Re-using compost

NoelleV

I've grown veg for the first time ever this summer and have grown everything in compost filled bags and pots. This has worked really well, but if possible I don't want to chuck it away if possible.

The veg in some of my pots are finished, some I'm going to dig them up, but I was wondering can I reuse the compost if I add some fertiliser, chihck manuere etc to it??? If so what should I put in? I'm totally clueless when it come to soil types etc.....

If I can't reuse the compost, shuold I chuck it on the compost heap?

Any help much appreciated!

Thanks Noelle

Farway

I reuse mine, adding chicken poo pellets

Try and avoid sowing same thing in same pot, so if you had carrots say, do not put more carrots in, ditto spuds etc

You could chuck it on compost heap, but far beter spread as mulch / soil conditioner on your garde as there will still be some nutrients in it

foxgloves

If you're not had obvious diseases in the pots & there are no sign of the evil vine weevil larva, then you can reuse it for some crops. For instance, I grow cucumbers, aubergines in growbags in the greenhouse in summer, then when they're finished, I sow rocket, mixed salad leaves & mizuna straight into the grow bags for autumn salad crops.

stilernin

I take out the top 1/3 of the compost and put the roots of the crop that has finished in the compost heap (assuming no diseases). The used compost goes into the bottom of new pots (you can never have enough pots).

Blood, fish and bone goes into the bottom 2/3 (and the old stuff in new pots) and the pots are then topped up with fresh compost.

The problem with this system is that each year I have more pots than the year before

Jake'sGran

I re-used mine too but I should have bought some fresh compost. The plants are doing OK
though even a lovely pompom dahlia which is now about five ft tall with lots of flowers. The compost is one that was recommended on Gardener's World. It is rather rough and has lot of bits of wood in it and therefore not great for sowing seeds. I also use chicken pellets and then feed the plants with tomato food and Miracle Grow.

Next year I will buy fresh from the local society's shop.

linni

I re-used mine and I keep getting potato's butternut squash and tomato's plants growing in it so it's very good value...

Primrose

I re-use mine once, mixing in some chicken manure pellets as the original nutrients in it will have been exhausted by the first time growing. You'll probably still be able to grow some quick growing crops like salad leaves, rocket, radishes. The other thing I do once pots of compost have been cropped is to mix in all my chopped upkitchen waste (veg peelings, chopped pea shucks, etc) rather than adding it to the compost heap. At this time of year it rots down quickly and along with some chicken manure pellets adds some nutrients and bulk. Don't reuse compost though if any of your original plants have been diseased. In these cases I sprinkle the compost onto our lawn to flatten out any dips or uneven patches.

NoelleV

Thanks for all the replies!

I pulled up my pack choi and beets at the weekend, mixed all the compost together and have added some chicken poo pellets and slow release fertilser stuff. I'll add a few kitchen choppings too.......

I leave it for a few weeks and then I'll plant out some more pack choi and Swiss chard and see how we go!

Thank you

cootambear

The used soil may well be short in nutrients that your previous crop needed, but not for a different plant type. You could add some tomato feed and give it another year.