Correct way to compost

Lewisium · April 2021

I've inherited a composer and I'm putting all the organic allotment waste in it. Should I be soaking it then pulling the clear sheet over the top to rot it dow?

I'm new to it as I usually bag it up and bin it.

What's the correct procedure for composting?

Dovefromabove · April 2021

This should help
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/maintain-the-garden/how-to-make-compost/

😊

JennyJ · April 2021

The only things I disagree with from @Dovefromabove 's link are that I put in citrus peel (from about one fruit per day on average) and the worms don't seem to care, and I put in the leaves of perennial weeds like dandelions (but not the roots or seed heads). I have recently taken to emptying out the teabags and collecting the spent leaves separately to put around my plants in pots because my compost doesn't get hot enough to rot down the bags in the same timescale as everything else.

Lyn · April 2021

I agree with Jenny, we use loose tea now as the bag doesn’t rot down quick enough.
turn regularly, keeps it aerated and stops rats making there home, stand the bins on double layer of chicken wire so worms get through, rats keep out.
We always put citrus peel in ours and have handfuls of those red worms as shown in Monty’s photo.
Have 2 bins then other containers so it can be upturned and then start again in the empty bin..so keep a good rotation.
We have compost ready in 2 to 3 months, but not everyone does, it depends on how it’s maintained, not everyone has access to horse poo or is willing to wee on it, these act as a natural activator, my OH has compost obsession so it’s regularly tended too.

Inglezinho · April 2021

Tea bags and coffee grounds are enough for the average small garden. You can get half a kilo a week, if you save it in the kitchen. I can't be bothered with traditional composting any more. Please add it to your composter, however. Good luck!

nick615 · April 2021

I think I read somewhere that, kept whole, putting a spent teabag underneath certain plants when planting, can be a benefit?

Wilderbeast · April 2021

Only about 15% of teabags sold in the UK are biodegradable, they are full of plastic and shouldn't go into your compost or garden. The remaining biodegradable bags only breakdown when exposed to extremely high temperature composting, I run hot bins (aiming for high 70s°c) and the don't breakdown properly. I now tear all tea bags open and the bags go into the council greenwaste.

@Lewisium I'm a mad composter so my methods don't work for all people. I line the bins with plastic and cover the heaps with plastic too and weigh down with old carpet, this keeps heat and moisture in. I put everything in but I do generate a lot of heat so perennial weeds are killed so some wouldn't add them. 2 bins are a must for regular turning mine are turned weekly as a minimum, I have 6 bins and currently have 3 active bins which I alternate putting my grass clippings in. I produce a lot of compost, about 8000 litres by volume last year and generally ignore all the exact rules on browns and greens etc, turning to add oxygen and keeping a heap moist definitely makes all the difference for me.

Lyn · April 2021

Same here @Wilderbeast We cover ours with plastic sacks carpet and corregated sheets, it does make it work much quicker.
6 bins then last turn goes into builders bags. I love it at the end of the season, black gold.

Wilderbeast · April 2021

@lyn I have decided to leave the bins to work over winter now as I found that the year old stuff was so much richer and stuffed full of worms.

Correct way to compost

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