All about Makkelijke Moestuin Soil (with cocopeat)
Makkelijke Moestuin Soil is specially made for garden boxes with water reservoirs, using cocopeat, plant food and worm castings.
This combination gives your vegetables exactly what they need to grow healthy and strong: moisture, nutrients, water and air.
This combination gives your vegetables exactly what they need to grow healthy and strong: moisture, nutrients, water and air.
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When you order this garden soil, you receive three separate components: compressed cocopeat blocks, a bag of MM plant food and a larger bag of worm castings.
You mix them together yourself, directly in your garden box.
You mix them together yourself, directly in your garden box.
Please note: the worm castings are full of living material and are slightly moist. Prepare the garden soil as soon as possible. If you cannot do so straight away, keep the bag closed and store it in a fairly cool, shady place.
Why did we create this garden soil?
During our first year using water reservoirs, we noticed that in hot, dry periods our classic MM mix could sometimes dry out at the top even though there was still plenty of water in the reservoir.
The dry mix would then stop drawing water upwards. This is because the peat it contains retains moisture well, but does not absorb it as effectively once it has dried out.
You can prevent this, but only by checking the moisture level regularly and, when necessary, giving extra water from above.
We wanted a garden soil that would make this unnecessary: one that absorbs water evenly from the reservoir in all conditions, is never too dry or too wet, and always remains airy.
Ideally, we also wanted it to be peat-free.
The dry mix would then stop drawing water upwards. This is because the peat it contains retains moisture well, but does not absorb it as effectively once it has dried out.
You can prevent this, but only by checking the moisture level regularly and, when necessary, giving extra water from above.
We wanted a garden soil that would make this unnecessary: one that absorbs water evenly from the reservoir in all conditions, is never too dry or too wet, and always remains airy.
Ideally, we also wanted it to be peat-free.
After extensive testing, we arrived at this mixture. And it does exactly what we were looking for.
What is in our garden soil – and why?
Most of it consists of cocopeat:
- Cocopeat fibres absorb moisture very easily and retain it well, without ever becoming too wet. They draw water up from the reservoirs through the wicks, keeping the soil in your garden box nicely moist.
- Because the mix contains small pieces of cocopeat husk as well as fibres, the garden soil remains beautifully airy. Plants also breathe through their roots, so this is exactly what they need.
- The combination of fibres and firm pieces keeps the top layer dry and loose. This means leaves are less likely to rot and, because slugs dislike dry conditions, they are less attracted to it.
MM plant food
Our plant food is 100% organic, environmentally friendly and suitable for all vegetables, herbs and flowers. You never need to wonder which plant food to use.
Unlike artificial fertiliser, this plant food works for up to three months. The granules are also easy to use.
Worm castings
This compost – made by worms – is packed with beneficial microorganisms. From the very beginning, it creates active soil life, which cocopeat naturally contains very little of.
That soil life is extremely important. Your plants cannot use the nutrients you add straight away: they first need to be converted into minerals.
That requires bacteria and fungi.
The more active the soil life, the sooner your plants’ roots can absorb the nutrients. The worm castings also contain two special fungi that help the roots absorb water and nutrients.
That is why you add the worm castings right at the start, when preparing the garden soil and putting it in your garden box.
How much garden soil do you need?
That depends on the size of your garden box and the number of squares you want to fill.
We supply this garden soil in packs:
- For 1 square: 20 litres
- For 4 squares: 80 litres
- For 8 squares: 160 litres
- For 16 squares: 320 litres
How do you maintain this garden soil?
The cocopeat remains in good condition for many years. You never need to replace it.
However, some fibres will always cling to your plants’ roots, so the level in your garden box will gradually drop. Simply top it up with more garden soil and you are done.
The same applies to the worm castings. The bacteria and fungi they contain sustain themselves very well.
However, some fibres will always cling to your plants’ roots, so the level in your garden box will gradually drop. Simply top it up with more garden soil and you are done.
The same applies to the worm castings. The bacteria and fungi they contain sustain themselves very well.
At the start of a new season, you can add some fresh worm castings because the soil life is still sluggish, especially when the mix is cold.
This gives the soil life a substantial boost, making nutrients available more quickly and helping your plants get off to an easier start. (Half the initial amount is more than enough for this.)
This gives the soil life a substantial boost, making nutrients available more quickly and helping your plants get off to an easier start. (Half the initial amount is more than enough for this.)
You do, of course, need to replenish the plant food.
During the season, do this in squares that you prepare for the next round after harvesting: 3 tablespoons per square.
Plants that remain in a square for a long time and need plenty of nutrients – such as tomatoes – also benefit from an occasional extra feed: 2 tablespoons when planting, followed by another 2 tablespoons every 5 weeks.
At the start of a new season, replenish the mix with a full amount: 4 tablespoons (or 30 grams) per square.
Our app will remind you.
How do you prepare the garden soil at the start?
For a new garden box, prepare the garden soil directly in the box:
- place the cocopeat blocks on the water reservoirs
- add plenty of water so the blocks expand and the fibres loosen
- mix in the worm castings
- mix in the MM plant food as well
- spread the mix loosely through the box and place the grid on top
You can then sow or plant. The cocopeat provides structure and absorbs moisture, the worm castings activate the soil life, and the plant food is ready for your plants.
Yes, certainly. You can also use it in pots and even for houseplants.
Bear in mind that you will need to water it regularly yourself, and perhaps even a little more often than with the traditional MM mix.
The advantage of this garden soil is that even when it has dried out completely, it absorbs water again very quickly.
So now you know what this garden soil is, why we created it and why we recommend using it with our water reservoirs.
Good luck!
Products and materials
- Makkelijke Moestuin Soil
- Makkelijke Moestuin Mix