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I have had 2 dalek composters for many years but have just really started in earnest the last couple of years to try and make decent compost.The first year think there was too much green waste so last year added much more brown,maybe not enough though.It seems to rot down but I don't have anything resembling compost.At the moment both are about half full .Am I better just having a heap where it is easier to turn or should I stick with the daleks?Any advice please ,I just feel like getting rid of the daleks and putting all the waste in the brown bin for the council.
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If you're expecting something resembling the multipurpose compost you buy then I'm afraid you are in for a disappointment.
What exactly does your compost look like? -
If both bins are half full, then I would empty them (I've found the easiest way is to rock the Dalek back and forth and then lift the whole thing off).
Mix up what you have got and pile it all back into one of the Daleks if it's not well rotted enough to use.Comment
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The compost you get from your daleks is best for spreading on your beds, where it won't matter if it's still a bit lumpy and bitty. I've had really good results by putting one dalek on top of the other, so it's double skinned. The worms have moved in en masse and the waste rots down really fast. I'm just about to empty it and start again with the unrotted stuff off the top, but am fully expecting to find eggshells, tea bags, twigs etc still intact.Comment
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Rusty Lady,thanks for your replies.The compost in the bins is quite sticky,some of the bits I put in have sprouted-celery,parsnips ,lots of stalk material as well from various veg.I'll empty them and put the stuff into one like you said and that'll let me start from scratch with a new one.What does homemade compost look like compared to bought?Comment
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When you put the stuff back in the dalek, add some shredded paper, torn-up cardboard, egg boxes and the like - this will absorb excess moisture and add carbon to the heap. - picture below is my latest lot of compost from my dalek, it has been sieved and the larger bits put back in the heap.Originally posted by pwlynch View Post
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If it's sticky it's too wet and not aerated enough.Originally posted by pwlynch View Post
You say celery and parsnips have sprouted - do you put them in whole?
By stalk material do you mean cabbage stalks? It helps if you cut them up before adding to the compost, and if they're really tough bash them with a hammer.Comment
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I tend to chop all my kitchen waste up and add all egg boxes and loo roll middles I started my bins in august tuned them the other day and the results are really good!
I did however compost alot of grass clipping a few years back while the bin was in the back garden and when emptied I had just pure clumps of slime since then I have stayed well away from grass clipping!
As others have said sounds as if you need brown material
In the following link you can follow my recent progress on the plot
https://www.youtube.com/user/darcyvuqua?feature=watchComment
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I got my first bit of compost from my Daley this year, there were lots of solid bits in it, especially egg shells but I just break everything up better now. I only have the one but I'm considering getting a second one.Comment
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i have two i fill one, leave for abit then move it all into the second one The turn seems to add air back in. I also make liquid feed with weed and always tip the sludge in the bin to keep up moisture levels (my compost bin has a very sour smell)Comment
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I have learned a lot from your replies,thanks very much everyone.I realise I should chop things up more and add more brown material,I'll turn it out today and mix then put back in one dalek and start afresh with the other one.I put some grass cuttings in,probably too much so will cut back on those and use as a mulch or something.Re the parsnips etc that have sprouted,they were given to me as small plants,had been kept in tiny plant pots for too long and even though they were in the ground for a long time were small and all twisted,couldn't eat many of them.Maybe I'll look out for a cheap shredder or something to make it easier to chop everything up.Hopefully sometime I'll have some great compost!Comment
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I think that's probably because you can't transplant parsnips, they have to be sown where they're going to grow, same as carrots. A few things sprout in mine, or carry on growing for a little while, they still rot down later, once they've been covered with some more waste Also, the whole process slows right down over winter and gets going again come warmer weather
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The shredder has given me an idea, I have a machine that shreds small branches so maybe I'll use it now for carrots and similar things that are too gone off to use. That would make them a lot easier to compost because they really don't seem to break down for me.
As a side note, my dalek is beside a drain which runs into my pond, it's about 15m away. Will any run off make its way to the pond and if it does will it do any harm?Comment
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wet stuff will not go through a shredder!!Comment
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I have two daleks and turn them at least once a month. I keep a pile of twiggy stuff to hand to mix in if I'm dumping in loads of green.
I currently have one full (resting, lid off) one almost full which is being filled and two which are also resting and are covered to dry them out. When (if) it warms up the two in the daleks will speed up and will probably get turned in together later this month.
I sieve everything before use and put the big bits back.Le Sarramea https://jgsgardening.blogspot.com/Comment
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