How much compost?

[Allotmenthacker]

Hey all,

I was hoping someone could clarify a widely repeated bit of allotment advice which is

"Dig in a good amount of compost"

I know this is probably silly but how much is a good amount? I've just emptied three bags (~100L) of compost into a small bed (about 2x 4m) in anticipation of putting insome asparagus, but should I add until the soil is black with compost, or spread it more thinly and add in fertiliser with the crowns

I mainly ask as I can only get so much in my car with each trip...

[Feral007]

I'm absolutely no help AHacker......because I'd say 'until your back says no more!'

Some useful person will be along shortly tho

[arpoet]

Maybe the advice should read "dig in lots of home made compost" as buying it in just to dig it in is a very expencive option.
Roger (a tight Yorkshireman)

[Bigmallly]

Welcome to the vine, just dig in what you can get your hands on. Also being a tight Yorkshireman, I wouldn't buy it. Get a compost bin going, collect leaves, manure (a bit of a contentious issue). Just build it up over time. Adding a bit of fertiliser prior to planting won't harm.

[chris]

You don't need to dig it in really. When planting your asparagus, you'll make a trench - line that with compost to form the peak, to get the crowns off to a good start. The other nutrients that are already in your soil will be fine for the first year - then just mulch with compost/rotted manure next year.

The only real key thing with asparagus is make you sure you all traces of perennial weeds out before you plant the crowns.

[alldigging]

What sort of compost?

Garden compost you've made or MPC in a bag that you'd normally put in pots.

[Two_Sheds]

"Dig in a good amount of compost"
... how much is a good amount?

As much as you can make, and it's never enough. The advice refers to homemade garden compost, not the stuff in bags

I've just emptied three bags (~100L) of compost into a small bed

You want to be using John Innes No.3 for permanent beds. MPC is too light and fluffy

[Aberdeenplotter]

if the soil is in good heart, you don't need to add anything. I add fym and/or homemade compost to my potato trenches . That feeds the spuds and adds humous to the soil. The spuds don't use verything up so the following crop in my scheme of rotation(usually onions) have nutrients there to feed on.

As my spuds move around the plot as part of that scheme of rotation, nutrients and humous are added and the soil condition gradually improves.

[Allotmenthacker]

Don't worry - I'm not spending a fortune. I'm very lucky to be near a recycling centre that supplies free soil improver - which to all intents and purposes is compost.

So I suspect the original advice "until my back gives in" may be appropriate!