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Coffee husks

EsspeeEsspee Posts: 274
in Problem solving

I have sourced a supply of coffee husks which I intend to use as brown material in my compost heap.  Have any of you used this material?

I would appreciate advice on how else I can use it to raise the organic content of my soil.  Tried it as a mulch but it blew around a lot.  Can I just dig it in?  I don't have many worms unfortunately.

Posts

  • ladygardener2ladygardener2 Posts: 371

    I've used used coffee grounds, is that what you mean by husks? I had to fork them into the soil a bit otherwise they went mouldy.  Some folk say they help keep the slugs and snails away and maybe they do a bit, that's why I used them and I put some around specific plants, kind of defeats that purpose a bit if it has to be dug in 'tho I did have moderate success. I also used crushed egg shells for the same reason. 

  • EsspeeEsspee Posts: 274

    Coffee husks or chaff is the thin papery skin which comes off of the coffee bean during the roasting process.  It is extremely light and apparently full of nitrogen.  I was hoping I might find someone on here with experience of using the product.  Being winter I don't have much green material to mix it with and few worms to pull it into the soil so am thinking of digging it in as it blows around when used as a mulch.

  • The tattooed gardenerThe tattooed gardener Posts: 59

    Again no experience of using husks but I too use used coffee grounds in the veg beds, I get mine from Starbucks ?

  • EsspeeEsspee Posts: 274

    Thank you both, must try to get some grounds next time I am in a coffee shop.  Still can't find anyone with experience of using the coffee chaff.  Any company which roasts coffee beans ends up with loads of it.  If we can use it it saves it going to landfill. 

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    If it does contain a lot of nitrogen, it will act as an excellent compost accelerator so I would continue to add it to your compost heap in any quantity you like, then use the resulting compost to improve your soil.  Just make sure you wet the heap if adding a lot of it in one go. 

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • EsspeeEsspee Posts: 274

    Thank you Bob, great to hear from someone who knows about it.  I have more than my compost heap can cope with, I have also used it as a mulch.  Is this wise?  Should I dig it in?  How much is too much?

    All info greatfully received.

    Thanks.

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