I'm really chuffed. I bought a Dalek last year and started composting. I've left everything in there over the winter months and a couple of days ago hubby got me some compost out to put on my flowerbed.
I can't believe how it has turned out. It looks really good (oooh, lots of worms in there), even hubby was impressed and he 'doesn't do' gardening.
As I grow my veg in containers, I'm wondering if I can use my own compost in the containers to grow veg. Is there anything that would like to be planted in home-made compost, or is there anything which is a real no-no?
I can't wait to get the Dalek filled again now ;D
Jo.
This depends upon what veg you intend to grow. Usually, other than flower beds, home made compost is usually used to boost the fertility of the soil at the end of harvest, to revitalise the soil used to grow your veg. It is not always rich enough to start seeds off.
I'm growing peas and sweetcorn, which will both be started off indoors and planted in the containers once they have germinated.
Potatoes, radish, spring onion, carrots and lettuce will be started off in the containers.
Anything there which would like home-made compost?
Jo.
Quote from: jo9919 on April 10, 2008, 22:03:11
I'm growing peas and sweetcorn, which will both be started off indoors and planted in the containers once they have germinated.
Potatoes, radish, spring onion, carrots and lettuce will be started off in the containers.
Anything there which would like home-made compost?
I would start all seedlings off in purchased fresh compost, then mix home made stuff in the ground just as you transplant if none is in already. The end result of composting is humus. It enriches the soil for new cycles and generations of microscopic life. Improving soil texture, structure, water holding capacity and drainage.
Hi Jo. First of all well done, there is little to beat making your own compost in my book. :) But the thing is that home made compost and the shop bought stuff are not the same thing. You can use your homemade compost in your pots but you will need to mix it with sharp sand, loam and leaf mould to get a suitable medium for your veggies.
G x
Congrats on your home made compost, I find the home made richer than shop bought so I would agree with the sharp sand or builders sand which is the same thing for drainage. Perhaps some good soil mixed in with it.
Every gardener is different ;)
Runner beans would love it big feeders also pumpkins, cucumbers, marrows also big feeders.
Sow your seeds in shop bought seed compost its just peat and sand mixed you get better root growth then pot on in your compost.
In the winter you can use the used compost on the flower beds.
You might like to look at my compost solution:
http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_compost.html
Thanks everyone.
OK, I think I've made a BIG mistake then. I bought some strawberry plants and have planted them in a half barrel filled with my own compost :o What to do now :-\
A) Should I take them out again and refil the barrel with shop bought?
B) Should I try to take some of the home made stuff out and fill with shop bought, leaving the plants where they are planted?
C) Should I leave them where they are and hope for the best?
I just knew I should have asked for advice before I used it ::)
Jo.
;D ;D What a great site alllaboutliverpool. I am a novice composter... but non the less have four on the go so to speak..... two are now ready to empty and use and two are work in progress. I also have wormeries. I seem to have developed an avid interest in compost... I find it fascinating to be honest, especially the wormeries... so your site made great viewing... and what a grand job you have done!! thanks for sharing with us!!
jo9919... (scratches head!) I think if it was my barrel of strawberries I would take the strawberry plants out and mix your compost with shop brought and then replant... but I am a complete novice so I should hang on and see what the experts have to say...
I am sure whatever you do your strawberries will be wonderful!!
(http://www.animated-gifs.eu/fruits-strawberries/0006.gif)
I used some of my home made compost for repotting some seedlings. They did ok for about a month, then looked sickly. I had a look at the roots and they had been eaten (not vine weevil). There were springtails (I think) and some other very tiny white things in the compost.
I can only presume that these had had a go at my roots. I washed the roots and potted them into a bought organic multi purpose and they are now doing much better, and GROWING at last.
I don't know what the buggy things are, maybe my compost wasn't quite ready, or the seedlings too small. I do know I wont use my own so soon in future. Possibly more in bean trenches or on the raised beds.
Quotethe sharp sand or builders sand which is the same thing
Sharp sand and builders sand are two different things altogether. Mix sharp sand with compost. Mix builders sand with cement.
:-\ Novice talking here.. so maybe talking through my r**r!! but think I read somewhere that home-made compost should never be used for seedlings... only the shop brought compost... home-made compost for established plants and like you mentioned star, beans and raised beds etc...
Totally with you Aromatic, its far too rich and the microlife is very rampant too. ;)
QuoteI read somewhere that home-made compost should never be used for seedlings... only the shop brought compost...
That would probably have been from the RHS, the sponsors of horticulture. (Or is it the Horticulture industry sponsors of the RHS).
Home made compost is not sterile or weed free, but these days nor is commercial compost. I use only my own compost nowadays and by and large all my seedlings grow with vigour, as do a few weeds but I find some sadistic therapy from casually plucking them out during inspections. For most run of the mill flowers and veg, home made gives better results than the best from the shop but if anyone is trying to grow really rare or specialist ans expensive seeds then maybe it is wise to buy a bag of JI
I now sieve garden compost and garden soil 50/50 for a superb potting and sowing compost.
If you have clay soil you will need 1/3 compost, soil and sharp sand.
The horse manure I reserve for mulching, trenching and general soil improvement.
http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_compost.html
What was wrong with mine then? Hmmm I guess it was I didnt mix it or sieve it. What do you reckon the very tiny white bugs were? They were under a millimetre long
QuoteWhat do you reckon the very tiny white bugs were? They were under a millimetre long
They are probably larve of compost flies. Scary flies or something similar. Too much compost, not enough soil.
The compost heap teams with life until it is ready.
Too much animal life indicates immature compost. Turn the heap and wait another month, the white bugs will probably disappear.
http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage.html
I always find I get too many weed seeds from my own compost if I try to grow proper seeds from it.
I did once read a tip that said to microwave your compost to kill off weeds and any nasty things in it but I thought better of the idea and bought some!
Some multi purpose compost has big bits in it, especially the B & Q one but the ASDA big bags have always been nice and fine good enough for growing seeds.
jo9919: your strawberries should grow really well - but if you do it again then my advice would be mix your compost 50/50 with John Innes (ie loam based) compost (no2 or 3). Same for your container grown veg.
Thanks, I'll leave them where they are then, I didn't really fancy digging them up again.
Thanks everyone for your advice, it seems there are lots of differing opinions on this then.
Jo.