Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

compost

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • compost

    As a newish gardener I am asking , what exactly is meant by compost?

    I used to think compost was that lovely stuff you made from your garden weeds and such like. And then there is leaf mould which is composted leaves.

    Then there is that stuff I have spent lots of money on at the garden centres and B & Q to fill all my containers. Seed compost. Leavington compost. John Innes composts 1,2 and 3, ericaceous compost. Loam based compost. Soil-less compost.

    And there is stuff called soil conditioner which looks to me like garden compost.

    Some of these you use like fertiliser, some you put in your containers, some you mulch with, some you dig in.

    It would be really helpful if some of the experts on this lovely forum would write a definitive chapter on 'Composts; their Varieties and Uses'. Perhaps they have and I haven't found it yet. Maybe Dr Hessayon should write a book 'The Compost Expert'.

  • #2
    Compost is what you rot down in bins, what you buy from garden centres is growing media. That's my definition anyway.
    Mark

    Vegetable Kingdom blog

    Comment


    • #3
      Compost from garden centres is much the same as the stuff we make ourselves, but it is made in bulk, and usually has a certain amount of fertiliser added to it. If we could make enough ourselves then we wouldn't need to buy it. Soil conditioner is also compost, but is not usually completely rotted down.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by rustylady View Post
        Compost from garden centres is much the same as the stuff we make ourselves, but it is made in bulk, and usually has a certain amount of fertiliser added to it. If we could make enough ourselves then we wouldn't need to buy it. Soil conditioner is also compost, but is not usually completely rotted down.
        Strictly speaking (I believe) a soil conditioner is anything that alters the make-up of your soil or growing medium, usually so it is more beneficial for plants.
        It can be anything including:
        - Liquid or pellet fertiliser
        - Compost
        - Amendments such as potash or dried blood
        - Manures
        - Lime to alter the pH
        - Vermiculite or hydrogel for increased water retention
        - Sand or Clay to alter the tilth
        Last edited by OllieMartin; 24-05-2010, 10:45 AM.
        Current Executive Board Members at Ollietopia Inc:
        Snadger - Director of Poetry
        RedThorn - Chief Interrobang Officer
        Pumpkin Becki - Head of Dremel Multi-Tool Sales & Marketing and Management Support
        Jeanied - Olliecentric Eulogy Minister
        piskieinboots - Ambassador of 2-word Media Reviews

        WikiGardener a subsidiary of Ollietopia Inc.

        Comment

        Latest Topics

        Collapse

        Recent Blog Posts

        Collapse
        Working...
        X