Storing Potting Compost?

[Madame Mucksprout]

Hi All,

We seem to have found a good deal on potting compost at Rockfield Garden Centre (if you buy it in 4 bag lots). Westlands.

Unfortunatly I dont need much now (after the mountains I have used this season), can I get it and store it for next year?? or will it degrade in the bags?

If its ok to let it over winter in my garden do I have to keep it in any specific conditions ie; warm, dry, or just stacked in the garden??

Also = Can I put the spent compost from my potato bags into my composter/ veg patch as soil conditioner or am I at risk of spreading disease / blight? (I do grow a couple potatoes in the patch).

Thank you

[NOG]

I buy mine in bulk and store it in old dustbins or in the sacks on flag stones, then covered with a tarp to stop the rain washing it out.

I put all my spent compost on the garden boarders or use it as a soil conditioner at the plot. Bloght spores can live in soil but I wouldn't worry.

[GrubbyGirl]

I put all my spent compost on the garden boarders or use it as a soil conditioner at the plot. Bloght spores can live in soil but I wouldn't worry.

I'm confused NOG. On the thread about composting potato folliage you said absolutely "no" because composting doesn't kill blight spores, yet here you're saying not to worry about putting spent compaot on the borders because blight spores can live in soil.

To me that's 2 completely contradictory statements - so which one is correct?

[NOG]

You do not put tomato or potato, leaves and plants in your compost bin. You burn them.

But if I grow potatoes in the soil I cant dig up the whole field every year can I, so if I have grown tomatoes in the green house I use that Compost in the garden where I am not going to grow toms or potatoes.