Where do I put my new Daleks?

[gardening_gal]

I recently got 2 free Dalek type compost bins.

I composted once years ago, again in a Dalek type, and the flies that came from the bin were extreme. There were millions of them and they used to find their way into the house and congregate on the kitchen ceiling. Granted the bin was far too close to the house at the time. I think that may have been my first gardening learning curve.

I now have a slightly larger garden but it's still not huge. So where am I best siting them?

I will have a 6m x 3m polytunnel that I'm concerned about too. I don't particularly want the tunnel to become full of flies so how far away should they be from this so as not to be a nuisance?

I'm trying to be mindful of spots that get some sun too but it's difficult finding somewhere that's sunny AND wont be intrusive.

Any guidance?

[rustylady]

Daleks don't need to be in the sun, and can be sited wherever convenient - preferably on soil rather than concrete or slabs.

As long as your compost is a good mix of greens and browns you shouldn't have any flies. Wrap kitchen peelings and fruit in a sheet of newspaper before adding to the bin.

[gardening_gal]

Ah, I've been working on the 'they need to be in the sun' theory. If they don't need to be then I'm laughing, I've got just the spot at the side of the house away from windows and polytunnels and they'd be on soil.

Good tip about using newspaper to wrap, I'll try that, thanks.

[Two_Sheds]

the flies that came from the bin were extreme.

As RL says, wrap kitchen peelings in newspaper before you add them to the bin. They will almost totally eradicate your fly problem. I compost dog poo at home (each poop is wrapped in 2 sheets of newspaper) and there's no smell, no flies

Also remember to keep the bin moist: add a can of water from time to time. You'll find the sides get dry, esp. the side facing the sun, so push the contents down around the sides & water it

[arpoet]

I site me 3 daleks round an apple tree where nowt else will grow. they do get a fair share of sun and that speeds up the composting process. I always start off with hos muck in the bottom then mix up layers of kitchen scraps, shredded paper, garden waste, spent hop and more hos muck as required.