stones in compost

[Rosendula]

The inlaws like to grow flowers in tubs, and every Autumn they empty out the old compost and fill them up with new stuff in the spring. So far, the old compost has been going in the dustbin . So this year, OH, who is learning fast in these matters said we'd have it So now I have a few sacks of compost that's only had things like busy lizzies growing in them. My idea was that I'd chuck it all on the allotment. However, it's full of little stones they put in for drainage. I've tried sieving some of it, but most of the stones go through the sieve. Knowing that further down the crop rotation line I will one day want to grow carrots there, will these small stones be too big? I'm a bit stuck on what to compare their size to other than the finger nail on my little finger if that helps.

[Odsox]

I have no idea how big your fingers are Rosey, but if they go through a garden sieve then they are not worth worrying about.
In fact small stones like those (pea gravel) can be a great help if you have clay soil as they improve drainage ... just like in the flower tub.
Carrots and parsnips will easily push small stones out of their way, it's only when they come across a stone bigger than a small potato that causes problems, and even then you only get a curved carrot where it grows around it.

[Rosendula]

Thanks Tony. I'll just sift out the biggest ones then.

[pumpy]

Hi Rosey, stones are very useful for drainage. Our soil is very stoney/gravelly/flinty & there are a lot of stones bigger than my thumbnail!! I don't grow carrots, but i can tell you that our parsnips are big ol' buggers........... average dimensions last year; 10" circumference, tapering away to 14" in length. I shouldn't worry about stones, unless you have a heavy clay soil-type.

[Millymollymandy]

I agree that small stones won't harm your soil and could well benefit it. My soil is extemely stoney but it doesn't seem to harm parsnips or carrots, and it's fun to find odd shaped ones anyway!