Q. I only have a small container for composting so I mix
it twice a week on the ground and put it back in the container. It’s about 2
months old and I’m wondering if I can use this compost now for my plants?
it twice a week on the ground and put it back in the container. It’s about 2
months old and I’m wondering if I can use this compost now for my plants?
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| Composting is nothing more than getting stuff that you don’t use to rot. Remember, garbage in and garbage out. If you want a high quality compost use good quality waste. |
A. What you’re doing sounds like a lot of work! To judge
if a compost is “finished” or not, look at its color, consistency and smell it.
It should be rotten through and through, all the same color and have a good
smell. Composting is controlled “rotting” of the ingredients.
if a compost is “finished” or not, look at its color, consistency and smell it.
It should be rotten through and through, all the same color and have a good
smell. Composting is controlled “rotting” of the ingredients.
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| A finished compost should be the same color through and through, and the smell should be earthy and not like rotten eggs or ammonia. |
I like
to divide composting into 2 categories; “hot” composting and “cold” composting.
Hot composting relies on developing high temperatures to “sterilize” the
contents from human pathogens while cold composting doesn’t. They both rot the
ingredients but hot composting is much faster than cold composting.
to divide composting into 2 categories; “hot” composting and “cold” composting.
Hot composting relies on developing high temperatures to “sterilize” the
contents from human pathogens while cold composting doesn’t. They both rot the
ingredients but hot composting is much faster than cold composting.
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| Compost can be soaked in water to extract nutrients and good microorganisms that can prevent disease and improve the microbiology of the soil. This discoloration of the water is a good thing and called “leachate”.Sometimes it’s referred to as a “compost tea”. |
Your
compost size is small so it will probably never become “hot” compost. Whenever
handling any compost, always wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards. Your
composting will be slow. You can speeded up by making the ingredients of your
compost as small as possible.
compost size is small so it will probably never become “hot” compost. Whenever
handling any compost, always wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards. Your
composting will be slow. You can speeded up by making the ingredients of your
compost as small as possible.
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| Compost is a good thing around plants and here it’s added to wine grapes. Just keep compost away from the trunk of plants or it may damage it. |
Compost
is best used when it is mixed with the soil at the time of planting. Compost
added to the top of the soil will improve the soil on the surface but not much
below the surface. Because this surface soil is improved, roots will grow
towards the surface in or near this composted area. Yes, you can apply it but I
would cover the compost with a layer of woodchips if you can’t mix it into the
soil.
is best used when it is mixed with the soil at the time of planting. Compost
added to the top of the soil will improve the soil on the surface but not much
below the surface. Because this surface soil is improved, roots will grow
towards the surface in or near this composted area. Yes, you can apply it but I
would cover the compost with a layer of woodchips if you can’t mix it into the
soil.
Try a
composting technique called “pit composting”. It’s much easier to do than what
you are doing if you have an open space where you can dig a hole in the soil
and let the ingredients rot inside the pit.
composting technique called “pit composting”. It’s much easier to do than what
you are doing if you have an open space where you can dig a hole in the soil
and let the ingredients rot inside the pit.