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Post by Jardack on Nov 9, 2007 19:59:12 GMT
Thank you everyone  I will get them all up tomorrow (unless it is raining!) and pop them in. WeeT - that is a good list, am doing a few of them already - kitchen veg waste, egg boxes and shells, some bits of cardboard, teabags (there are loads of them for some reason!!!) and grass cuttings. All my leaves are going into by beautiful leaf composter I made  Jardack PS I only apologise for asking lots of questions cos that is all I do at the minute as can't really help other people out as I don't know anything  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2007 21:13:25 GMT
You can put all the parts of the plants you mentioned into your compost heap the heat will kill off any remaining seeds and if it is covered no light will get through so no germination. i have just spread my compost over my garden and this year it is delightful. but it took a year to get it right. There is a definate art to getting the right mix of ingredients. Good luck  |
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Post by owdboggy on Nov 10, 2007 21:30:09 GMT
Avoid soil as that needs to be heated up to a far higher temperature to sterilise it. It is from unsterilised soil that one gets seed problems rather than pure compost.
I dislike eggshells in compost, they stay as egg shells no matter what.
By the way you can compost pure grass clippings too.
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Post by flowersfriend on Nov 15, 2007 18:08:10 GMT
Composting is such good fun....I put everything on mentioned. I have made the mistake though of putting coal fire ash on. I then found out that it adds heavy metals to the soil... so I have stopped that! Wood ash is OK though, I believe.
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Post by Barbara on Nov 15, 2007 18:18:12 GMT
I dislike eggshells in compost, they stay as egg shells no matter what i' saw a chap on an allotment programme, and he added smashed up egg shells to his potting compost, he didnt say why, but i'm going to do it next year and see if it stops vine weevils laying there eggs in mine, as i think they like it nice and smooth, well they aint gonna get it ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by Ladygardener on Nov 15, 2007 19:22:48 GMT
I put eggshells around the plants that slugs and snails like to deter them, I think it helps
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 26, 2007 16:41:29 GMT
My 2 black plastic compo bins are full to the top and I still have stuff I want to compo. I don't have room for another, well I could find/make a space but need something now  short term. Has anyone just used old compost bags or similar. If it works for leaves it should work for compo surely Chuckles : |
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Post by Weeterrier on Nov 26, 2007 16:44:43 GMT
Well, if you cut the bottom out of the bags to make a tube, I cannot see that it would be any different from a plastic bin, except it wouldn't have a door. I would turn the bag inside out, so that the black is on the outside to absorb any heat. Worth a try  |
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Post by Barbara on Nov 26, 2007 17:32:56 GMT
i'm using one of those bags you get sand or stones in. they have small holes all over, so are perfect for composting, and i think they rot down as well. |
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Post by jean on Nov 26, 2007 22:01:53 GMT
Chuckles, just use heavy duty black bin bags and make some air holes with a fork. I am sure that your compost bin will reduce very quicky and anything you have to put in black bags will also reduce and you can add it to your heap when there is room. I've invested in some wooden slat bins from Crocus this year www.crocus.co.uk/product/_/compost-box/classid.2000003690/And have found they hold loads and loads and they are very easy to put together |
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 26, 2007 23:26:32 GMT
Will definately give the bags a go then ;D I've had both bins full and half emptied them but got them filled up again. I'm sure I've never had so much stuff to composts. Really like those slatted ones from Crocus JL and what a fab price they are ATM too. It looks like you could make 2 or 3 nice little raised beds from one of those too if you lined them with poly and they'd look nice with the fancy corners. I may get another black plastic compo bin for next year, think I will need one. Thinking about it I did have 3 and sold one to my neighbour  |
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Post by Plocket on Nov 27, 2007 15:40:10 GMT
I was just wondering something similar because our compost bin is full and it seems such a shame to waste all the peelings and stuff. I just wish we were allowed to put compostable stuff into our "garden" bin that the council collects.
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Post by Mr Grinch on Nov 27, 2007 19:07:23 GMT
Dont all those plastic bags stuffed with rotting vegitation look horrible in the garden ? As i tidy freak, i could entertain them in the garden. I just had one tidy wooden compost bin. Im afraid all the rest gets taken down the tip !
Mr G
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 27, 2007 19:14:25 GMT
Dont all those plastic bags stuffed with rotting vegitation look horrible in the garden ? As i tidy freak, i could entertain them in the garden. I just had one tidy wooden compost bin. Im afraid all the rest gets taken down the tip ! Mr G They would be normally Mr G but I have a few hidy holes in my garden ;D There's the back of Shed one, the back and side of Shed 2 and the side of the Poly Kennel too ;D |
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Post by jean on Nov 27, 2007 21:34:37 GMT
There are plenty of places in a garden to hide black poly bags in the short term - especially this time of year. Those wooden slat bins hold more than 2 large black daleks but the problem is that when it needs turning, you need something to turn it all into, without make loads of mess |
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 29, 2007 22:38:39 GMT
Thanks for the suggestions folks. Yesterday I filled 2 empty 75ltr compost bags with the stuff I'd collected. It was all a bit wet and soggy from the rain we had on Tuesday night so I mixed in some of the hay that my neighbour gave me a few weeks ago.
Bags now hidden away at the back of the shed with the bags of leaves.
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 30, 2007 6:43:32 GMT
Did you see the article in 'Kitchen Garden' magazine about making your own wormery out of an old bath, Chuckles? I thought it was just up your street? ;D I think I might have a go next year - I've always wanted a wormery...
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 30, 2007 13:13:31 GMT
Did you see the article in 'Kitchen Garden' magazine about making your own wormery out of an old bath, Chuckles? I thought it was just up your street? ;D I think I might have a go next year - I've always wanted a wormery... Not seen it 4P but what a fab idea, Mmmm I've not room for a bath in mine but your garden will have room to give it a go. Maybe I could try and do something on a smaller scale. Now if I recall we had a thread on DIY wormery thingies............ so I'll go find it Here it is so lets go and talk worms ;D DIY WORMERY |
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Post by Shrubrose on Nov 30, 2007 19:11:27 GMT
Oh Chuckles, just had a great idea for the most humungous compost bin - what about a skip (with a lid of course!) ;D
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Post by Biggles on Nov 30, 2007 20:45:23 GMT
When I had my vegetable garden I used to dig a trench at least a spade's depth (where I planned to grow next years Runner Beans) and then filled this with any compost material and finish it off with the soil which was dug from the trench.
This worked very well for me and worth giving it a go. It was surprising how much compost material I used to get into the trench because it rotted down before the Beans were sown.
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 1, 2007 15:24:46 GMT
Oh Chuckles, just had a great idea for the most humungous compost bin - what about a skip (with a lid of course!) ;D Shrub  you know me tooooo well, if I had the room I'd do it ;D Biggs that's a brill idea and something definately worth thinking about doing, I did fill a raised bed last year with semi rotted compo stuff which I then grew my beans in. I've decided not to have them in a row as such next year though they cast too much shade in my small veg area  will do 2 plant wigwams instead but I could use stuff I'm bagging now for that, so thanks for the idea |
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Post by Biggles on Dec 1, 2007 18:54:10 GMT
Chuckles, a very old gardening friend gave me that tip--he had said that the rotted compost also helped to retain the moisture.
Hope it works for you too.--Bigs
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Post by purplejulia on Mar 12, 2008 19:45:18 GMT
I was putting veg peelings in my compost bin this morning and found a dead mouse. I just shut the lid and now don't know what to do. Should I leave it to rot down or take it out and burn it or bury it?
Any suggestions?
PJ
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2008 20:03:16 GMT
I guess it will rot down quite fast if you leave it there
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Post by Weeterrier on Mar 12, 2008 22:50:54 GMT
Just one mouse? My God , lass, mine have little mouse nests in them. Ever since I upturned one of the bins, and all the wee pink babies fell out, I wait as long as I can to empty them. Naturally, I did collect the babes and reconstruct their little home. ;D As for your little dead one, it will be full of maggots in no time, so if that would turn your stomach, take it out. |
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Post by Missredhead on Mar 12, 2008 22:53:18 GMT
course you did Wee ;D don't doubt that for a moment |
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Post by Plocket on Mar 13, 2008 8:15:33 GMT
Eeeek! I'd take it out and bury it.  |
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Post by purplejulia on Mar 13, 2008 9:57:52 GMT
I am sitting at my computer contemplating the mouse situation  I already made OH go down and look at it to be sure it was a mouse and not a rat! He is a squeamish as me and just put more veg peelings on top of it. I know you hardened country folk are much bolder than I am but I think I am going to go down the garden shortly and possibly scoop it out and bury it. When I looked at the poor thing yesterday it just looked like it was asleep. I don't fancy what Wee T suggested that it may be riddled with maggots soon. PJ |
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Post by Amo on Mar 13, 2008 11:08:57 GMT
We're all compost in the end. Big cycle really. ;D
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Post by purplejulia on Mar 13, 2008 13:38:30 GMT
Mouse removed from bin with a spade and buried under a conifer where I can be fairly sure I won't be planting anything else. Poor little thing looked very peaceful.  No ceremony after internment though! PJ |
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short term.
will do 2 plant wigwams instead but I could use stuff I'm bagging now for that, so thanks for the idea 
