Homemade compost is so exciting! (MERGED)

Luna69

Thanks... that's good if its okay then, was just a little concerned I was doing something wrong, or not doing something.
I'll try taking out any composted stuff and re start the other. I'll also try adding shredded paper, got a ton waiting to be shredded.

Thanks again

JenM_2

Thank you all so much - I'll print these out and take home to my boyfriend who is the actual gardner in our family.

Is there anything we can do at this point to neutralise the effects?

We compost all our food cuttings, the used newspaper litter from our cat's tray (all feces is flushed - apols for TMI) & general garden waste as well as the combined ash from our fire.

Many Thanks for the helpful responses (and also the tip about checking out our local wood-yards for free off-cuts - buying wood at supermarkets is v expensive!)

JenM

Debt_Free_Chick

I would only worry about using coal ash if the compost goes onto a vetable patch or around other edible plants. If it's purely used for ornamental plants & shrubs I'd have no qualms using it.

angelavdavis

I bought a house where they had clearly always tipped their ash on the garden - everything grew in that garden !

JenM wrote: »

Is there anything we can do at this point to neutralise the effects?

Why not just put it to one side in the garden, make up some more and mix the two?

lindseykim13

I have some brocoli that has been in the bed for ages, i planted them sometime last year and it was the wrong time of year but thought i'd push my luck. Anyway they are huge plants but with no heads 2 got heads but were just left and are now in flower. My question is do i leave them there and will they perhaps grow some more or are they the sort of plant you chuck out and start again with the next year? thanks

Farway

I would chuck them & start again, as you have said two are in flower, any others will follow at this time of year

You could cut them down and eat the new leaves as "spring greens" until you want the space

polomint_2

I found this helpful when i started out.

Hope this helps someone else...

Happy composting...

Put these inLike any recipe, your compost relies on the right ingredients to make it work. Good things you can compost include vegetable peelings, fruit waste, teabags, plant prunings and grass cuttings. These are considered “Greens.” Greens are quick to rot and they provide important nitrogen and moisture. Other things you can compost include cardboard egg boxes, scrunched up paper and fallen leaves. These are considered “Browns” and are slower to rot. They provide fibre and carbon and also allow important air pockets to form in the mixture. Crushed eggshells can be included to add useful minerals.


Keep these out

Certain things should never be placed in your bin. No cooked vegetables, no meat, no dairy products, no diseased plants, and definitely no dog poo or cat litter, or baby’s nappies. Putting these in your bin can encourage unwanted pests and can also create odour. Also avoid composting perennial weeds (such as dandelions and thistle) or weeds with seed heads. Remember that plastics, glass and metals are not suitable for composting and should be recycled separately.


Making Good Compost

The key to good compost lies in getting the mix right. You need to keep your Greens and Browns properly balanced. If your compost is too wet, add more Browns. If it’s too dry, add some Greens. Making sure there is enough air in the mixture is also important. Adding scrunched up bits of cardboard is a simple way to create air pockets that will help keep your compost healthy. Air can also be added by mixing the contents. After approximately 6-9 months your finished compost will be ready.

polomint_2

andrew-b wrote: »

Why not just put a link to http://www.recyclenow.com/home_composting/composting/index.html ?

Andy

This was the bit I felt most helpful to any newbies without getting to in depth and technical to start with!

looby-loo_2

polomint wrote: »

This was the bit I felt most helpful to any newbies without getting to in depth and technical to start with!

Thanks, I only put egg shells in my enclosed bin, not to open on as I was told animal food waste can encourage rats, although I agree they would be good for the soil.

squiggle37

thanks for info OP, Im picking up my compost bin today bought it on ebay for 7quid so im a happy chappy cant wait to start composting