Having just watched it last night, I didn’t think Monty made it look difficult, though I am lusting after his bins (and now plant pauper’s!). I have half a dozen builders bags which are a pain to turn over. I was surprised/pleased to see that Monty’s ‘ready’ compost was quite rough, with uncomposted bits of twigs etc., as on that basis I have three bags ready to use
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
New Zealand boxes @Nollie. A la Geoff Hamilton. When they get a bit compacted from settling I use an auger to poke holes and give 'em a shake. There's no way I would have the strength, energy or inclination to turn that lot! Maybe once they get hauled out and put back in but that's easy because the fronts come out right down to the ground.
I might be a bit weird ( MIGHT BE? I hear them cry ) but I love turning the compost. Until then you never really know if it's " worked " or just "work in progress".
@Hostafan1 I'm feeble with arms like spaghetti and a back that goes "out" at the drop of a hat. Without wishing to start a row I think you'll find that when you read "we" turn our compost you'll find that, most times, the turner looks more like you than me!!! Here's the plan @Nollie
Just a comment to @lovegardening77 - please don't be put off, compost will happen eventually whether you turn or shred your compost or just sit down and drink a cuppa. It's a shame the name "compost" is used for the stuff we make in our gardens (to use as a mulch and soil improver) as well as for "compost" from the garden centre, which is heat treated to kill off bugs and baddies, and is (or should be) consistent in composition so your seeds grow well in it. I gardened for someone who insisted on planting veg seeds in sieved garden compost, in spite of my protestations. They didn't grow... so unless you're very dedicated, and can sterilise stuff in the oven (don't mix it up with the chocolate cake, see @Fire's early comments), most of us use our garden compost on our gardens, and buy bags of "compost" from the garden centre for our seeds and containers.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
@Nollie - I think you garden on heavy clay. I do too and somebody, somewhere told me that ‘long’ (?) compost (ie rough stuff with twigs and nearly-composted more fibrous matter) is ideal for helping to break down / separate heavy clay.
I’ve been using my compost like that for several years & it’s all good news👍👍👍 - it does more good and is quicker to produce.
I rarely wait for it to get to the sort of texture you get in a commercial bag. My soil needs lots of oomph.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Cheers @plant pauper and @Topbird (I do indeed garden on heavy clay, so thanks for the tip). I did have a pallet version of the NZ bins in my last allotment but simply haven’t got around to building proper ones yet!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I too lust after proper bins but make do with rubbish bins. It has a been a revelation to read this year about not using garden compost for potting. I have used it to top up / boost pots but have used bought GC compost for potting this year. I'd rather not, as I'd rather not buy any more in. But perhaps it's inevitable.
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When they get a bit compacted from settling I use an auger to poke holes and give 'em a shake. There's no way I would have the strength, energy or inclination to turn that lot! Maybe once they get hauled out and put back in but that's easy because the fronts come out right down to the ground.
Without wishing to start a row I think you'll find that when you read "we" turn our compost you'll find that, most times, the turner looks more like you than me!!!
Here's the plan @Nollie
It's a shame the name "compost" is used for the stuff we make in our gardens (to use as a mulch and soil improver) as well as for "compost" from the garden centre, which is heat treated to kill off bugs and baddies, and is (or should be) consistent in composition so your seeds grow well in it. I gardened for someone who insisted on planting veg seeds in sieved garden compost, in spite of my protestations. They didn't grow... so unless you're very dedicated, and can sterilise stuff in the oven (don't mix it up with the chocolate cake, see @Fire's early comments), most of us use our garden compost on our gardens, and buy bags of "compost" from the garden centre for our seeds and containers.
I’ve been using my compost like that for several years & it’s all good news👍👍👍 - it does more good and is quicker to produce.
I rarely wait for it to get to the sort of texture you get in a commercial bag. My soil needs lots of oomph.