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  • #1

    Organic matter

    Did any of you listen to Radio 4's gardeners question time yesterday.

    There was a portion devoted to soil condition and whilst I always use compost where possible to improve soil structure etc I was quite suprised to learn that:-

    Adding 5% of organic matter to your topsoil will increase its water retention by a whopping 50%.

    Composted organic matter is normaly dark brown or black, that same 5% will increase your soil temperature by between 1-2 degrees early in the season as it heats up more quickly.

    By adding the organic matter as a top dressing, the worms and other micro-organisms will pull it into the topsoil for you, increasing the bacteria and other organisms in the soil by a huge number which inturn frees up the nutrients and minerals that are otherwise locked up in soils poor in organic matter.

    Bring on the compost.
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  • #2
    Well I suspected it did - but not to that extent! Good news for us 'plonkers' too, who like to plonk it on and leave the little critters to do the work.

    Jack next door was having a moan yesterday though. He'd got some stable manure and all his beds were coming up with chickweed. He's convinced it's from there. (Mine come up with it all the time too though!)

    Good old compost - must try and catch the mid-week repeat.
    Last edited by Flummery; 11-06-2007, 08:23 AM.
    Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

    www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Flummery View Post
      Well I suspected it did - but not to that extent! Good news for us 'plonkers' too, who like to plonk it on and leave the little critters to do the work.

      Jack next door was having a moan yesterday though. He'd got some stable manure and all his beds were coming up with chickweed. He's convinced it's from there. (Mine come up with it all the time too though!)

      Good old compost - must try and catch the mid-week repeat.
      Hate to admit it but I'm a 'plonker' too! I'm not surprised at the figures, I am surprised that more people haven't cottoned on yet though!

      I have not needed to water my tatties this year or earth them up, as with a six inch moisture retentive mulch on the top they are doing fine and the surface fauna are thriving.
      As one of my threads mentioned " Three cheers for mulch"

      PS Flum...to me, chickweed is a green manure!
      My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
      to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

      Diversify & prosper


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      • #4
        I plonk too snadger. I am suprised at how so little organic matter can increase the water retention so much, add to that top dressing and you can cut down watering virtually to nil.

        My raised beds are 50% compost and 50% 12 yo manure and even in blazing hot weather thyey only need a soak once a week for most crops.

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        • #5
          As I pointed out to Jack, you can eat chickweed! (You need a bucketful to boil down to a tablespoon though - it's worse than spinach in this respect.)
          Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

          www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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          • #6
            Fortunately for me the guinea pigs love chickweed and sow thistles. Saves on food costs for them, and provides me with nice little pellets of ready made manure.

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            • #7
              Apparently worms prefer to pull their food down themselves, rather than having it dug into the soil, so i am a plonker.
              I tend to leave my weeds on the surface too ... just the little ones
              All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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              • #8
                I pile it on the top....and then add grass cutttings leaves and anything else I can get hold of then rotovate the lot in.
                My phone has more Processing power than the Computers NASA used to fake the Moon Landings

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                • #9
                  Didn't hear the programme Piglet, but the findings don't surprise me.

                  From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

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                  • #10
                    The local Conservation Volenteers are selling composted material very cheaply (about£20 for a 10 ton load ) so I'm guessing my rose beds are going to be in great shape next year then.
                    There comes a point in your life when you realize who matters, who never did, who won't anymore and who always will. Don't worry about people from your past, there's a reason why they didn't make it in your future.

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                    • #11
                      My council sells loads of compost quite cheaply. It's made from all the recycled green waste from the resident's gardens.

                      The thing that bothers me is that because it's not sterile, and nor is it 'native' to my garden and plot, there is a significant chance of introducing some new pest or disease that wasn't there to start with!
                      Veni, Vidi, Velcro.
                      I came, I saw, I stuck around.

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                      • #12
                        Good point Doc! We should research that. I know that despite the high (sometimes 80*C) temperatures, there is quite a bit of E.Coli in it, so wash your hands!
                        Also, it's very rich! ...about 5% Nitrogen, which is the same as blood fish and bone. You also have problems if you add too much from things like salinization, heavy metals accumulation and boron accumulation, which affect plant growth.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by The Doctor View Post
                          My council sells loads of compost quite cheaply. It's made from all the recycled green waste from the resident's gardens.

                          The thing that bothers me is that because it's not sterile, and nor is it 'native' to my garden and plot, there is a significant chance of introducing some new pest or disease that wasn't there to start with!
                          What a good point! I bought several bags from my council as I was getting my lottie beds ready for planting. Although I had cleared almost all the weeds,grass etc from the ground beforehand, I cant help wondering if a lot of the weeds I've now got growing have come from the compost I put down. Bernie

                          What channel and what time is the programme on the radio? Bernie
                          Last edited by pigletwillie; 15-06-2007, 10:10 AM.
                          Bernie aka DDL

                          Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

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                          • #14
                            It's on wireless 4 (the Home Service!) but the repeat was yesterday Bernie, you've missed it.
                            Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

                            www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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                            • #15
                              Unless you use the BBC website "playback service.

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