A Compost Moment

[Sue]

Hi
I spent all day on the allotment today, beautiful weather and because of the mud had to find jobs other than digging to do, so I inspected the compost bins. And I found at the bottom of my two dalek bins, a lovely layer of proper compost. The true Black Gold, sweet smelling, black crumbly stuff, I was very proud.
This is my third attempt, the first as a complete novice, I put couch grass in... I cringe now.
The second was too wet and lumpy
and the third like Goldilocks porridge was just right.
It just shows that it pays to keep trying.

My question now is can I use it as potting compost or is it just for soil conditioning and mulching?
Sue

[Shortie]

I believe it can't be used for seedlings as it's too rich and can burn them, but other than that I'm not entirely sure Sue... I'd be interested in the answer to this one too

[pigletwillie]

Its best to sow seeds in a potting compost as it has measured amounts of nutrients in it and is a good starter for them. You can pot on plants into your compost by all means as young plants are far less likely to succumb to anything that maybe in your compost than seedlings. Occasionally home made compost can cause seedlings to just keel over because of the amount of bacteria etc present.

Compost is the best resource you have on the allotment, make as much of it as you can.

[Poledragon]

I think you can mix it with other things for seedlings - 1/3 home made compost, 1/3 sand and 1/3 spent grobag/pot compost.

I tend to throw mine around on the growing beds, to be honest, and buy in sterile stuff for seedlings.

[vicki lorraine]

well done Sue, I share your enthusiasm for first time compost.. I have also just used my first home made compost. I used it to underplant my new soft fruit bushes. It seems a waste to use it for seeds as they often do not stay in it for long. Use it on your hungry crops to get the best results. It can be used to mix along with sieved leaf mould and loam to sow seeds but the ratio is something i am not too sure of. I have also been incorporating carbons and nitrogens into the heap to try and ensure a good end result.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Good question Sue. Love the title, wasn't there an ad on TV for a "hamlet moment"?! LOL DDL

[DrBill]

Good question Sue. Love the title, wasn't there an ad on TV for a "hamlet moment"?! LOL DDL

I think you will find it was a "Condor Moment"