Composting

Comment

Comment by Anthony Melling on April 1, 2013 at 8:39am

to be honest I prefer to burn tomato and potato plant material even if it looks ok. I just put it somewhere relatively dry until there is enough other stuff to burn, then the resulting ash can be returned to the soil or compost pile having destroyed most pathogens. Make sure any fire ban has been lifted in your area of course.

Comment by Ingrid Ennis on April 1, 2013 at 6:04am

Hi Peter,

Viruses are mostly spread from a living, infected plant to another plant by either insect vectors (aphids, thrips etc.) or when we or other animals brush past an infected plant or trim it with secateurs and transfer the sap onto another plant.  Usually if you compost a plant with a virus it is thought to be unlikely that you will spread a virus in that way. However diseases can survive the composting process sometimes, especially if the compost pile is not that hot or the compost is put back onto the garden before it is fully broken down. I recommend that you use the compost from the tomato plants on another part of your garden where tomatoes are not going to be grown, just to be safe. Good luck! Ingrid

Comment by Peter watson on March 19, 2013 at 5:14pm

Is it ok to put branches of tomato plants that have wilted through possible disease, into my compost , or will this simply spread any virus problem as I use the compost?

Comment by Anthony Melling on September 30, 2012 at 9:08am

Hi everyone. Well once I drag myself out of bed this beautiful Spring morning, my aim is to finish off building a bamboo storage bin. This is where we are already starting to stockpile and use materials for mulch or compost duties. The chooks have already discovered it as a nice scratch pad and I may have to sort out some weeds which have started to look rather lush...

Comment by Nicolas Santini on March 14, 2012 at 7:54am

thanks Matt, will do

Comment by Matt Moir on March 12, 2012 at 2:56pm

Hi Nicolas check out the industrial areas wharehouses often have stacks of unuseable or broken pallets that are only good for firewood or compost bins if they havnt put their old pallits on the verge for people to take then stop in and ask if they have any

Comment by Nicolas Santini on March 12, 2012 at 1:54pm

anyone knows where can I get used pallets for low price or free? I want to get my compost corner in better shape, but I would like to do it on a budget. thanks

Comment by Rex Morris on August 17, 2011 at 4:31pm

I made new compost bins with pallets about three months ago. The first one has been filled at least three times. When I sinks down I top it up to head height again and wait for it to sink as it decomposes. While I am waiting I add to the second bin.  This stuff should be ready mid summer.

Comment by Rex Morris on August 17, 2011 at 4:28pm

Have opened up a compost and begun putting into raised beds. Also digging out holes to be filled with compost for tomatoes.  The garlic I planted back in June is about  20-25 cm high and looks good - should be a good crop.  Have been gently fertilising with a mixture of compost/worm cast/worm tea all mixed together.

Comment by Saundra Bennett on August 8, 2011 at 4:30am

HI Everyone!

I really like a group just for composting.   We are involved in worm farming.  My son started this last year for some income after a seasonal job layoff.   It was the first year of my experience with worm castings.  I had only two tomato plants last year but each was HUGE with a minimum of 50 tomatoes each.   ( I am not sure how to post a picture but would like to do this).  This was unexpected due to the raised bed had been created that same spring from our sandy soil.   There is nothing to hold the water in.   So, it did surprisingly well.    The only thing I will do different in using the castings would be to augument with lime to sweeten the soil.

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