Compost question??

[TrailRat]

I know you can never have to much compost but I was wondering how big a bin should be to produce enough compost for a 10 pole plot. I plan a three bin composter made from old floor boards and wooden pallets. One bin for storing materials and the other two for making compost. All I want is a minimum size. Does anyone know, does any know where to find out? I don't want to build my bin and find its too small and only produces enough for a window box. ;D

TrailRat

[TrailRat]

[Spurdie]

Hi, TR
It all depends on what you plan on growing. Is this a vegetable plot or flower/lawn garden? Compost bins don't need to be huge - you can always pile up your stuff and it will still rot down even if it sticks up 3 ft over the top of the bin (mine was like this at the beginning of the year, and it's now rotted down to a more manageable level!)

[TrailRat]

Vegetable/Fruit/Herbs plot. I think plants and flowers are pointless weeds unless you can turn them into medicanal products. Sorry to all you flower gardeners.


TrailRAt

[Spurdie]

Ahem! What about herbs??? Our oregano has lovely flowers on it just now! Actually, it is a good idea to grow a few flowers on your allotment to attract beneficial bees and insects to pollinate your fruit/vegetable flowers/trees. Things like tom thumbs are quick and easy, and when the flowers are finished you can add them to your NEW COMPOST BIN!!! And if you grow a few strips of annuals, think of how pleased your other half will be be when you pick a bunch to take home to her after a hard day in the lottie (sitting in the shed swigging beer!). You should also grow lovage (huge herb) - it's an aphrodisiac! PS Have you and Ms Trailrat tied the knot yet? I note you're referring to her as "the missus"! If so, congratulations!

[TrailRat]

I did mention herbs. To be honest, unless it has a use after its grown I don't want to be growing it because I couldn't justify the cost. A few "bee magnets" will be grown for help on the pollitnation front. Also a few other flowering plants will be grown for pest managment and will end up on the compost heap after season. As for for the missus flowers aren't her thing. And no were not married just living in sin. No aphrodisiac needed, its always a busy night in our household. OOOOooooppppssss, a little bit too much info.

TrailRat  

[Jesse]

TR I don't know the answer to your question but I can tell you that my compost bin in my garden which is roughly 1m cubic does not produce enough for my garden. Earlier this year I emptied my bin to use on my garden and what was a fill bin at the end of summer last year (I don't add to it during the winter) produced about half a bins worth of good compost.

I believe a few medium size compost bins are better than one or two very big ones. You also need to consider how much compostable matter you are able to produce to fill them, no point having a huge area and taking three years to fill it!  :)

[Mrs Ava]

I agree, no idea how much a heap would produce, maths was never my strong point, but I don't think you can ever have enough.  Several smaller bins I also think is a good idea, as at certain times of the year, you might, and I did only say might, have trouble filling it.  Also, it is good to have one with ready compost, one that is brewing, and one that you are filling.  Also, I guess you could have one for the really horrible stuff, chunky, or tough weeds that you could leave and forget about for a good few years.  I have 2 compost heaps in my garden, both 1 pallet by 1 pallet - so a good size, but you know, both of them do not produce enough compost to mulch my whole back and front garden, but alas, no room for another.  On my plot, Ava built me a monster heap the entire width of the plot and a couple of of pallets deep.  Plus, don't foget the leaves, autumn is just around the corner don't forget.  Leaf mould is worth its weight!

As for all flowers being a waste, aren't most of our natives good as medicinals, poisons or edibles in one way or another......  Just been watching the bees on my echiums and oregano - they go crazy for them!

[growmore]

Trail rat,
            here is pics of as you call them"Pointles weeds".





I cant get my breath with you neither..
I thinks its all them mice you keeping ::)
But look at the compostable material I get when I cut the plants down at the back end..

[TrailRat]

very nice growmore. but can you eat them, or do they cure something or improve on an all ready good meal? Sorry I've always been a pratical person. Brought up with waste not, want not attitude. I'm afraid flowers waste prescious crop space. Sorry if that offends people. but blame my parents.  ;D

TrailRat

P.S whats all this about not getting your breath, I'm not getting or maybe this weather is slowing me down.

[Mrs Ava]

'The Dahlia, a native of Mexico, is a common sight in cultivated gardens in both America and Europe. They are grown from tubers (which are actually edible, and were briefly cultivated as an alternative to the potato'

taken from http://www.scienceu.com/library/articles/flowers/dahlia.html

so you see TR, lots of plants and flowers that we might not think, do have some edible parts!

Gorgeous Growmore - a bunch of those would look great in my lounge about now!  :-*

[TrailRat]

mmmmmmmmmm, more persasuion needed before i convert i think.

TrailRat

[Mrs Ava]

hahahaha.  It was only to show that it is suprising how many plants can be used in other ways, other than to pretty up the borders.  I don't think I will be growing dahlias to eat!  If you are hoping to successfully grow fruit and seeds - like beans and peas, you need the insects that these flowers bring in.  Also, some flowers, as has been discussed before, bring in beneficial critters so you have pollination, and pest control, all for the price of a packet of annual seeds!

[Spurdie]

Hi, EJ
I think we are wasting our breath trying to get Trailrat to sow a few flower seeds.
Trailrat, do you know you can buy a packet of annuals seeds for less than 50p? We are not trying to convert ALL your allotment into flowers - only one or two rows!

[Val]

 ;DTrail Rat, just think of the perfume and colours of the flowers, they get all the senses going, so still good for that body, even if not taken inwardly. ;D I just love the pics Growmore why can't mine look like that.

[TrailRat]

Ahhh yes but the smell of mint, lavender, lemon grass and other various herbs is just as intoxicating as flowers. Plus you can get a wide varetiy of colours for medicanal and culinary herbs.

TrailRat

[gavin]

Back to your first question, Trailrat - two contributions

A bin/heap will build up the necessary heat and fast composting processes if it's at least 1 x 1 x 1 metre in size; I build my heaps to a bit higher, a bit wider, and as long as they go.

Will your bins be about "pallet size" each?  Sounds good to me - I'd enough compostables to to keep that going, and  you should get a pretty good supply of compost.  And if you want/need more, you could always start another heap (but you may not be producing enough compostable for any more?)

All best - Gavin

[Val]

 ;D Yes but they don't look as pretty in a vase and if you give someone a bunch of thyme they think you're either dropping hints you're hungry or in a hurry. ;) not very romantic and you know what they say about romance being good for the soul.