We start ours off in compost bins, wooden ones, then store in dumpy bags till the autumn. That is what I call soil improver, I would never sow seeds or do cuttings in it. It doesn’t have much goodness, just improves your garden soil thus making the need for extra feed unnecessary, get your soil in good condition and it makes what it needs by itself.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
@paul_in_surrey I build them up in layers of grass clippings ( which I produce in mountains ) and woodchip which I have delivered, free of charge, by two local tree surgery companies. This year, I'll be adding stable manure to the mix as a new neighbour is bringing that to me now. She wants rid of it, and I want it for the garden. Win win.
Can you explain the dumpy bag composting further, are you turning out into bins later? Did it go in mixed? I might try it too.
The bags are my composting bins, since I haven’t gotten round to building ‘proper’ compost containers from pallets yet; l build up layers of grass clippings and then leaves/chipped wood prunings in them in the usual way but need to find some fresh manure too as I think they are lacking heat.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Oh I think I’ll have a go. 3 nz bins is not enough so I’ll start on dumpy bags. Don’t know why that didn’t occur to me! (Other topic) Im still unconvinced dumpy bags of compost is cheaper than Homebase bags. Someone said £80 earlier in the thread, i assume that is not including delivery? They seem to vary in size though, is 900l about right?
@Lyn, do you say your compost is not good to feed plants because it's not balanced in nutrients?
It’s not used as a feed, it’s used to improve your soil, which then makes good garden soil, that’s what feeds your plants. Did you see Carol Klein Life in a cottage garden this week, she piles on the compost, that enriches the soil, she never puts any feed on the ground.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Hi Lyn I agree. A good mixed garden compost with green and brown waste would always have the nutrients to feed plants. I use mine as mulch and soil conditioner and no detriment to any plants Like most, I buy compost and manure when it's on offer. At the moment, a small GC near me is selling 6 bags of 50 litre MP Levingtons compost for £15 and 50 litre bags of Goodwn horse manure at 4 bags for £12 The good thing is that this GC dates all their compost and manure so you are assuming your getting fresh stuff
I wouldn’t use just my made compost to grow plants in alone, I use some in my GH tomato beds mixed with Tomorite gro bags, added to the soil that’s already in there. I’d never bother trying to grow seeds in it. I don’t like Levington, I tried the Professional but wasn’t keen, my mum always used that years ago but it’s just not the same now. I get pure lumps of horse poo for a £1. Per bag to mix in the compost bins. Although there hasn’t been any out this year so far.😢
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
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That is what I call soil improver, I would never sow seeds or do cuttings in it. It doesn’t have much goodness, just improves your garden soil thus making the need for extra feed unnecessary, get your soil in good condition and it makes what it needs by itself.
This year, I'll be adding stable manure to the mix as a new neighbour is bringing that to me now. She wants rid of it, and I want it for the garden. Win win.
(Other topic) Im still unconvinced dumpy bags of compost is cheaper than Homebase bags. Someone said £80 earlier in the thread, i assume that is not including delivery? They seem to vary in size though, is 900l about right?
Delivery charges, yes you do need to watch that. If you're buying several bags you may get delivery thrown in. And make sure the prices include VAT!
Did you see Carol Klein Life in a cottage garden this week, she piles on the compost, that enriches the soil, she never puts any feed on the ground.
I agree. A good mixed garden compost with green and brown waste would always have the nutrients to feed plants. I use mine as mulch and soil conditioner and no detriment to any plants
Like most, I buy compost and manure when it's on offer. At the moment, a small GC near me is selling 6 bags of 50 litre MP Levingtons compost for £15 and 50 litre bags of Goodwn horse manure at 4 bags for £12
The good thing is that this GC dates all their compost and manure so you are assuming your getting fresh stuff
I’d never bother trying to grow seeds in it.
I don’t like Levington, I tried the Professional but wasn’t keen, my mum always used that years ago but it’s just not the same now.
I get pure lumps of horse poo for a £1. Per bag to mix in the compost bins. Although there hasn’t been any out this year so far.😢