reusing compost

[NatalieCooke]

Can i reusing compost?

I got two large pots that had sweetpeas in last year. I bought some Viola's & Pansy's at the weekend which need planting out. Would I be able to use the compost from the sweetpeas. The compost looks fine but i'm guessing I would need to add some feed to it.

kind regards Nat.

[Jungle Jane]

My violas have come up again this year,I didn't know they were perennial,I love it when that happens Have you emptied some out? I take out the top 40% of compost,to get all the slug eggs out (so many) woodlice & big old roots,put some of the used compost back in & add a bit of fresh around the roots of the new flower & add plant food...

[Bill HH]

Yes you can, I would tip it all out and add couple of handfuls of Blood fish and bone or similar and maybe some chicken manure pellets, mix it all up and use it. It wouldn't hurt to add a bit of fresh compost to it aswell.

[NatalieCooke]

Hey guy.

I took out quite a bit from the top but most of the compost looked great! Both plant pots are sitting nicely at the front of the house!

Sorry Bill but I wouldnt be able to use any animal by-products. I know that sounds really silly but i've been veggie for over 17 years now. I woulnd't mind using chicken manure pellets. I remember my Grandad using them, you could smell them from the other end of the street!

Thanks.

[Martin H]

You could use Growmore instead of the BF&B. The feed in pelleted chicken manure is mainly nitrogen.

[Jungle Jane]

Miracle grow continuous release plant food is good,feeds for 6 months. I would still add a little bit of fresh compost around new roots,to encourage them,don't know if it's necessary,it's just what I do for everything I plant out

[Valleyman]

I always re-use in one way or another.

My biggest direct re-use comes from potato pots. I typically grow 8 pots of 35 litres (280 litres). After the spuds and big roots have been gathered I typically have around 150-200 litres of used compost left. This sits in the big tubs until the following year and is used as a seed compost, or rejuvenated with f,B&B (or anything of your choice) and used as a potting mix for flowers or other veg (Carrots seem to love it for some reason, more than 'fresh multi purpose' or my clay soil anyway). The toms always get a few scoops full per pot to bulk it up.

Toms are my other big compost user. Typically 15 pots of 15 litres (225 litres). Due to the dense root systems of tomatoes I don't direct re-use. I break them up a bit, mix them with some greens/garden waste and fill a compost bin for the slow worms to live in. 18 months later it either gets stuck in the raised beds or gets used for my potatoes/veg again.

I reckon I have a system at the moment where I only buy about 250 litres of compost of year, but have close to 1000 litres in circulation.

Roughly:
200 litres direct re-use
300 litres of 18 month old tomato compost
250 litres of my rich standard garden compost
250 litres of new stuff

My aim by the end of this year is to be fully compost self sufficient... 3 garden waste compost bins, a leaf mould composter and a wormery (worm castings and fertilizer). I'm sure I'll still need to buy the occasional bag, but the aim is to be fully self sufficient so veg growing is eventually "free" for me with only minor fertilizer+manure requirements.

[NatalieCooke]

Last year my father in law just dump the old compost in some old brush in the garden I thought it was wicked waste.
I've got 4 buckets which had last years tom's in, couple of handing basket and a couple of flower pots.
I might have a look for a new compost bin. The one the previous homeowner used has seen better days.
Thanks for all the help guys.

[rary]

As you have removed the compost from the top of the pots I would suggest mixing in washed course/concrete sand along with a balanced feed, and remember your plants need to be hardened off before planting out. your other pots could be emptied out and cleaned up by riddling to remove roots etc. add a balanced feed and use for flowers or veg. other than toms or tatties.