted grass clippings or rotted hay and straw, as well as how far your budget will stretch. 

• It is always good to add organic matter to the soil before replanting your vege garden, this helps improve soil structure, replenishes nutrients, and helps with moisture retention. 
• If you have home made compost, or use store bought Tui Compost, dig it into the soil to a spade depth, approximately 20cm deep.
• An application of Garden Lime at the same time is always beneficial, do this a week before planting so the lime has time to start breaking down on the organic matter in the soil, this releases nutrients to plants.
• While not essential, but it is beneficial to dig in blood and bone and sheep pellets which are great sources of nitrogen for plants, for strong healthy growth and to improve soil structure.
• When planting, dig a handful of Tui Vegetable Food into the planting hole which will add a balance of fertiliser for plants.
• Or you might choose to use Tui Vegetable mix for convenience. This is a 50/50 blend of organic plant material and potting mix, it contains a starter fertiliser to reduce seedling transplant shock, controlled release fertiliser, sheep pellets, blood and bone and dolomite lime - everything is in the bag so you don't need to add extras such as fertiliser, lime, blood and bone and sheep pellets separately to the garden. 

Read the Tui Vegetable Growing Guide

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