Can I start building super-soil now for Spring 2016?

[MrZigzag]

Howdy all, as I write this it's Summer 2015 and I'm planning on building some organic super soil for next Spring (2016).

I have a few questions which I hope some experienced soil builders can help me with:

• I have plans to start an outdoor grow next year, I live in a climate with pretty severe winters (36 °F (2 °C) and warm summers ( 82 °F (27 °C).
  
• I will start my autoflower seeds sometime in late April or early May where they will stay inside under lights for about 4 weeks and then make the transition to outdoors, first in a greenhouse and then fully outside.

A lot of the guides I've read recommend letting the soil cook for 30-60 days before planting, so based on my schedule that means I would have to start mixing in late February or March.

Besides getting as many of the soil components as I can right now, it sounds like I can't really mix the soil ahead of time. Or am I wrong?

Basically what I want to know is what can I do now in the late Summer and Fall in order to prepare some killer soil for next Spring?

Bonus Question:
The outdoor area I have available to grow has an above-average level of humidity in the summer and I had some significant problems with botrytis and powdery mildew. I know that super-soil in general helps with this issue, but is there a specific mix I could create that helps prevent mold?

 

[Joe383]

I am not an experienced organic grower but I do know that people will mix this stuff and use it for a year or 2. I just made some super soil and I am using it tell its all gone. I don't care how old it gets. I think it is temp dependent and in the winter the soil will become inactive though and I don't know if you will have to re inoculate it or not.

 

[A4]

Zig, yes you can go ahead and start mixing your soil and I would even go as far to recommend you do that. The only few caveats I would say are make sure to keep it moist throughout the Winter and if it going to be real cold put an electric blanket under the container to keep the temps in the soil above freezing. Even if you don't want to do the electric blanket, it won't hurt the soil it will just put your mircobes into hibernation which is the natural thing for them in the Winter. Not a big deal but if the soil is still cooking, you want to keep it warm for at least 30 days. So, if you start it in the dead of Winter, plan on keeping it warm. If you start it now and it has time to cook before it begins getting cold then no biggy.

Your bonus, there isn't a lot you can do. I would recommend a good dose of neem meal, karanja cake or both in the soil during cooking to help. They will both provide a good level of insect preventative and could help out with boytris although I wouldn't swear by it. They also help with N and added organic material. You can't go wrong by adding them.

Best of luck buddy! Get us a journal up when you start growing, I would love to follow along.