On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 16:38:48 +0100, "graham"
wrote:

I heard the other day that compost can go off...........ive been growing
potatoes in containers for the last 3 year and after the potaote have ben
harvested ive stored the compost over winter for the next year and more
potoates....... this year althought the potatoes are growing they dont look
so good.......would this be because of the over ussage of the compost or
something else?........if i do store the compost over winter is there
anything i can do to revitslise it?

If you've been using the same compost for three years running then I
should imagine the potatoes have used up all the nutrients that are
available to them.
Not so much a case of 'gone off' - but spent.

I'm none too sure it's a good idea anyway - if there were any fungal
spores from previous years crops they'll have multiplied.
Best bet would be to use it for one year, then plant a different crop
in it the next year ( or dig it into the soil, assuming you have a
garden ).

You might be able to save the current crop by feeding it. A foliar
feed should perk it up in the short term, and some general fertilizer
will help tide the crop over the remaining season.

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk