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compost

holsdad1holsdad1 Posts: 41
in Fruit & veg
Hi, my compost pile is a mixture of horse manure, grass, wood shavings and hay, the problem is it isn't cooking I was wondering if it doesn't cook will it be ok to put it on my tomatoes, etc next year.
Thanks very much.

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There seems to be a lot of browns, and not many greens in your mix. 
    How have you got it stored - an open pile, a bin etc? It also needs to be damp enough.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    try weeing on it.  ;)
    Devon.
  • holsdad1holsdad1 Posts: 41
    I have quite a big amount of manure which I thought was green, I dampen it wouldn't say the pile was that big but I don't think it will cook so was wondering if it will be safe to use next year on.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    When you say 'a pile'- is that what it is though - just an open pile?
    That will always take longer to break down than something that's contained. If it was huge, the middle would heat up more rapidly though. It's important to have a decent mix of the various materials. I don't think I'd put hay in it unless it's well chopped up. If you have a load of manure, that alone will need about 6 months at least to be useable, if it was fresh stuff when you put it in there.
    It can be used when enough of it has broken down into -compost. The length of time it takes depends on various factors, and there isn't a hard and fast set of rules re timing. 
    Mine takes quite a long time because it stays wetter and colder. I can't really turn it often enough either, and that's another factor in how well it all breaks down. 

    You can also sieve it to get some usable compost, if it hasn't all broken down completely, but it depends on how you want to use it. If it was for seeds and small plants, that would be a better idea. Rough growing mediums are rarely very good for those. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    I was watching a Charles Dowding video on YouTube recently where he goes through many way and scales of composting, it's worth a watch. It's quite a recent video so you should find it quite easily. If not, drop me a message and I'll send you a link.

    The short version of that he said the heat all comes from the greens so you need a good 50/50 mix to get the heat going.
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • holsdad1holsdad1 Posts: 41
    thanks guys, it is in a container I made and turn it every few days seems wet like, just wanting to know if it would be free from pathogens if I use it next spring or this winter, would say it's roughly4-5 weeks old.
  • holsdad1holsdad1 Posts: 41
    in winter for spring planting.
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