Disposal of brassicas.

[zazen999]

A shredder just for those - how many are you growing? Just use loppers if you want to cut them down a bit.

[Two_Sheds]

My sweetcorn stalks took a year to break down

The easiest way to break down corn stalks (and sunflowers, and probably sprout stalks) is to leave them standing all winter. The gales make short work of it. Come spring, what's left of my corn stalks (not much) is easily pulled up and composted

[hollychap]

I see there's a shredder on ebay standing at 99p with less than a day to run. Says it's not running but is suspected the blade may be stuck. I'd be taking a chance on that as that's exactly what happens with mine. It can even happen if wet material has been passed through as the mechanics can seize up with rust although it's very easy to free it off.

p.s. Whatever happened to I before E in seize?

the one i bought dosent have a blade its two largish cogs close together that contra rotate chewing up what passes through

[mrbadexample]

A shredder just for those - how many are you growing?

No more than a dozen I don't think. But I'm lazy! Why do it manually when a nice power tool will do the job?

I've spent quite a lot of time this year chucking stuff on the lawn and then mowing it to break it down for composting. It works well enough but I suspect it's not the kindest thing I could do to my mower.

[Two_Sheds]

But I'm lazy! Why do it manually when a nice power tool will do the job?

Why have the bother, effort and expense (not to mention pollution) of a power toy, sorry tool, when just leaving the stalks outside for the winter will do the job? Minimal effort required.

[veggiechicken]

Its the boy/girl different approach again (with apologies to the male stampers, cleavers and composters out there).

[mrbadexample]

Why have the bother, effort and expense (not to mention pollution) of a power toy, sorry tool, when just leaving the stalks outside for the winter will do the job? Minimal effort required.

I know what you're saying. It probably is the boy / girl approach as pointed out above. Plus I have very little spare space to leave stuff to break down over long periods - one winter isn't enough. I could always burn them and put the ashes back in the compost I suppose.

[Currysniffa]

Until this year I didn't have much room on the lottie for composting ( 1 dalek ) so what I did was to bagged all storks up and take them to the tip and put all the leaves in the dalek to compost, as from this year my large half plot is now a full plot so more composting space under the trees at the bottom of the plot.

[zazen999]

I know what you're saying. It probably is the boy / girl approach as pointed out above. Plus I have very little spare space to leave stuff to break down over long periods - one winter isn't enough. I could always burn them and put the ashes back in the compost I suppose.

So just use loppers! Cut into 3-6 inch lengths, and put them in the composter.

[VirginVegGrower]

I see there's a shredder on ebay standing at 99p with less than a day to run. Says it's not running but is suspected the blade may be stuck. I'd be taking a chance on that as that's exactly what happens with mine. It can even happen if wet material has been passed through as the mechanics can seize up with rust although it's very easy to free it off.

p.s. Whatever happened to I before E in seize?

It became the exception to the rule...a rebel

[Potstubsdustbins]

Not all of us have allotments and so space is at a premium. Myself growing in containers I need a lot of compost and therefore to speed up the process I try to reduce everthing to a small size. Not a boy/girl thing just practical.

Colin

[veggiechicken]

Yes Pots, but do you do it with machinery or by hand - if you follow my drift!! To clarify - I'm talking about your compost material.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Phew VC thought you was getting pesonal there. In answer I use hand tools, the cleaver being my fave because its very quick. With a good edge on it I can stand over the dalek and slice the thickest stem to slivers in minutes. Just have to watch the dinkies.LOL

Colin

[Pies]

Place stalks on ground hit with large hammer this breaks the fibres apart and speeds up decomp

[veggiechicken]

Hand tools are fine! As I typed my previous message a little thought crossed my mind - you CANNOT send that without clarification - especially not to Potty. How right I was!