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homeade compost does it stand alone
4 posters
Page 1 of 1
homeade compost does it stand alone
When we compost at home should our homemade compost stand alone in the Mel's mix or in some cases would it be advisable to mix our compost with store bought brands to ensure that it was from more diverse sources?
I started square foot gardening and composting last fall. My original bed contained commercial compost that I sourced through nurseries and big box retailers and contained a nice variety of many sources of compost. I had very good results.
Now this year my composting is very advanced and I am able to use 100% of my homemade compost. I own a restaurant and I am able to pull out a very large amount of diverse ingredients from our waste and I also own a horse and have a large supply of composted horse manure and I am also raising a large amount of worms and have the castings.
My spring garden has been up and running for about six weeks now with some of the newest beds containing my compost representing the 1/3 compost requirements of the Mel's mix. I am having some excellent results for the most part. The swiss chard, spinach, carrotts, Bibb lettuce, and all of my herbs are thriving. Now the tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, peas and beans are showing mixed results some of the plants are very healthy but many are not growing as fast as the best examples. Nighttime temps are still a little cool in the 40-50 degree range. sunlight and water needs are very consistent and I started all of my own seeds.
I have been concerned that my compost might be less effective?
My ingredients include: Creekbed loam and leaves from the forest behind my house, produce waste, organic coffee and tea grounds, draught beer overflow, aged composted horse manure, worm castings, sawdust from stumps ground down in my yard, recycled brown paper shreds from the restaurant. the compost has been created using the hot method and turned out beautiful. Should I blend with other types of purchased compost in the next beds?
I started square foot gardening and composting last fall. My original bed contained commercial compost that I sourced through nurseries and big box retailers and contained a nice variety of many sources of compost. I had very good results.
Now this year my composting is very advanced and I am able to use 100% of my homemade compost. I own a restaurant and I am able to pull out a very large amount of diverse ingredients from our waste and I also own a horse and have a large supply of composted horse manure and I am also raising a large amount of worms and have the castings.
My spring garden has been up and running for about six weeks now with some of the newest beds containing my compost representing the 1/3 compost requirements of the Mel's mix. I am having some excellent results for the most part. The swiss chard, spinach, carrotts, Bibb lettuce, and all of my herbs are thriving. Now the tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, peas and beans are showing mixed results some of the plants are very healthy but many are not growing as fast as the best examples. Nighttime temps are still a little cool in the 40-50 degree range. sunlight and water needs are very consistent and I started all of my own seeds.
I have been concerned that my compost might be less effective?
My ingredients include: Creekbed loam and leaves from the forest behind my house, produce waste, organic coffee and tea grounds, draught beer overflow, aged composted horse manure, worm castings, sawdust from stumps ground down in my yard, recycled brown paper shreds from the restaurant. the compost has been created using the hot method and turned out beautiful. Should I blend with other types of purchased compost in the next beds?
kbshark-
Posts : 10
Join date : 2012-09-11
Location : Mobile, Alabama
Re: homeade compost does it stand alone
Your compost should be great as-is. It comes from at least 5 different sources and is mixed from turning.
Unmutual
Certified SFG Instructor-
Posts : 396
Join date : 2011-04-23
Age : 51
Location : Greater New Orleans Area Westbank(Zone 9b)
Re: homeade compost does it stand alone
Sounds like your home made compost is good enough to be a stand alone .
Perhaps consider adding a fish dish or two to the restaurant menu for shimp, lobster , prawn and fish trimmings & the frame waste adds lots of micro nutrients that are needed for extra special crops .
Perhaps consider adding a fish dish or two to the restaurant menu for shimp, lobster , prawn and fish trimmings & the frame waste adds lots of micro nutrients that are needed for extra special crops .
plantoid-
Posts : 4092
Join date : 2011-11-09
Age : 72
Location : At the west end of M4 in the UK
fish waste
Plantoid I do have access to fish trimmings and shrimp and lobster shells! I have been putting the fish scraps in a bucket to allow it to liquefy and break down so that I could use it as a homemade fish fertilizer. I have also considered burying some of the fish in the compost but the smell is very strong so I have stayed with the bucket method for now.
I have a place in the woods behind my house where I can bury and dig up later so I will try to break some down in the ground and see what happens

I have a place in the woods behind my house where I can bury and dig up later so I will try to break some down in the ground and see what happens
kbshark-
Posts : 10
Join date : 2012-09-11
Location : Mobile, Alabama
Re: homeade compost does it stand alone
wow I wish my compost pile could have your offerings.
Regarding the fish
I used to go steelhead fishing on Lake Erie, came back with 9 fish each trip, weighing app. 15 lbs.
Went with others, that enabled me to have more than limit.
After cleaning the fish I had quite a bit of remains, buried them all in my raised beds.
This was Oct, in May when I was ready to till, the remains were all decomposed, a slight odor was present, however that disappeared quickly.
I had to place wire mesh over the beds during the winter, we have racoons, skunks, and such.
I think fish is an excellent addition, although it will attract local animal elements.
Regarding the fish
I used to go steelhead fishing on Lake Erie, came back with 9 fish each trip, weighing app. 15 lbs.
Went with others, that enabled me to have more than limit.
After cleaning the fish I had quite a bit of remains, buried them all in my raised beds.
This was Oct, in May when I was ready to till, the remains were all decomposed, a slight odor was present, however that disappeared quickly.
I had to place wire mesh over the beds during the winter, we have racoons, skunks, and such.
I think fish is an excellent addition, although it will attract local animal elements.
jimmy cee
Certified SFG Instructor-
Posts : 2215
Join date : 2013-02-16
Age : 87
Location : Hatfield PA. zone 6b
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