Higgs Boson wrote:

What I ask is whether I have to scratch in or bury the coffee
grounds (and banana peels) or if it's enuff just to strew at the
outside root zone & water in.

As with all organic matter coffee grounds need to be composted prior
to adding to the soil. Most books on composting explain not to
compost banana skins, like corn cobs/husks they won't compost for many
years, and then they add very little. Placing uncomposted garbage on
or in your garden soil will only attract vermin and harbor all manner
of plant diseases. If you are looking for a compost shortcut/work
around other than obtaining already composted material there is none.

Brooklyn1 wrote:
....
As with all organic matter coffee grounds need to be composted prior
to adding to the soil. Most books on composting explain not to
compost banana skins,

the skins are easily taken care of, the tougher
stem part is what takes more time, but it will
eventually break apart into fiberous strands.
why is that a problem? a small piece of woody
material is not going to cause major disease
problems or attract much.


like corn cobs/husks they won't compost for many
years, and then they add very little.

sometimes what you are after with compost is
organic material that adds air spaces for a heavy
soil like clay. in that case chopped up corn cobs
are great. and from my observation (direct and
with a written record) it takes less than a year
for worms to do the job even on the fiberous stems.


Placing uncomposted garbage on
or in your garden soil will only attract vermin and harbor all manner
of plant diseases.

bury it deep enough and these troubles are eliminated.


If you are looking for a compost shortcut/work
around other than obtaining already composted material there is none.

worms do a great job, chopping and drying stems
of lettuces, brocolli, ... and slicing and drying
carrot tops, potatoes, other root veggies, drying
potato peels before adding them to the mix will
make their eventual consumption go much faster than
incorporating them fresh.

things like banana peels, melon rinds. apple cores,
all good to go in straight up. worms call those
frosting...


songbird

In article ,
songbird wrote:

Brooklyn1 wrote:
...
As with all organic matter coffee grounds need to be composted prior
to adding to the soil. Most books on composting explain not to
compost banana skins,

the skins are easily taken care of, the tougher
stem part is what takes more time, but it will
eventually break apart into fiberous strands.
why is that a problem? a small piece of woody
material is not going to cause major disease
problems or attract much.


like corn cobs/husks they won't compost for many
years, and then they add very little.
If you use the sheet mulching (lasagna) style of gardening, it isn't a
problem. It's all good.

sometimes what you are after with compost is
organic material that adds air spaces for a heavy
soil like clay. in that case chopped up corn cobs
are great. and from my observation (direct and
with a written record) it takes less than a year
for worms to do the job even on the fiberous stems.


Placing uncomposted garbage on
or in your garden soil will only attract vermin and harbor all manner
of plant diseases.

bury it deep enough and these troubles are eliminated.
IIRC Rodale used trenches about 8" - 10" deep for kitchen waste.



If you are looking for a compost shortcut/work
around other than obtaining already composted material there is none.

worms do a great job, chopping and drying stems
of lettuces, brocolli, ... and slicing and drying
carrot tops, potatoes, other root veggies, drying
potato peels before adding them to the mix will
make their eventual consumption go much faster than
incorporating them fresh.

things like banana peels, melon rinds. apple cores,
all good to go in straight up. worms call those
frosting...


songbird

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