compost

[raine]

Where does everyone get their compost? I can't make enough to cover my allotment abd if any stuff does get delivered to the allotment it's normally snaffled long before i can get my hands on it. I can't afford to buy loads of the stuff in as I think it would be very expensive. What's a girl to do?!

[lynda66]

i've made compost every year at home, composting everything possible, so when that's available, it's dug in, then when i sow seeds, i cover them with compost from grow bags(much cheaper than normal bags of compost), that way, in time your soil will get better, but in the mean time the seeds have soft soil to grow through, i have clay soil which goes rock hard when its dry, the compost layer helps stop it from drying out. i've spent nearly 4 years getting my soil something like, it will get there eventually.

[shushkin!]

Hi Raine

I do very similar to Lynda66. Fortunately my allotment soil is not heavy clay but my garden is and I had to create raised beds just to cope. I make compost all year around and lay it on patches where needed at the time. For example I am planting up some onions soon so I put a think layer over the proposed planting area in preparation.
Slowly over time you get to feed and improve the soil over most of the plot. It works for me anyway.

[Kristen]

I expect the real issue with getting stuff in is the cost of transportation, and "bagging".

So buying in bulk, from a local supplier, is probably the most cost effective.

Manure from Farm or Horse stables(***)
Spent mushroom compost
Spent hops (if you are near a brewery)

We have a large area of rough grass here, and cut that in July as "hay" which we stack in a heap to make compost. If there was an area near you where you could do that as a "service" to the house owner that might be win-win?

*** take steps to make 100% sure that manure has not been contaminated by Forefront from Dow chemicals

[raine]

Many thanks for replies, my allotment is mostly clay so it's encouraging to hear that it will get there in time.

[di]

Once a year our local council give away the brown bin compost.You have to collect it yourself~but it's free!!There are a lot of mixed feelings on our site as to how good it is but I think those that use it have had no problems. Not sure if all councils offer the same service~maybe worth a phonecall.