Possible Compost issue (newbie)

mageice3 2/17/2012, 6:11 pm

I just read the post: How strong is your backbone (don't know how to link it but its a sticky.) and realized I might have a compost issue.

1. I can't compost at my apartment (no room for a pile, and not permitted by landlord)
2. I plan to buy my compost and have already purchased 1/2 of the blend I plan to use: Its a kitchen waste blended with yard trimmings. it has a few small branch pieces (smaller the 1/4 in long and about as thick as a coffee swizzle stick.)
3. To the above I planned to add a mushroom compost from my local nursery, (it was listed as a brown compost)

Now after reading the post I wonder if they would be enough, It totals out to 8 sources according to the packages (5 for the kitchen scrap and 3 for the mushrooms) but I am worried I may need to find another source.

Any thoughts would be most welcome,
James

**walshevak** 2/17/2012, 7:00 pm

Yes, for maximum results you will need at least 2-3 more composts. Possibly a cow manure, a chicken manure. Have you considered a worm compost bin. It is small enough for inside and apartment and produces a very rich worm castings compost. Do a search and check out the bin that various members have. I have just started one and hope by summer to have some worm castings to add my trowel full when replanting spent spring squares.

Kay

UnderTheBlackWalnut 2/17/2012, 8:11 pm

The best compost is what you make yourself, but in lieu of that, if you have to go to bags, several forum members have recommended the "Black Kow" or "Black Hen" brand. Last year my local Walmart actually carried "Black Kow" so you might be able to find that in your area. Smile

I was also able to find worm castings at a hydroponics store, but again, what you make yourself is usually superior. Just giving you some leads as to where you might look. Smile

mageice3 2/18/2012, 12:28 pm

walshevak wrote:Yes, for maximum results you will need at least 2-3
more composts. Possibly a cow manure, a chicken manure. Have you
considered a worm compost bin. It is small enough for inside and
apartment and produces a very rich worm castings compost. Do a search
and check out the bin that various members have. I have just started
one and hope by summer to have some worm castings to add my trowel full
when replanting spent spring squares.

Kay

After Checking my lease it does allow for a worm bin, as long as my neighbors don't complain of any smell, so I've been reading up on starting one, thanks for the suggestion.

UnderTheBlackWalnut wrote:The best compost is what you make yourself, but in lieu of that, if you have to go to bags, several forum members have recommended the "Black Kow" or "Black Hen" brand. Last year my local Walmart actually carried "Black Kow" so you might be able to find that in your area. I was also able to find worm castings at a hydroponics store, but again, what you make yourself is usually superior. Just giving you some leads as to where you might look.

I actually have a local supply for cow manure, the local dairy composts its fields all summer, unfortunately I'm within smelling distance of the process and they don't turn the piles enough Sad

So the idea of using animal compost is a little distasteful to me but I'll see if I can find a source of another type. I'm hoping that when fully composted manure doesn't smell cause my mix will be used both indoor and out.

Thanks,
James

**walshevak** 2/18/2012, 2:59 pm

Only the Black Hen of my 5 composts had a strong odor, and that disappeared a few days after making the blend. At that point it just smelled like dirt. Earthy but not offensive. I made up a separate pile of compost blend to keep on hand. I use the 18gal Rubbermaid type bins to store it in. Right now what's left is in my garage, but I want to move the bins out to the garden area and store under the tabletops. When my big compost pile finally is ready, I'll store a mix of that and worm castings for square replenishment.

But I am buying compost for the initial filling of the bed.

Kay

AvaDGardner 2/18/2012, 11:11 pm

mageice3 wrote:
After Checking my lease it does allow for a worm bin, as long as my neighbors don't complain of any smell, so I've been reading up on starting one, thanks for the suggestion.

I actually have a local supply for cow manure, the local dairy composts its fields all summer, unfortunately I'm within smelling distance of the process and they don't turn the piles enough
So the idea of using animal compost is a little distasteful to me but I'll see if I can find a source of another type. I'm hoping that when fully composted manure doesn't smell cause my mix will be used both indoor and out.

Thanks,
James

That is one detailed lease!

Where are you going to plant? On your patio?

Ah...the smell of money (on the hoof). It either bothers you or it doesn't. So funny how that is.

mageice3 2/19/2012, 2:58 pm

AvaDGardner wrote:

That is one detailed lease!

Where are you going to plant? On your patio?

Ah...the smell of money (on the hoof). It either bothers you or it doesn't. So funny how that is.

Yea the "house rules" are part of the lease and are some 25 pages in size 10 font Shocked

I have a nice patio I'm going to use, its only 6ft wide and with my chair that limits me to a 2ft wide by 8ft long box, however I plan to make it two tiered the bottom for lettuce, kale, chard, and spinach with the top for full sun veggies.

James

AvaDGardner 2/20/2012, 2:24 am

James, I've not grown lettuces before, but will the lower box get enough light? Or will they grow just because of heat?

Keep me posted on how it goes. We're looking to move to the lower panhandle in several years.

mageice3 2/20/2012, 11:24 pm

AvaDGardner wrote:James, I've not grown lettuces before, but will the lower box get enough light? Or will they grow just because of heat?

Keep me posted on how it goes. We're looking to move to the lower panhandle in several years.

I think it would depend on the type of lettuce, both my varieties are partial->full shade and prefer the cooler temperatures so I'm hoping it will work, if not I have a section of 4 squares for leaf greens in my larger box.

Once I get them transplanted I'll know and post pictures to let you know.

James

AvaDGardner 3/19/2012, 8:21 pm

I noticed that Black Gold makes a pre-mix of different ingredients - worm castings, vermiculite, peat moss, a variety of manures.

Has anyone tried this? Seems to be pre-made for SQF!

curio 3/19/2012, 9:05 pm

The drawbacks to this are two-fold. There is no breakdown of how much of each ingredient is in the mix. Also, with one of them being peat moss, you will be overboard on that component of the mix.

**walshevak** 3/20/2012, 8:51 am

IF and that's a big if, I was going to use something like this I would try to find out the percentages of each component. I would use it alone, but I would add at least a known good compost to it. Might make me high on the compost and a bit off on the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3, but I would rather make sure I had nutrients. My guess is it's high in peat with limited vermiculite.

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