fertilisers/compost

[olicat]

I have no idea what kind of fertiliser/composts to use... i want to be as organic as i can and will start my own compost heap,  but don't know where to start. what do others use?.. any info will  be appreciated.

Oli

[olicat]

[manicscousers]

chicken pellets,before planting out
never used blood, fish and bone before until one of the older members showed me the cabbages grown with it  :o
tried it this year with brilliant results..also, use seaweed feed diluted on toms etc  :)
oh, and we use lime on the brassica beds, not sure what it's classed as, and we grow green manure when beds become empty

[STEVEB]

check out the posts on comfrey/nettle fertillisers

[Deb P]

I'm a big fan of liquid Seaweed feeds (Seasol is my fave), and use granulated calcified seaweed to help break down my heavy clay and feed at the same time. I do use chicken manure pellets as well, bung a handful around when replanting a patch. I've even used seaweed washed up on the beach around my squash this year, also use a lot of mushroom compost and cow manure from a local farm spread or dug in the autumn.

[olicat]

Thanks everyone.. great advice...!

lynn

[lizagrowbag]

sorry to but in on ur post so i can use the same pellets that i feed my birds as a fertilizer? how much and when should i use it?

[ceres]

I don't think so Lisa!  The chicken pellets that manics mentioned are chicken MANURE in a pellet form.  You can buy big tubs of them at garden centres, B&Q, Wilkos etc.  But since you keep chickens, you've got ready made fertiliser anyway.

[olicat]

I am going off the subject a bit, but can i put the guinea pigs old bedding, which is newspaper, woodchips and hay on my compost heap??

[STEVEB]

oli yes pee is a great compost accelerant,i allways water my compost when no ones around !!!!

[olicat]

Crikey!!  Bit more difficult for me and my girls to water the compost!!!!!! Ha Ha!!

[Deb P]

That's why you need a shed.......and a watering can! :-[ ;D

[Tulipa]

Just put up a net curtain in my shed! :-[

T.

[olicat]

we cant have sheds at our allotments...!

[Buster54]

we cant have sheds at our allotments...!

Why not get something like this put it up when go to the allotment and take it down when you go home just say its a rain shelter
http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/Detail.asp?ProductID=230

[KathrynH]

I would recommend getting a wormery. It takes all of your kitchen waste and turns it into rich compost and liquid feed without any hassle at all. There are loads of them available on various websites (just google "wormery") so you can find the best one for you. You can then keep a compost bin on the allotment for the more bulky green waste that you produce, along with you guniea pig bedding and the occasional wee!