Composting

[Multiveg]

No 1 is safe enough for veg. No 2 may be a bit more risky, though safer to use on the non-edible plant border

[Multiveg]

[kingkano]

Does teh same job as the so called 'compost activaters' - which are just - ermm dont quote me - ammonium sulphate (which you can usually get at your lotty hut much cheaper).  Good excuse for taking a few cans of lager to the allotment, pop into the shed, free compost activator haha.

[ptennisnet]

I always make sure to drink at least a pint of water before going to the allotment....Beer sounds better though ;)  

[gilgamesh]

Don't worry about beer sounding better - the main point is does it TASTE better......

[Garden Manager]

Ever since I 'cracked' composting i have never looked back  ;D

I usualy store up garden waste in bags then when they are full (to overflowing sometimes  :)) I have a big composting session, mixing woody and soft material in even layers. I find this heats up quickly and makes compost far quicker than if stuff is added 'little and often'.

I dont use activators of any kind, but have started turning the heap at least once (I have two bins to allow this). I usualy add all I can but dont add perrenial weed roots (foliage yes), and have a small 'kitchen' bin to collect kitchen scraps - veg peel etc, but nothing cooked, which then gets mixed in with the rest of the compost.

I have recently started to add grass rakings (thanks to a new electric lawn rake), and shredded paper (thanks to a new paper shredder). Thse two new sources have increased the quantity  of compost i can make in one go. I still cant seem to make enough for my needs though  ::).

I am surpised potato foliage is a no no. I always compost it (unless diseased).  Rhubarb leaves also, which I have questioned composting in the past.

One question. What design of bin works best? I have two big plastic ones courtesy of the council which i use all the time, plus a slatted wooden type that i gave up on in my early composting days and now use to collect woody prunings for shredding. Would it be worth trying the wooden one for composting again?

[derbex]

Last year I found that a lot of my compost was slow to go because it was too dry -except the stuff in the plastic council bin. I also have a stackable wooden bin that I made from the hdra design and an autumn heap composed of grass thatch and hedge prunings.

This year I also have 2 (so far) horse poo bins made from wire fencing and cardboard.

I would guess that your wood bin would be ok as long as it is kept moist -blast, you'll have to drink more beer ;D

Jeremy

Must turn the council bin -one day.

[Justy]

Wish I had known about the spuds - I have a lovely collection growing out of my compost bin at the moment - they are doing really well too!! I guess I will have to remove them then.

I agree with everyone composting is so addictive - this is my first year (started the heap last September) and already the bottom is lovely useable compost.
I only have the one bin which I can't seem to fill up as the stuff keeps rotting down and I can't get at the stuff on the bottom because the top is fresh...  Should I leave what is in there now and start another one? :-\

[kenkew]

Justy. Yes.

[Mrs Ava]

I have wooden bins made from recycled pallets.  One of the bins in my garden has a glorious crop of mint growing from it where I split the mint plants in the spring and repotted and bunged the rest on the heap!  Growing better there than in my pots!!  ;D

[Garden Manager]

EJ  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D   ;D LOL

Gotta be careful what you put in the comost you know.

I could just TRY the wooden one again - now I actualy KNOW how to make compost - should be fine?