"Jo Hall" wrote in message
...
Hello

I am a novice gardener and I have recently been some very helpful advice
from the members of this group regarding starting a vegetable patch.

I have now dug my patch and planted my first batch of lettuces and
strawberries. However, my questions relates to compost. My neighbour has
kindly donated a bucket of homemade compost and I am not sure what to do
with it. All the books I have read on the subject have advised to mix the
compost with the soil before planting. I have already planted so can I
just
spread the compost on the surface of the soil? Would that benefit the
plants at all?

Thanks in advance

Jo

Hi Jo,

Spread it on the surface of the soil to act as a mulch. The nutrients that
it contains will leach into the soil and benefit the plants, as well as help
supress weeds, although a bucket full isn't likely to go very far.

Mixing the compost with soil is normally done to make the compost 'go
further' or can sometimes be 'too rich' for seedlings or small plants.

HTH

Nick
www.ukgardening.co.uk