New compost from community project - how to use?

[thegreenjudy]

I will be getting more compost from my local community. They collect garden and food waste to produce compost for the community. But they told me it needs to be mixed with normal compost from the shop (I bought 100% organic compost from B&Q).
Although not classed as organic, this community compost has no additives.
They said it will be to rich on its own though.

I don't quite understand what that means to be honest. I started growing Courgettes and Pumpkins inside to plant them outside in a few weeks. I always thought these were good plants to grow on a compost (ie as fresh as it comes). I wanted to start my own compost to recycle my organic waste. I thought this community compost would be a great way to start it off and use the remainder of the delivery to mix with my organic compost in the beds. Now, could I use the 100% compost from the community project to grow my pumpkins or would that still be too rich even for tubers?

Would appreciate your help :-)

[Veggielot]

Sounds strange, as long as it is fully composted can't see why you would need to mix with shop bought. Our council compost all the garden/kitchen waste they collect and sell it and they have never said anything about it's use.

What does it look like?

[alldigging]

Ask them for a copy of the test results that list the NPK.

[thegreenjudy]

Well the email read:
Our compost is not classified organic, however we do not had any chemicals on our process. We collect food waste that is processed through invessel machines and transformed into compost (just natural rotten process with heat to kill pathogenic). Our compost is more like a soil improver because it’s very rich. Very good for vegetable beds, fruit trees...if using for seeds it needs to be mixed with other compost otherwise it’s too much.


So I guess I can use it as soon as the seeds have grown into little plants?

[rustylady]

Are you going to be growing in pots, or in open ground?

[rustylady]

They said it will be to rich on its own though - for seeds. I use multipurpose compost for seed sowing with no problems. Traditional seed compost has very little nutrient value so is only good for germinating. Seedlings need to be potted on into richer compost very early.

[rustylady]

I wanted to start my own compost to recycle my organic waste. I thought this community compost would be a great way to start it off

You don't need this community compost to start off your own heap. You make your compost by adding green waste and brown waste (paper, card, dry twiggy prunings) to a heap and letting it rot down.

In my opinion it would be a waste of the community compost to use it in this way. Dig it into your beds.

[thegreenjudy]

thanks rustylady - I just thought the compost on top of the heap might speed things up - but I have enough brown leaves. In all honesty at first I over-read her comment "for seeds" so it helped me to re-post it here because otherwise I wouldn't have noticed :-)

[Two_Sheds]

I just thought the compost on top of the heap might speed things up

Not if it's finished the composting process it won't, because it won't have any of the composting organisms in it, esp if it's been heat-treated: they would've been cooked!

Things like red worms, bacteria, woodlice etc. You could chuck a shovel full of topsoil in though, that would have some in it.

I have enough brown leaves.

Don't put them in your compost heap, they will slow it right down.

Leaves compost in a different way, and should be separate. Factsheet about making leafmould

[thegreenjudy]

Oh now it's getting complicated :-) Thanks for that. I will look into it - when you say topsoil, can you recommend a brand?

[rustylady]

Oh now it's getting complicated :-) Thanks for that. I will look into it - when you say topsoil, can you recommend a brand?

You don't need a brand Judy. A spadeful from the garden or allotment will be fine

[thegreenjudy]

Thanks rustylady - maybe I can dig the garden up a bit without my landlady noticing ..ha :-)