When is my compost ready?

How can you tell when compost is good to use? What does "ready" mean?

You can spread compost when it's not fully decomposed. In fact that's often better because it then acts as a surface mulch, while continuing to decompose and feed soil life.
Plus, if you wait too long, it shrinks in volume, and you have less!

This advice is based around no dig gardening. You simply spread compost on top, without sieving. Just break up any lumps as you spread it, using a manure fork. Spread compost at any time of year, best in late autumn at 2-3cm depth, spring is good too.

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#compost #nodig #composting #nodiggardening #growyourownveggies

[robertevans]

Everyone has a hero they look up to. Charles Dowding is mine.👨🏻‍🌾🥇🏆 🕊️🙏🏻🥰

[kylenmaple]

Great tip about the woody debris acting as mulch! I’ve found that they work almost as a mulch supplement, adding nice fungal growth beneath any other mulch that is applied

[emylytle]

Hello Sir Charles, it’s a wonderful day here in California and we will have a rain again next week, I have my compost in a big trash can and it’s holding all this water from the rain, I don’t have any place to build compost. So now I’m using all those water in there for watering my vegetables like a compost tea. 😂😊👩‍🌾👍 thanks for all the tips and advice, take care.

[ovidiufarcau]

first compost video I`ve seen with someone in a suit !

[renatamcstay]

yay! im cycling 6months. one turn at 3months. siving it with chicken netting screen before spreading. bird netting the spreaded area if possible to let the worms dig in! thank you!

[Tawadeb]

Charles it's autumn here in New Zealand I am going to put seaweed woodchip and horse manure on my gardens.

[Warrior-In-the-Garden]

So true! Over time I have found the good stuff tends to filter down with watering leaving a nice mulch layer.

[iteerrex]

And if you want it very fast, do the Berkeley method. Good early morning everybody, 4am here 😁

[nickhayley]

Does anyone create compost piles where they plan on growing? Then let it sit for just a few months to let the bottom decompose, then remove the top layer to a new location to begin the process all over again? I'm trialling it this autumn and winter in my garden in Wollongong, Australia. ❤❤

[meapantz]

I used my first bit from the bottom of the pile at the weekend to fill a hole where a mint pot was sunk into the ground. I have cardboard and potatoes with more compost on top so looking forward to seeing the results from that corner of the patch 🎉🎉

[vikyfirmansyah]

I really like that colors combination between your sweeter and jacket. You are really fashionable sir

[rubyquinonez]

no sabia que tenia que esperar todo este tiempo para usar la composta mister charly... quepasa con todas las lombrises que se van en la composta al huerto..? que interesante.

[vicBellamonkey]

Hello Charles southern New Jersey Love all your videos and educational information gardens are awesome. Thank you

[carolinaop]

I have 2 compost bins and I rotate the one I use. My compost is better than the one I buy 👌🏼

Can you talk to us about hot beds, please?
Would they work with no dig, no tilt?

Thank you.

[peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo]

Hi Charles, I was asked by Supersoil to give their new product a try. It really speeds up the process by multiplying the bacteria and microbes in the compost.
I uploaded a video last Saturday after just 2 weeks. Incredible organic product.
Take care, My Friend
❤Peggy❤

[jacalli]

Beautiful compost! Love seeing your videos on this topic

[HeroVonM]

Hello Charles, thank you so much for another great video! I really love to watch your videos and I am trying to apply all your methods in my own vegetable garden in the Netherlands. I recently read an article, claiming that adding multiple centimeters of compost yearly could be harmful. According to the article it carries the risk of environmentally harmful N surpluses that can be lost through nitrate leaching or denitrification. How do you look at that claim? Thank you very much for all the inspiration and all your knowledge!

[fanjiang]

My winter compost is not ready, still can see the shape of leaves.
My newest compost leaves with hops /sbg got too hot >160 degrees f. Shall I turn it to cool down?

[daved]

Thanks for the video. I notice you put two seeds in each hole when planting. Do you let them both grow or do you plant two in case one doesn't germinate and if they both do, thin one out? I think I noticed this in some seed tray planting videos as well. Thanks!

[vincewill]

hello Charles, can you tell me if you put boxes on the side of the compost bins to prevent it from passing between the openings of the pallets