Starting a compost heap, help please

snowlady1

Hi all Newbie here, I can from reading the posts that this will be a great place to further my knowledge of my new hobby of growing veggies.

Can someone please advise me how I can start my own compost heap, I don`t have a lot of space, can it be done in a container ?

Farway

Yes, a container is fine. Many on here, including me, use a Dalek shaped bin

These are often available [for a reduced price] from your local council

Whatever type you suse make sure the bottom is open and sits on bare earth is possible, and ideally cover the base with vermin proof wire mesh to prevent rats making a home in it

You could consider a wormery, but these are a bit more difficult to maintain, drowned worms etc, a normal heap generally looks after itself

snowlady1

That sounds easy enough. Sorry one more question, I am sorry but I am new to this, what can I put into the bin and what should I not put in?

VinceNoir

I got one for free from http://www.recyclenow.com/home_composting/ theres some good info on the site too.

It depends where you live, but you can always try a friend or relatives address. They didn't specify when it would be delivered. Mine just turned up in my garden while I was at worK!

mrbadexample

This site should help you get started.

Farway

snowlady1 wrote: »

That sounds easy enough. Sorry one more question, I am sorry but I am new to this, what can I put into the bin and what should I not put in?

No animal products at all, cooked or uncooked, such as meat / fish [egg shells OK] otherwise more or less certain to get rats

Lotus-eater

snowlady1 wrote: »

Can someone please advise me how I can start my own compost heap, I don`t have a lot of space, can it be done in a container ?

Can I just ask how much space do you have? Do you have enough for a dalek style bin?

snowlady1

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Can I just ask how much space do you have? Do you have enough for a dalek style bin?

Yes I have enough space for that.

Since I asked this question, I have done some searching and there are several available closeby so we are going to have a look at the weekend.

I am assuming that when the compost is well rotted down, it can be put on my raised bed and dug in ready for planting next year.

zarazara

personally I find pallets good for compost bins, or tin sheeting. It works best, in my experience, as a minimum of 1 metre cube.
Just put anything in it that once lived,but not meat products or cooked food as it will attract rats. So, all leaves,weeds,clippings,veg peelings etc. Just dont puts lots of only one thing in, otherwise it forms a clump or layer and takes ages to rot. eg lawn clippings, mix them with leaves,weeds,newspaper,for example. once the bin is full, cover if you can,eg with a bit of old carpet. and just leave til spring. Urine is a great addative and speeds up the process.
People will say dont add this and dont add that. In 30 odd years of compost making I've never had a problem with weeds, the bigger the compost area the better, just fill it,leave it,and next spring theres lot of lovely crumbly compost.
Once its rotted down just put it on the flower or veg beds, or around the fruit trees.

MrsHoneybun

Put in all veg and fruit waste from the kitchen - potato peelings, pea pods, coffee grounds, bits of salad. Like one of the other posters said, nothing cooked and no animal products.

Bob Flowerdew on Gardeners' World always used to say to pee on it to get it going! If you've got a dalek style one though that would mean standing on a stepladder! Hope you get on with your neighbours!

Farway

snowlady1 wrote: »

I am assuming that when the compost is well rotted down, it can be put on my raised bed and dug in ready for planting next year.

It may not be ready for next year, sometimes the activation can be variable, depending what you put in it, but rest assured it will all rot down eventually

I just bung all uncooked veg kitchen waste, weeds, dead flowers, rhubarb leaves, old garden veg past it's fruiting period, like tomatoes, lawn cuttings, autumn leaves

I avoid large woody things though, they will rot down, but not in my lifetime :rotfl: