Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling

@infradig Thanks for posting this. I finally got round to watching it on my laptop as the phone screen is too small. Interesting but as with many of these studies, in order not to show bias they do not recommend specific products, so it's still a bit of a gamble as to which one to buy. There...

@infradig Most of the compost will be coming from containers that housed failed/poor attempts at broad beans, carrots, broccoli and strawberries. Fortunately no blight on last year's crop of potatoes.

Woodchip used as a path breaks down in 2-3 years, at which point it may be spread on to beds with/as compost for autumn application, thereby giving soil a barrier for planting through in the following Spring. Replace with new chip.

If you have the chemicals already to hand and know the appropriate rate to apply them, then do so by combining them in a known volume of water. Stir until fully dissolved. For example if it says 50gm/sq mtr of Fe3So4 plus 25gm Nh3So4/sqmtr plus 20ml Seaweed extract to 10 litres of water. If you...

Immediate problems of a bureaucratic nature viz land use/holding registration/movement restrictions and ability to move away /back for same reasons unless OP is to eat them as part of self sufficiency; then another raft of regulation regarding slaughter/disposal of offal and waste etc.

I don't think she has posted since storm Eowyn hit. Ominous but I hope she's well.

went to ask about this myself, so glad you already haha

Rats that are known/believed to have died from poison should not be composted; otherwise they can be readily added to the heap without regard. Best if the heap reaches 'effective' temperature, (50 deg C is sufficient)

Adding shredded or simply ripped up paper is the easiest way to balance a wet compost. Any non-shiney paper will do so newspapers, envelopes, egg/fruit/mushroom cartons and cardboard.We add far more than we used too and it’s really improved the consistency and speed of our compost.

Good stuff. Thanks very much.

Yes i have noticed this and am ok to apply more compost but my issue is always that the compost can only be applied to the surface so im never sure as to whether nutrients in any newly applied compost will actually get to the roots

£3.39 for a 30 ltr bag puts it more expensive than a lot of potting compost plus £8 delivery. I dont think they want small orders, so why put it into such small bags?

I used to collect spent hops from a local brewery for my allotment. The car would smell fabulous and quite heady if collected on a warm day. Made a very effective mulch

Any thoughts on this product please? Just looking at prices of BFB when I came across it. Made from leftover crops by the look.

Although you should avoid spreading it around acid soil loving fruit such as blueberries and other berries.

Correct, if there is nothing growing inside the bag, or its not left outside to get soaked, then the fertiliser will still be in the compost.When somebody buys a full pallet and they are intending to store some for the following seasons, just keep it in a dry shaded area, ideally a shed or...

Help this is quite technical. I am very grateful you brought the measurements down to imaginable proportions! I would reckon the 1kg/mtr is about what has gone on annually over the years. I don’t think many people realise how much big loads of manure break down to, not much. I have a flowerbed...

We tend to just use peat compost and control the water content by hand - but not very well because most things in the greenhouse get watered by hose. We rarely have any trouble that way. We have a great big black sack full of Perlite in the shed but never bother to use it. I think that...

These folk are near you? Without endorsement Sterilised Loam Soil - Buy 10kg, 20kg & 1-Tonne Loam Bags