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Hello everyone, it
s my first time to write something in this forum. At the moment I prepare to restart at least part of my existing garden the "no dig" way. When I was talking to the staff member at the compost factory he asked me what I want to do with all the compost. After I told him I want to mulch with it and plant and sow into it, he said I should in no way do that. Plants will be "burnt" and itll end as a disaster.
I was asking myself what made him say that. Is the compost they sell not really done/finished? They collect the organic waste from households (kitchen, garden, site) and people bring their green waste. (Here in germany the waste management companies collect organic waste in a separate container from almost every household). The material looks like common compost: dark brow, almost black, crumbly.
Is there anything to consider furthermore? Can I “ignore” his advice?
NinaHello Nina and welcome,
He sounds scary.
Probably you can sow into it.
The only time not is if the compost is still hot and not finished/not mature.
If you have a heap of the compost, is it still hot?
If not, it’s fine to sow into.
It’s not about nutrients, just ripeness.I have been using composts that sound similar to this that are produced by waste recycling company Veolia for about 15 years. I use it successfully as a thick mulch put on my beds in autumn/winter and I plant straight into it in spring, or overwintering veg in late autumn. I have heard of this “burn” story before and it sometimes arrives quite hot. I think Charles is right – dont plant into it straightaway if it arrives hot. Wait till it cools down.
Correct me if I’m wrong but will it won’t quickly cool down if it’s spread say 4″ thick? I was always lead to believe you need volume to hot compost just like they do in the factory site. The process need at least 3ft x 3ft of volume to start the heating process of all the bacteria.
Very much like spreading fresh manure, it won’t compost anywhere near as fast on the ground as in a pile
Yes Shaun that is right.
The issue here is matching what people want and need to do (sow) with the perfection or otherwise of the compost being spread.
In an ideal world the compost companies would sell a finished product.
Often however they do not, so it’s about doing the best one can, as above.
If you have time and space to keep it in a heap until it’s below about 25-30C, all good.I am posting this after plantmark wrote the following, yet his post did not appear in forum:
Charles, I can now update my progress to report success this year! You will remember my initial efforts were ruined last year having purchased and applied 12 tons of manure over my garden which was badly contaminated with Amino Pyralid insecticide.
Well, I removed every last shovel full and have replaced it with Green Waste Compost to start this year with and results have been fantastic.
I have been unable to source any reliable animal manures so have been using 100% Green Compost. Every plant has been planted with the addition of a sprinkle of Chicken Manure pellets and Micorrhizal Fungi in the planting holes.
For me, the results with the green compost have been so good that it doesn’t warrant taking the risk with horse manure. Everything I have planted has been successful and I have grown a wide range of crops. We have been overrun with most things I have grown, and I am amazed at how few healthy plants are required of each crop to feed two people.
I also removed the horse manure from my greenhouse and replaced with 6″ of green compost, again supplemented with chicken manure pellets. The tomatoes have overrun my 20′ greenhouse despite not having used any tomato feed. Plants are very healthy and show no signs of deficiency.I have also used a 6″ mulch of Green Compost on my new flower beds and all of the plants have established with great results in their first year. In total I have used 20 tons on the garden and veg patch.
Thank you again for your help with identifying the problem.
Mark this is great news. congratulations! I am so pleased to hear, after all your efforts, so well deserved.
Good old green waste!
Thanks Charles, I was mystified as to why my post disappeared?
Funnily enough, the company where I buy my Green waste Compost told me never to plant directly into unmixed Green Compost. Clearly none of them have experimented with it.
Here are a few of photos of plants in Green Waste Compost which I should not plant into.
That is so funny! Remarks like these “Do not do this…” are indeed often founded on hearsay. Not always for sure. But its a pity that many people in all walks of life are discouraged from being adventurous and successful.
Your plants are abundant to say the least.Brilliant, plantmark!
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