Top Manure as you go ?

[Marb67]

I have a limited one raised bed with some kales growing so I can't dig it over and manure for next year. However would I be able to put garden compost (kitchen waste too) straight onto the soil and leave for the worms to pull down (I have a lot of them) thus manuring as you go ? I have heard you can leave it on the top or dig in. Each resulting in the same.

[veggiechicken]

There's no reason why you shouldn't do this but chop everything as small as you can - worms have very little mouths
I'm assuming that by kitchen waste you mean fruit and veg, not meat or leftovers as these could attract vermin.

[Marb67]

I'm assuming that by kitchen waste you mean fruit and veg, not meat or leftovers as these could attract vermin.

Of course. Do you really think i am that daft ? ;-)

[veggiechicken]

Of course not Marb - but somebody else reading this might be

[Marb67]

I will do that though. Seems a good compromise.

[Two_Sheds]

I have a ... raised bed with some kales growing so I can't dig it over

You shouldn't need to be digging over a raised bed anyway: if you never walk on it, it will never get compacted

would I be able to put garden compost ... straight onto the soil and leave for the worms to pull down I

Yes, worms like to pull down their own food. Digging destroys worm tunnels and collapses the soil: they don't like that

(kitchen waste too)

I compost everything, but not the same method for everything.

Dog poo, meat, fish, fat & bones go in the home dalek & onto the flower borders.

Green manures, old stalks, old leaves etc get chopped up with seckies & dropped on the soil, as a mulch (this is a v.quick method of improving your soil)

Kitchen scraps like messy stuff, anything squidgy or oozy: gets wrapped up in newspaper and put in the daleks

I have heard you can leave it on the top or dig in.

Yeah, I've heard that too. I wonder if it works?

Each resulting in the same

Not quite the same. Digging destroys worm tunnels, whereas mulching increases worm activity

[Digmeplot]

You shouldn't need to be digging over a raised bed anyway: if you never walk on it, it will never get compacted

Yes, worms like to pull down their own food. Digging destroys worm tunnels and collapses the soil: they don't like that

I compost everything, but not the same method for everything.

Dog poo, meat, fish, fat & bones go in the home dalek & onto the flower borders.

Green manures, old stalks, old leaves etc get chopped up with seckies & dropped on the soil, as a mulch (this is a v.quick method of improving your soil)

Kitchen scraps like messy stuff, anything squidgy or oozy: gets wrapped up in newspaper and put in the daleks

Yeah, I've heard that too. I wonder if it works?

Not quite the same. Digging destroys worm tunnels, whereas mulching increases worm activity

I was told never to use dog poo.


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[mothhawk]

I was told never to use dog poo.

If the dog is healthy and parasite free, there is no reason why the resulting compost can't be used. After all, think of the vast array of parasites and diseases humans can carry, yet the Chinese have used the euphemistic "night-soil" as fertiliser for generations.

edit - probably why they tend to stir fry everything rather than eating it raw

[sammy_roser]

So long as the dog is healthy and you don't use it on beds that will have food it's not an issue.

[darcyvuqua]

I find top dressing with food that the bones don't rot down!!!


Who say about daft??





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[mothhawk]

I find top dressing with food that the bones don't rot down!!!


Who say about daft??

I find that raw bones will rot down fairly quickly, cooked bones I usually bash into splinters with a hammer before composting