Compost Question?

[scotch-mist]

I have been saving potatoe peelings and used tea bags in a big blue plastic barrel
for months now to make compost.

What do I do now with it to turn it into the nice rich stuff I've seen
Monty with on T.V?

[scotch-mist]

[katynewbie]

;D
Hello You!! Think the thing thats important is a big mix of stuff. So add lots of other veg peelings, scrumpled up newspaper, grass cuttings, maybe some crushed egg shells and anything else that was a "plant product" in a previous life and stick it all in the bin. Turn every now and again and Bobs your uncle!!

The jury is out on scary weed roots, some people think it's ok, others dont. If in doubt about the heat your heap can produce, it's probably best to avoid it.

Hope this helps..others will chip in with more clever answers, but this is all I know!!!

;)

[scotch-mist]

Thanks katy,
                 Dont understand about the heat thing though ???

[katynewbie]

Well made compost heaps create heat as the stuff decomposes. This will kill weed seeds if the heat is hot enough. If the heap is not hot enough you carry the weed seeds on as you spread the compost about and you get more weeds.

Hope this makes sense?!!

[MrsKP]

I've got a half-full large darlek and despite putting in lots of brown and green, and accellerator, i've never felt any heat in the 6 months i've had it started despite turning the thing twice.

i just keep chucking in regardless but don't plan on having anything useful until the end of the season.

[TEL]

Get your O H to pee on it as this will believe it or not help it rot faster.

[MrsKP]

oh he does (doesn't need the jam jar though)  :P

(see other thread about whether laydees p is good or not!

I might be asking you for some close up shots today Tel (not peeing obviously).   :P

Going to try and get the back done while i'm still tom and dick.   ;D

[TEL]

oh he does (doesn't need the jam jar though)  :P

(see other thread about whether laydees p is good or not!

I might be asking you for some close up shots today Tel (not peeing obviously).   :P

Going to try and get the back done while i'm still tom and dick.   ;D

Just P M me if you want closeup shots

[aquilegia]

Scotch Mist - don't worry about it too much - just bung all the plant material in the compost bin, mix it up a bit and leave it.

Occassionally (once a month or whenever you have time, if you can be bothered!) dig it to mix it and see if it's too dry (add more water or "water") or too wet (add more newspaper).

Generally I just fill mine up and leave it. Don't even always mix it. It stills get there eventually! (takes usually three months in the summer, six in winter).

[DERYCK32]

Hi.
All good advice but do hope you get some worms in your heap.They are Gods best helpers in a compost heap. The small reddish ones are the best.
Good luck and happy gardening.

[MikeB]

To collect worms, place a piece of corrugated cardboard on a grassy area, put a brick on top to stop it blowing away.  Leave for a week, pick it up and turn it over and you will find worms on the underside.  They are attracted by the glue in the cardboard, put worms in compost and replace cardboard in a different spot.

[Mimi]

I think that as long as your compost is placed on soil the worms will make their own way there.

[grawrc]

Opened up my 3 daleks this morning and they were hoaching with worms. 8) Unfortunatley the heaps aren't very hot and there is some new weed growth round the edges. May have to empty them out, mix up and start off again.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I just put everything in, then mulch my spuds with the produce, with several inches more mulch over the top. The weeds probably germinate, but haven't a chance.

[bennettsleg]

anything else that was a "plant product" in a previous life

Including all cooked veg? mashed potatoes with butter (animal product)? Boiled rice? Been scouring the books but no-one answers this query. Bread used to be a plant product, too?

Bit confused now... :)

[tim]

No need for heat to make compost? Only to kill weed seeds?

And, as opposed to watering, we have the bins covered most of the time, to prevent sogging.

[euronerd]

Hi bennett, they say don't add anything cooked. The only reason given was that such things might encourage rats.

Geoff.

[scotch-mist]

I've got one of those brown wheelie bins from the council, to put my kitchen and garden waste in , the bin men collect it onced a fortnight ,

However , last year it was hoching with wasps, I think there was a nest in it , havent used it since.  And wont be either.

This is the reason I got my blue barrel with a locking lid,

Once it is full will I just leave it for 3 months and start filling another one, and so on until the first one looks like potting compost?

I dont think there are any worms in it,  and if I put any in it , will they drown in the watery stuff at the bottom.

Sorry for being such a pain,    Thanks

[katynewbie]

The bin needs to be bottomless...few twiggy branches maybe...then fill with all the other stuff. There needs to be air thru it to turn it into compost, otherwise all you will get is rotten slime, also the worms cant get in unless the bin is open underneath. Be brave and cut the bottoms off!!!!!

;)

[scotch-mist]

HI katy,
          thanks , I nearly ended up with slim there Yuuuuukkkk.

I know I'm trying your patience but , when you say it needs air , do you mean
take the lid off or make holes in the sides?

I'm not too keen on either in case it attracts wasps in the summer :(