Turning......composting

[markinessex]

As I have only had my composting bin for 2 weeks now, I am not sure how often you are meant to turn the contents over? At the moment it is half full (I have the black darlek type).

Thanks.

[Rosie.]

well i dont know for sure. but dad has had a 4 compost bins ffor must be about 15 years now and i never once saw him turning it.
not saying thats the right way to do it though there is probably a better way

[Rodley]

It's a good idea to use an aerating device (prodded in and pulled up through the decaying compost) every few days to make sure it mixes and is aerated. This stops it becoming compacted.

[snuffer]

I have found that the easiest way to turn a compost heap contained in a dalek type composter is to wait until it is full, then lift off the dalek and put it to one side of the heap. Then shovel the heap back into the dalek making sure that it all gets a good mixing up whilst doing so. Remember that as the weather turns colder the composting process will slow down, so don't worry if you haven't got brilliant compost after only a few months. Given enough time, no matter what we do with our heaps, they'll all rot down to make good compost.

[Two_Sheds]

It's not absolutely necessary to turn your compost, it will just cook quicker if you do. It can be a lot of hard work.

I have 3 daleks - I fill them up to the brim, then lift the whole thing off (don't bother with the fiddly little door at the bottom). Move the dalek to new position, then refill with the compost. The top (unrotted bit) will then be at the bottom of the dalek, and you can remove any really good stuff that has already rotted down.

[Rodley]

Do as I did today...........drop your gardening knife cutting off the tops of your veg.....let it slide down the composter...........then have to empty the bin to search through the decaying compost.......then refill. Works perfectly!!!!

[shushkin!]

Hi
I achieve good compost but I dont aerate either. Too much like hard work but I roll up cardboard into tubes and stand them upright in the bin. The stuff goes in around them. This allows air down into the bottom of the bin. They are like air vents. They of course eventually rot down to and add useful carbon to the mix.

[MrsC]

I give everything a shifty round with a hoe but not very often. Still has some lovely compost from it, nice and rich

[andrewo]

Never turn mine, just water it and it rots faster. I work on a season rota, what I've put in now will be completely rotted by Spring and ready for use. I always position my compost bins on earth too, as this seems to speed up the process.

[lynda66]

most of my compost over the years has stayed in a pile for a year without being touched, and it's come out lovely,

this year, i've built a bin, been watering it, adding nettle tea, and wee periodically, I've just built a new bin, so once it's painted i'm going to transfer it to the new bin, and hopefully the additives will have done their job

[Two_Sheds]

I've just built a new bin, so once it's painted ...

painted? !
that's posh that is

[lynda66]

painted? !
that's posh that is

yup wiv real paint ....... .... thing is, they don't make black wood preserver, but i've noticed, if you paint bare wood with gloss paint, it sinks right in, and doesn't need doing as often as wood preserver. and as all the wood in my garden is black ........ seems a shame for the compost bin to miss out

[markinessex]

Wow thanks for all the tips guys. Sorry only just got back online. I can't wait to start using my own compost (whenever that maybe).

Oh, just another question.......... Can you compost Tomato plants? Something in the back of my mind says that you can't.

[Capsid]

Wow thanks for all the tips guys. Sorry only just got back online. I can't wait to start using my own compost (whenever that maybe).

Oh, just another question.......... Can you compost Tomato plants? Something in the back of my mind says that you can't.

I compost mine. The only reason you might not compost is if they are blighted, but we've had other threads on that and the consensus is that even then it's probably all right.

[markinessex]

Brill, that's a job for today then.