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Home made compost - why do I get seedlings?

The Bird LadyThe Bird Lady Posts: 225
in Problem solving

Why is it that everything that I add home-made compost to, eventually sprouts unwanted seedlings?  The compost is left for a good while before using and it looks wonderful when I use it but before long I get these blasted seedlings sprouting all over the place, in pots, in the flower-beds, everywhere.  It’s driving me mad!  I’m starting to think that making compost is not such a good idea after all!

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  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    Your compost heap is not getting hot enough to kill the seeds. this is not unusual, many of our heaps are similar.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    Homemade compost doesn't heat up enough to kill any seeds.  I try not to put seedheads or perennial weeds into mine - I still get seedlings - often tomatoes, sometimes squash and frequently verbena bonariensis, as well as others.  If they're in the veg patch I sometimes transplant them and get a crop from them.  If they're in with potted plants it's not a problem to weed them out while they're small.

    I don't use home-made compost for sowing seeds!


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • The Bird LadyThe Bird Lady Posts: 225

    image Thanks for that - I was thinking it was just me!  I've had potatoes before now!

    No I don't use it for sowing.

    Cheers both! 

  • christine 007christine 007 Posts: 257

    My soil is rubbish in my garden, is it easy to make soil up? All this some plants need good acidic soil but what if the plant next door needs a sandy soil? it is a confusing thing for me to learn about, but keen. I just get bags of compost and pout it over the soil.imageimage

  • rewolfnusrewolfnus Posts: 9

    I bought a compost bin from the council one of those plastic ones the only trouble is I can't put it in the sun because I don't have anywhere free will this be a problem ? all answers appreciated

  • christine 007christine 007 Posts: 257
    Verdun wrote (see)

    It's the best generated within the compost bin that counts rewolfnus. 

    Christine, whenever you plant something mix in compost in the planting hole then mulch with same stuff.  Gradually you will improve the soil.  You need to grow what your conditions support...if you have acidic soil then grow acid lovers.  If your soil is neutral or alkaline then grow plants suitable for it.  Mulching is excellent but mpc is not ideal for thst.......mushroom compost, manure, bark chips is good 

    Verdun wrote (see)

    It's the best generated within the compost bin that counts rewolfnus. 

    Christine, whenever you plant something mix in compost in the planting hole then mulch with same stuff.  Gradually you will improve the soil.  You need to grow what your conditions support...if you have acidic soil then grow acid lovers.  If your soil is neutral or alkaline then grow plants suitable for it.  Mulching is excellent but mpc is not ideal for thst.......mushroom compost, manure, bark chips is good 

    Thank you, will need to get a soil kit, be interesting to see what it comes up with, will let you know. xx

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138
    Verdun wrote (see)

    It's the best generated within the compost bin that counts rewolfnus. ..........

    I don't think Verdun will mind me saying that he meant to say "...it's the heat generated within the ...."

    It's all the sunny Cornish weather that must've gone to his head image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • christine 007christine 007 Posts: 257

    Lol @ dovefrombove, so whats my excuse i quoted that 2 times lol xxx

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