Compost Discussion Thread (Merged Threads)

takoo

Generally composts are quiet in winter - it takes longer to generate heat, if any,

If enclosed (bos-like etc) you could try covering the top layer with "silver paper" under old carpet to stop heat loss. If the top is exposed to the air cover with black bags to take and store any heat from the sun. Otherwise insulate from the wind and frost etc as much as possible.

greenpixey

In September I was given a compost for my birthday from my OH and we've been using it ever since.
I'm quite short (and also pregnant) so I got trouble reaching up to turn the compost and asked that my husband help me out which he promised. Now 3 month later he confess that he has not turned it once even though I reminded him on a weekly basis. His excuse was that in the autumn he cut down the sunflowers and left the stalks quite long in the compost and they were so hard that made it impossible to turn
Will it still be ok? I think I read somewhere that I can just empty the compost and turn it by hand and then put it back in... but is there no other way? I can just imagine the smell _pale_
Not sure if it matters but it is a [FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica][SIZE=-1]GARDEN KING COMPOSTER - 330 [/SIZE][/FONT]and it is half full

C_Ronaldo

We've got a little door at the bottom which we take out the compost so then whats inside will drop down to the bottom hence turning it, ours is hard to turn as well hence why we open the door and take out what we need. there is a tool you can get which you can use to air the compost but not sure if it would help,

webtalk

I never turn my compost and it seems to be okay.

Actually, that's not entirely true. I mix it all up and take out any remaining big pieces (put them into the next bin) when I empty the bin once it is full.

Zazen999

Hi
We have the same composter, one of 3 that we use; and we turn the compost twice a year in that one - actually we take it off the contents, mix it up and take out all the stuff that isn't rotted and put it back in; the stuff that is rotted goes into containers/on the garden as mulch/onto our long term composter. Then, we keep adding to the big one and in another 6 months will do the empyting again.

i wouldn't worry abut it - as long as it has worms in it they will do the hard work for you. If you are worried, then just add more worms from the garden, and make sure that you chop up things before they go in; and in a few more months you will have great compost that can be used.

The smell; if it is composting properly it shouldn't smell at all; it's usually recent stuff that is still rotting that whiffs a bit. But, once that goes back into the monster when you empty it, the rest should be fine.

cwp500

dont have thick layers of any one particular item; for example grass cutting as it wont rot quickly. keep layers reasonably thin; say 6 inches. always add water if its dry, dont use cooked food ever!
cover the heap with an old carpet or some form of protection to conserve the heat; you could try wrapping the lid of the bin with silver foil followed by a bin liner to act as a protected reflector.
patience is important as it takes as long as it takes to form the compost.

noonesperfect

I started a "dalek" back in april 07, it's now about 2/3's full, I'm a bit worried I'm gonna run out of space soon! It's obviously slowed down in the cold weather, but it would be difficult to insulate against the cold.
I've never put thick layers of anything in at as the space is obviously limited but here is what I usually put in:-

All fruit and vege peelings (except citrus)
Teabags/occasionally coffee grounds and washed egg shells
"Clean" used kitchen roll and cardboard middles of these wrapping paper and loo rolls
Lint from occasional use of tumble drier
Vacuum cleaner dust/dog hair til Dyson broke!
Occasional dog hair groomings
Small quantities of lawn clippings
About 2 litres of watered down male wee

And usually gie it a good "stir" about once a week.



Like I said it's slowed down and I'm not likely to want any compost till the weather is considerably warmer i.e. late April/May. I hadn't really thought about what I was going to do when the container was full, but only half rotted. It's not going to be easy to lift the "Dalek" and take out the rotted stuff from underneath.
Would it be best to start another one (taking advantage of special offers from council + a proper compost caddy, of course!)?

Davesnave

You may not need two. Scooping stuff out of the bottom (if it has a trap door) never works very well, so I just lift my dalek off carefully and place it back alongside, then immediately take all the unrotted stuff and drop that in to start afresh, leaving the good stuff as a heap. I bought two council daleks, but have never used both simultaneously.

noonesperfect

Thanks Davesnave, we bought ours before they were really popular but it got abandoned poor thing, till last year. It's not the sort with a trap door and unfortunately it looks like I'm going to have to lift it off, put the unrotted stuff in a wheelbarrow or something to get to the stuff that's ready. (Sadly I can't put mine alongside current spot) I didn't plan ahead very well.....

singlehouseholder

Glad tidings fellow gardeners! Has anyone got any hints/tips what I can use to hurry along my compost? I don't really weant to buy any "compost accelerator" would prefer to put something that will speed the process without having to part with my hard earned! I put in the usual, grass cuttings, veg peelings, tea bags, egg shells, egg boxes,coffee, the contents of my g.pigs house when it gets cleaned. I mushed it all up yesterday but it doesn't really seem to be doing much- what can I try?
Much obliged:beer:

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