What doesn't go in the composter?

[mithril]

Hi all. Husband thinks it's ok to put weeds into the composter (fine so far...) but he is all for putting in their roots aswell which I'm worried will encourage them to grow! He's put some ashy stuff in to help everything to break down and he reckons that'll be enough to break it all down but I'm worried we'll end up with triffids growing out the top of the composter!! Can anyone give me any idea's of things to avoid putting in?
Thanks,
mithril.

[paradox]

i put weeds in mine roots and all but i leave them on a black plastic sheet to dry out for a few days before i put them in.

[Wombat]

depends how hot your compost gets mithril. I would be careful about putting weed seedheads in. weeds spread by runner like couch grass should get the Paradox treatment before incorporation in a compost heap!

Nev

[chrishopper33]

i have just started a compost, i am a bit addicted to putting stuf in, what else should i put in or not put in???

is cold ash from a wod bq ok???

[the.fee.fairy]

Yes.
It can also be put directly on the ground (we do). Its good for tomatoes and potatoes especially.

[yugogypsy]

No meat of course-or grease, except fish, or if you're a fishing person-all the guts, tail and head can go in-but cover with manure or dirt so your neighbours animals or vermin don't get into it.

Keeping your ration of green to other stuff, and wetting if dry sould keep your compost going nicely-and on the subject of how hot it gets-I once wrapped an egg in foil and left it for 36 hours and ended up with a soft boiled egg!

Lois

[flower]

I drown my perrenial weeds first.

I have a plastic water butt type drum with no lid and I throw in all my couch grass roots. The drum has filled with evil smelling water over the year and I now have lots of nasty (but nutrient filled) black slime that I add to the compost heap whenever a wet layer is needed.

[Wombat]

No meat of course-or grease, except fish, or if you're a fishing person-all the guts, tail and head can go in-but cover with manure or dirt so your neighbours animals or vermin don't get into it.

Lois

When I first read this, lois, i thought there was a comma in it - "so your neighbours, animals or vermin don't get into it" - Kind of changes the inference doesn't it .

I can't decide whether it is new glasses or a new brain I need!

Nev

[yugogypsy]

NEV

Get some new glasses dear, or clean the ones you're wearing!

Lois

[Jack]

Gidday

According to Ruud, http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/bu ... o/bio.html you can put any part of anything that has ever lived into compost.

However I recommend not to put fat in as it really takes a very long time to break down, and to keep meat products in general down as it can encourage Nev's neighbours or their pets.

[multiveg]

Don't forget to "activate" it using "liquid gold" if caught short down the allotment!
For non-food crops, you can even compost cat and dog poo (or even human manure) as well.

[mattachinelee]

Mentioned the 'liquid gold' concept to OH over the Easter weekend - while my parents were visiting - they're big on gardens & I was hopeful of knowledgable support. Parents just fell about laughing at the expression on OH's face. Still, maybe it'll all compost by next year, activator or not and in the meantime will provide home for bugs.

OH did raise interesting question re: chilli seeds though - will putting things like this make it 'hot' compost anyway?

[Christopher]

Well I've just put out my last lot of kitchen waste (which included three fish heads that had been used for fish stock) into my compost (I use a Bokashi system). Now when I turn the compost there are HEAPS of maggots! I didn't see them in previous compost lots... are the maggots alright? Do I need to worry?

Ka kite,
Christopher.

[Muddypause]

Get some new glasses dear, or clean the ones you're wearing! :mrgreen:

Right - here's the stone, now where's that glasshouse. Apostrophe missing.

[Rohen]

I use liquid gold too and the trick is to sprinkle some white sugar to keep the carbon balance up