Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi All

Just a quick question, I grew christmas potatoes in a large 1/2 barrel and now that I have taken them out can I use the compost for something else to grow in there or should I change the compost? I always use new compost each year for growing beans, toms and salad leaves that I do in containers, but this is a huge amount and seems such a waste as I have another barrell as well that I had summer salad leaves and radishes in last year and over the winter.

Any help gratefully received.

Hi,

Conventional wisdom is that you should change the compost, and that it is now fit for very little, except perhaps a mulch on your borders.

However, I'm with you that it is a lot of compost to waste. Last year I used the compost from my potato barrels to fill pots for Jerusalem artichokes and they turned out fine. Smaller amounts I throw on the compost heap.

When re-using compost you need to bear in mind that plants grown in it will probably need more feeding. And I would avoid using potato compost for potatoes again, or for tomatoes

If you've got deep containers in which you're not going to be growing deep-rooted veg, you could always use it as a bottom layer, with fresh compost on the top.

HTH
Muppet

Thanks that is a great idea to use as a mulch on the borders I shall do that.

Hello Jothegardener, I think that compost would be fine for growing lettuce and maybe even carrots. It will certainly be fine for adding to the compost heap or as a soil conditioner in your beds. Whatever way, you get it back.

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

I've seen it suggested that it can be mixed with sand and used for growing carrots. Not tried it myself but it sounds logical - carrots don't like a rich soil

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God Bless
Bill

http://drbillsveggies.blogspot.com/

Well, I think that as an experiment I will grow some carrots in one of the barrells and put the other one on the borders for mulch and see how it goes!

Try adding some general purpose fertiliser before re-planting (even Growmore). The compost itself should be fine, just maybe short of nutrients. I use Growmore as a base fertiliser, and then during the growing season use water soluble fertiliser, product depends on what I'm growing.

Hi
I agree with what is being said, I remember reading somewhere that it is the top layer that especially needs replacing so when my potatoes were done, I took a thick layer out and mulched the borders with it then refilled and planted carrots. Didn't give any extra feed and i got some good carrots.
Sue