Mixed too much peat moss

I'm new to SFG. I read the book but must have skimmed over the section where the peat moss will expand to pretty much double the size. I mixed 4 cubic feet of vermiculite, a little more than 4 cubic feet compost, and the 3.8 cubic feet of peat moss. I have one 4X4 box and two 2X4 boxes. I filled them up and planted my garden. I then realized my problem with the peat moss.

I tested my soil to make sure the pH was good and it was neutral. However, I bought my plants from a local farmers market and some of them seemed like they were wilting. My pH meter has a moistness meter and indicated the soil at the root level was very wet. So dug all my plants up mixed up the soil again to where the soil wasnt as moist and replanted. Some of the plants came back to life but others are starting to wilt again. Is this do to too much peat moss holding too much water or are my plants hardening off?

It could be that they are a wee bit shocked from the transplanting, give them a little time to get perky again. Where are you located?

College Station, Tx. The main plants that wilted were my green chile plants but they perked up today. Now it is most of my other plants that were looking ok yesterday. I probably shouldn't have dug them up and replanted them but I just thought the soil was too wet. There not to the point that they look like they are going to die just the blooms and leaves are drooping.

You didn't mention it, so I'll assume you're using 6 inch deep boxes.

We agree that peat will roughly double in volume when it expands. You used roughly 25% too much.

But, you didn't use enough verm and compost either.

For a 4x4 by 6 inch deep box:
3 cf verm
3 cf compost
3 cf peat, expanded

Here's what a 4x4 with 3 cf of each ingredient looks like before it's wet down.



To make the mix according to Mel's recipe, take out all the soil, add 4 cf each of verm and compost, mix and re-fill boxes. You'll have enough left over for another 2x4 box.

It's a lot of work I know. But the long term advantage is that you won't have to worry about Ph and over-watering.

Yes I have 6'' boxes. I guess I rushed into a bit. I don't have the time right now but I will try to get the rest and mix it up tomorrow. As of now my vegetables should be ok right?