Is reusing compost a good idea?

[chris]

Providing nothing untoward has happened in the growing season then yes its OK to reuse it. This year I shall be overwintering about 800ltrs (the most ever) in dustbins. It will be riddled and have BFB added before it goes in the bins, the lids will be popped on and there it will sit until next spring.

Some will be used for seed cutting, some mixed with home made compost for potting on and some to top up my spud bins.

What I do in tipping my hat to rotation is mark the bins so I know what was grown in it last and then where possible use it for different purpose's next year.

In twenty odd years I have never had a problem doing this.

Colin

The only compost I dispose of is any that's full of fungus gnat larvae or algae (and that goes in the compost bins).
The rest gets chucked back in the bag for reuse (with BFB added to the toms/spud buckets)

Sorry to bump this - but I've decided to reuse my compost from last year - I've probably 50/60 litres of it. Planning on doing the above, but is it just a couple of generous handfuls of BFB I should be chucking in the bin to store it in?

[Two_Sheds]

is it just a couple of generous handfuls of BFB I should be chucking in the bin to store it in?

I wouldn't store the BFB in the compost: just add it at planting time

[solway cropper]

I put the BFB in at planting time. Are you using commercial mPC or home-made stuff. the commercial stuff has very little nutrient left in it after a season so I mix it with home-made and add whatever fertilizer I think the crop is going to need.

[sammy_roser]

Racking my brain to work out what BFB stands for and whilst I've come up with some very funny things you guys are adding to your compost it might help to know what it actually stands for.

I'm sure it's quite simple but I'm having me a blonde moment

[veggiechicken]

Blonde, Fish and Blonde! Does that help?

[Madasafish]

I always reuse my old compost from tomatoes etc and hanging baskets.

Leave over winter in the open,, and then mix with crushed eggshells, wormery compost and 1/3 rd new compost.. Plus fertiliser usually BFB (lots of worms included)

Problems in first 30 years ? None so far...

[Potstubsdustbins]

The Vine must be getting to me. I have just had some new fertilizer delivered. Concentrated organic farmyard manure with added seaweed extract. Supposed to be the bees knees so no more Growmore if this works out.

Potty

[sammy_roser]

Blonde, Fish and Blonde! Does that help?

Ah ha! It did actually :P If I remember correctly it's blood, fish and bone?!?!

[Sarico]

I always reuse my old compost from tomatoes etc and hanging baskets.

Leave over winter in the open,, and then mix with crushed eggshells, wormery compost and 1/3 rd new compost.. Plus fertiliser usually BFB (lots of worms included)

Problems in first 30 years ? None so far...

sorry correct me if i'm wrong... you've been use the same compost for 30 years? you only refresh everething... i thought you can reuse for 2 or 3 season maximum...

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sarico,

Now I am only talking about peat based compost as I don't use any other kind except home made.

Composts purpose is to hold nutrients in such away that the plant can take them up easily. It also supports the root system but this is not necessary with all plants.

Therefore providing there has been no disease in the compost and you can refreash it with added nutrients it has no shelf life. I have no idea how old some of mine is, some gets changed year with the natural course of things, but whether that stuff is a year old or ten I could not tell you.

Colin

[chris]

Thanks folks. Forgot I bumped this

[Sarico]

Now is everything clear. Infact I only discard compost from my Xmas potato considered they where bad looking plants and because I was 100% sure wasnt blight I throw it away.

[Two_Sheds]

I was 100% sure wasnt blight I throw it away.

Blight can't survive in compost: only on living plant material, ie tubers left in the soil

[Sarico]

Blight can't survive in compost: only on living plant material, ie tubers left in the soil

So if for example I notice that a plant have got blight if sieve that compost( as I did when I keep the compost so I take off all the roots) I can reuse that compost?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sarico in theory yes most certainly. But if I were to have the problem I would worry whether I had got out every last bit of root etc. Therefore I would not take the chance and would bin the compost.

Potty