What is Quality Compost?

[4Shoes]

I was watching a Video on Growing Chilli's. See - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFA55vmxX8

In the video, the presenter states that he does not feed his plants because if you use "Good Quality Compost" in a 13l pot, it will have all the nutrients needed.

How do you tell a good quality compost? What makes a good quality compost?
Perhaps the same question

Sorry if this has already been covered in a posting. Initial search didn't return anything meaningful... perhaps a lesson using a search engine is called for

There is also much talk about Coia Blocks, but this is going to the other extreme. Light compost, no nutrients, needs to be mixed with something for any nutrients to be retained.

[Jungle Jane]

The compost they used could be a brand that contains six months of feed maybe? Some composts say how many months of feed etc so they wouldn't add anymore in that scenario. Which magazine usually do a compost study,we always have a compost chat too. I just watched the video at 3.33 he says it's their own growing medium & goes on to describe it as quality so is it something they're wanting us to buy? On their website forty litres works out as £12.00 & it mentions 9 months nutrient release. It's well expensive but it might be great quality. This year I got 200 litres for £10 I prefer to spend the least I can & add a bit of feed to my basic compost.

[Cadalot]

Best quality compost is the stuff I make myself LOL ;0)

[4Shoes]

Thanks Jungle Jane. It didn't click that they were flogging their own compost, but having now visited their site - yes indeed they are. It is going to have to be very special stuff indeed before it is worth punting it all the way up here to DG8 (at their special delivery rate). Will cost almost £24.00 / 50l bag

The presented was also miss-leading us (royal us) when saying no additional fertilizer required. looking at the product description...

"With regard to nutrients, all our compost contain a combination of lime (for pH correction), organic base fertilisers and organic slow release fertiliser. We do not incorporate any compost insecticides or similar"

The fertilizer is already incorporated The quality is by adding organics based fertilizers when you mix the products.

Had a quick look at some compost on-line and it seems that most multi purpose bags have 4 - 7 week of feed included. Saw a couple of season long products, at similar prices to standard, so next year may be a chilli/slow release fertilizer / compost trial

Cadalot,
I did my 1st compost trial this year. Build Compost Bins in the Field. Didn't put a cover over them. Bulked them up with paper and card. There was a high volume of grass, but as they were stewing away and I didn't think much of it. Went back to Glasgow. After a few wet days / weeks (perhaps it just felt like that) compost has been reduced slime.

Perhaps the following year I too can make quality compost by following the above DIY / make your own recipe (once I make a cover for the bin)

[Thelma Sanders]

OSMOCOTE PRO, slow release fertiliser is ideal for mixing in with cheap composts/coir. Variations are available for 6 month, 9mth or 12mth release periods.
I bought mine from ebay, 1kg OSMOCOTE PRO, SLOW RELEASE FERTILISER | eBay
It worked well for me, this year, and I will buy again when this lot runs out

[Potstubsdustbins]

Growing out doors as well as inside I am a bit wary of composts that claim to feed over a long period. Out doors in a container the rain can and does wash out nutrient's as will heavy watering in the summer months. I much prefer to buy a decent compost Jacks Magic springs to mind and then after 6 weeks feed as required.

[Cadalot]

Cadalot, I did my 1st compost trial this year. Build Compost Bins in the Field. Didn't put a cover over them. Bulked them up with paper and card. There was a high volume of grass, but as they were stewing away and I didn't think much of it. Went back to Glasgow. After a few wet days / weeks (perhaps it just felt like that) compost has been reduced slime.

Perhaps the following year I too can make quality compost by following the above DIY / make your own recipe (once I make a cover for the bin)

I use daleks and layer in greens and browns make wet but not saturated, add a little comfrey and golden rain as an activator the odd layer of dried coffee grounds and I end up with this lovely stuff.



Composting makes me smile

[lolie]

I was watching a Video on Growing Chilli's. See - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFA55vmxX8

In the video, the presenter states that he does not feed his plants because if you use "Good Quality Compost" in a 13l pot, it will have all the nutrients needed.

The idea of plants starting out with everything they need for the season is used in square foot gardening. There are almost as many recipes for making "good compost" as there are gardeners.

This year I have different soil in different beds/containers. I have Aldi's Active 8 in some and compost and soil bought in bulk from a nursery in others. In previous years I've just used a cheap soil with blood and bone added.

I am planting the same variety of tomatoes in all my beds so it will be interesting to see if the results are different. I have a long growing season (5-6 months), so it will also be interesting to see whether I need to side dress as the season progresses.

[ESBkevin]

I think home made compost from a good mix of organics over several months or more is very capeable of being all or more than any cheap shop bought compost these days. Some of the shop bought is little more than recycled garden waste collected from peoples brown bins complete with the chemicals used.
If you make comfry Tea and Nettle Tea to add through the season you need add nothing else at all. My hanging baskets and pots were crammed with plants and produced a long display until last week with just this. If it's has a really hungry plant then some rotted animal manure as a mulch or urine diluted can help.

[4Shoes]

Seem to have a memory from somewhere that you don't put tomato plants (or potato stalks) on the compost heap. They were an outdoor experiment that failed and partner was helping to clear garden. Can't remember why. Or if it was just blighted plants that should be avoided.

What do you do with them? - Fire or Dustman ?
What other plants are best to avoid Composter (other than Dock, Ground Elder, perennial weeks)?

[lolie]

Seem to have a memory from somewhere that you don't put tomato plants (or potato stalks) on the compost heap. They were an outdoor experiment that failed and partner was helping to clear garden. Can't remember why. Or if it was just blighted plants that should be avoided.

What do you do with them? - Fire or Dustman ?
What other plants are best to avoid Composter (other than Dock, Ground Elder, perennial weeks)?

Pretty sure the potato and tomato thing only applies to diseased plants.

Here the advice is not to put citrus peels or things from the onion family in compost heaps as they harm worms.