Hi new gardener! Don’t worry about the failures – these are just learning opportunities in disguise … and most of them can be composted anyway!

Just to throw my two cents worth into the ring re Vermiculite – I have used this product for a few years with great success in my homemade potting mix (grade 3). It is cheapest sold in bulk through horticultural supply stores (they sell to the nursery industry) so it’s a tip to do a search in your area in your Yellow Pages for those closest or just Google “horticultural supplies melbourne” or wherever you are. I pay around $25/100L and this lasts for most of the year. This vermiculite is suitable for garden applications but if you don’t already, it’s important to wear a mask when using.

I’m with Veggiemum on using coir peat (coconut fibre) rather than Peat Moss – aside from the expense this is not a sustainable resource. I’ve just posted my recipe for DIY Potting Mix using the coir peat and vermiculite which may interest you. You save heaps by making your own. I’ve also listed some brands I am happy with – I make my own compost but if I have to buy some for a gardening workshop or other use, I like the Searles certified organic range.

Vermiculite also has loads of benefits over other similar alternatives – see the above article.

You will also be able to buy cheap bulk blocks of coir peat at horticultural supply stores that are a fraction of the cost they are retail – I get mine unwrapped so you’re not paying for unnecessary packaging either – or the impact on the environment.

If you only need small amounts, then the small block from Bunnings is fine – the Brunnings brand block makes 9L (I’d suggest buying the one minus the wetting agents – see the article above re the chemical polymers these are made from). As an organic gardener I steer clear of adding any products that contain chemicals especially for my edible gardens.

If you want to make bulk potting mix or get a larger block that will last longer, the hort stores will stock these. They are much better value – I get one that makes 60L of moistened coir peat for $9. It would cost me twice this much to buy 6 small bricks to make up 56L – worth doing the sums if you want to save money.

I mainly garden in no-dig raised beds, a raised tank garden we made and containers but it’s what’s in your soil that determines the success of what you grow! Enjoy the journey. Hope this helps – let us know how you go!

Thanks for all your helpful advice time to let my fingers do the walking. I am using a Hills raised bed 3′ × 4′ looking to plant out 3/4 of them but still to finish my sums. I will report back.