Composting

[Shroomy]

Just thought i would say if your running short of veggie stuff for your trench compost as i was Nip down to your local greengrocer and get all his old veg leaves etc my chap was more then happy to give me a few boxes of them. Probably been suggested before mind

[Darwin.]

I never thought of that.

On the subject of composting, I never compost citrus fruits or onions but it seems a waste throwing them out. Would they be ok to compost?

[Nicos]

We compost onions but I tend not to put in any rotten ones. I'm sure they'd break down OK with the heat of composting
Citrus skins?Best not if you already have an acid soil.
Why not grate the citrus skins, freeze the zest and then use them in baking or jams or cooking? The pith would then be fine in the compost with the acidic oils removed!

Just a thought!

[Nicos]

Oh...are you talking about whole onions/citrus there Darwin?

[muddyfeet]

I compost onions, I've never heard any reason why not, but not citrus because of the acid.

[taff]

I throw everything in, small amount of citrus are ok, rotten onions go in too, and occasionally mouldy bread, manky mushrooms or anything that's organic really [in the sense it grows or made of....you know what I mean...i hope...]

[Two_Sheds]

I never compost citrus fruits or onions

Um ... why not? How do you think Nature disposes of them?

not citrus because of the acid.

That's a myth. You'd need thousands of lemons in the heap to turn it acidic

Normal compost bacteria break down the acids along with everything else

[muddyfeet]

Um ... why not? How do you think Nature disposes of them?

That's a myth. You'd need thousands of lemons in the heap to turn it acidic

Normal compost bacteria break down the acids along with everything else

You know, you are probably right, I think I heard it from a TV gardener years ago and I just never have put citrus peel in the compost bucket. I always believe what they tell me on the telly

[Darwin.]

Oh...are you talking about whole onions/citrus there Darwin?

Just the peels off oranges and the odd lemon, it'd only be once in a blue moon. I get through a lot of onions making curries, bolognaise, stews . . . . it's outer layers I'd be dumping. The more stuff I can compost the better.

[wizzbang]

I compost nearly everything, except WEEDS. I know I should but I don't like weeds or weed seeds to go anywhere near my soil.
I burn the booogers. then I put the ash on my soil! but, having said that, I am planning on pouring boiling water on some picked nettles and then leaving them to go nice and slimy in the water to make nettle spray. Is that risky?
Lynne x

[sammy_roser]

I don't have a greengrocers in my town anymore

[zazen999]

I compost nearly everything, except WEEDS. I know I should but I don't like weeds or weed seeds to go anywhere near my soil.
I burn the booogers. then I put the ash on my soil! but, having said that, I am planning on pouring boiling water on some picked nettles and then leaving them to go nice and slimy in the water to make nettle spray. Is that risky?
Lynne x

Nettles are the best for compost, full of nitrogen. But if you do let them steep, don't use the liquid as spray, use it as feed.

We compost everything. You can control weed seeds germinating by using the stale seed bed method. Plus mulching.

[wizzbang]

Thank you, will do!
Stale seed bed method? Ill have to look that up.
A friend of my daughters came to the gardens yesterday and I showed him the big compost mound that has nettles growing on top of it. I asked his advice about the nettles too and his thoughts were to turn the nettles upside down onto the pile of slimy horse manure (mentioned in another post when I first joined the forum) then turn some of my half done leaf mold on top of that and use it all as a start for a nice compost heap. What do you think? The compost under the foot or so of nettles and other weeds is very nice. I cant wait to get it on the ground.
My son in law hasn't built my new compost enclosures yet.
Lynne x

Lynne x

[Two_Sheds]

I don't like weeds or weed seeds to go anywhere near my soil.

Well, you're wasting a great resource: burning isn't the best use, and it's ecologically a no-no, as well as annoying to anyone with open windows or laundry on the line.

Seriously, weeds are plants. Think of them as green manures. Also, understand how they reproduce: the seedy ones are only harmful when they're actually in seed. All other times: they're not harmful, they're useful.

The perennial ones, like bindweed and couch grass, perennial nettle: need killing before they go on the compost heap, or else they'll just regrow, stronger than ever. As you've found, with the nettles.

On a sunny day, burn them to a crisp on the path, for a few days. Then put on the compost heap. Otherwise, drown them in water, and use as a feed.

[WendyC]

I don't have a greengrocers in my town anymore

Not in the village but I could drive 5 miles to the one in town (if it is still there) but think that might defeat the object.
I also compost onions and citrus.