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Soggy compost
On May 16, 2:29*pm, Zaf wrote:
Ive got one of those large bin-like composters and have been using it for vegetable household waste for around 6 months , *it has 3 layers where you have moveable shelves so that once the top layer has got full you can move it down to the second layer, and so on till the 3rd layer is ready to use. * BUT... Mine is a horrible slimy soggy mess, *Ive been turning it religiously every week and only putting in the things that are suggested. what can I do to improve the situation? *HELP!! -- Zaf Add shredded paper or newspapers. Try to layer wet organic stuff (veg peelings, weeds, grass clippings, etc.) with dry stuff (paper, cardboard, straw, that sort of stuff) on an ongoing basis. I'm not sure I know what you mean with the various shelves, mine is just a straightforward bottomless square plastic box, but when I found I had your problem some years ago, I emptied out all the soggy mess, and re-started layering it with paper. It was not the most pleasant of jobs, but it sorted out the problem. Cat(h) |
Soggy compost
Ive got one of those large bin-like composters and have been using it for vegetable household waste for around 6 months , it has 3 layers where you have moveable shelves so that once the top layer has got full you can move it down to the second layer, and so on till the 3rd layer is ready to use.
BUT... Mine is a horrible slimy soggy mess, Ive been turning it religiously every week and only putting in the things that are suggested. what can I do to improve the situation? HELP!! |
Soggy compost
Cat(h) wrote:
On May 16, 2:29Â*pm, Zaf wrote: Ive got one of those large bin-like composters and have been using it for vegetable household waste for around 6 months , Â*it has 3 layers where you have moveable shelves so that once the top layer has got full you can move it down to the second layer, and so on till the 3rd layer is ready to use. BUT... Mine is a horrible slimy soggy mess, Â*Ive been turning it religiously every week and only putting in the things that are suggested. what can I do to improve the situation? Â*HELP!! -- Zaf Add shredded paper or newspapers. Try to layer wet organic stuff (veg peelings, weeds, grass clippings, etc.) with dry stuff (paper, cardboard, straw, that sort of stuff) on an ongoing basis. I'm not sure I know what you mean with the various shelves, mine is just a straightforward bottomless square plastic box, but when I found I had your problem some years ago, I emptied out all the soggy mess, and re-started layering it with paper. It was not the most pleasant of jobs, but it sorted out the problem. Cat(h) Had exactly this problem in our new garden, moved house recently. The previous occupants obviously thought the "dalek" based compost bin was just somewhere to dump grass cuttings. Hence one big nasty wet ball. Took the bin off it all, broke it up. Put it back in the bin in layers of a few inches of wet smelly grass and then cardboard and scrunched up paper. Seems to be working, though it's early days yet. Probably have to do at least one more turn before it'll settle down but hey that's what composting is all about. What Zaf mentioned sounds more like a wormery than a traditional compost bin, they tend to be multi-layered so the worms can be kept away from the compost you want to use, and away from the liquid they generate. Duncan |
Soggy compost
"dr" wrote in message ... Cat(h) wrote: On May 16, 2:29 pm, Zaf wrote: Ive got one of those large bin-like composters and have been using it for vegetable household waste for around 6 months , it has 3 layers where you have moveable shelves so that once the top layer has got full you can move it down to the second layer, and so on till the 3rd layer is ready to use. BUT... Mine is a horrible slimy soggy mess, Ive been turning it religiously every week and only putting in the things that are suggested. what can I do to improve the situation? HELP!! -- Zaf Add shredded paper or newspapers. Try to layer wet organic stuff (veg peelings, weeds, grass clippings, etc.) with dry stuff (paper, cardboard, straw, that sort of stuff) on an ongoing basis. I'm not sure I know what you mean with the various shelves, mine is just a straightforward bottomless square plastic box, but when I found I had your problem some years ago, I emptied out all the soggy mess, and re-started layering it with paper. It was not the most pleasant of jobs, but it sorted out the problem. Cat(h) Had exactly this problem in our new garden, moved house recently. The previous occupants obviously thought the "dalek" based compost bin was just somewhere to dump grass cuttings. Hence one big nasty wet ball. Took the bin off it all, broke it up. Put it back in the bin in layers of a few inches of wet smelly grass and then cardboard and scrunched up paper. Seems to be working, though it's early days yet. Probably have to do at least one more turn before it'll settle down but hey that's what composting is all about. What Zaf mentioned sounds more like a wormery than a traditional compost bin, they tend to be multi-layered so the worms can be kept away from the compost you want to use, and away from the liquid they generate. Duncan Never seen a composter with shelves, and wonder if these are causing a problem? If what you have is a wormery, then you need the instructions and the correct worms! I believe you can get tiger worms from fishing tackle shops. My three composters are like old fashioned (pre wheelie) dustbins, but with no bottom, so the compost is in contact with good organic soil. I keep mine wet, but have very free draining sandy soil. If the soil the bin is standing on is not free draining (eg clay) you have a different problem. You could put a layer of twigs and similar in the bottom to improve ventilation, you need to have enough moisture to let the composting gremlins do their work, but not too much, and not to drown them. Remember they are living organisms of various sorts. It could also be that your waste is producing the wrong conditions for efficient composting, so if trying to dry it (by improving vntlation) doesnt work, measre the Ph (try to borow a Ph meter, but they are not expensive in garden centres. If it is too acid (Ph less than 6 or so) sprinkle some lime on the heap. Adding manure, chicken manure pellets, or the likes of Garotta can all help. A sprinkling of dried blood helps the reaction. John |
Soggy compost
On Fri, 16 May 2008 14:29:36 +0100, Zaf
wrote: Ive got one of those large bin-like composters and have been using it for vegetable household waste for around 6 months , it has 3 layers where you have moveable shelves so that once the top layer has got full you can move it down to the second layer, and so on till the 3rd layer is ready to use. BUT... Mine is a horrible slimy soggy mess, Ive been turning it religiously every week and only putting in the things that are suggested. what can I do to improve the situation? HELP!! Have you put too much grass cuttings in it - I did and mine turned soggy/slimy |
Soggy compost
On May 16, 9:48 pm, judith wrote:
On Fri, 16 May 2008 14:29:36 +0100, Zaf wrote: Ive got one of those large bin-like composters and have been using it for vegetable household waste for around 6 months , it has 3 layers where you have moveable shelves so that once the top layer has got full you can move it down to the second layer, and so on till the 3rd layer is ready to use. BUT... Mine is a horrible slimy soggy mess, Ive been turning it religiously every week and only putting in the things that are suggested. what can I do to improve the situation? HELP!! Have you put too much grass cuttings in it - I did and mine turned soggy/slimy Add newspaper to it between layers. Judith |
thanks all, will try shredded paper and see if that helps - I think the design of the composter is from New Zealand, will try to find a link so it shows the design! Definitely not a wormery, I gave up with one of those after somehow managing to kill the worms not once but twice :o fortunately the plants in the garden manage to survive my 'care' better than the worms did....
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I'm really enjoying gardening but last year was a bit of a disaster with the weather, the previous year I got lots of lovely salad, this year I'm hoping to expand a bit so be warned, I'll be asking lots of questions :o) |
Soggy compost
"Zaf" wrote in message ... Ive got one of those large bin-like composters and have been using it for vegetable household waste for around 6 months , it has 3 layers where you have moveable shelves so that once the top layer has got full you can move it down to the second layer, and so on till the 3rd layer is ready to use. BUT... Mine is a horrible slimy soggy mess, Ive been turning it religiously every week and only putting in the things that are suggested. what can I do to improve the situation? HELP!! if it is still a gluggy mess of partially broken down material then you have been given some good advice in this thread. If it is a good way decayed however, dif it out and use it as mulch across your gardens. I have dug out soggy compost before in late winter/early spring & laid it acorss my garden. Within a month or 2 if had finished decaying & turned up good stuff. rob |
Soggy compost
John T wrote:
Never seen a composter with shelves, and wonder if these are causing a problem? I've seen them advertised in gardening bumpf. You're supposed to do as Zaf says - put stuff in the top, then take out the top shelf, let it fall into the second chamber and put the top shelf back. Then fill the top again, and when it's full, let the middle fall to the bottom and the top to the middle. Then fill the top again. Finally, take your finished compost out at the bottom. The idea is that the tumbling from section to section is enough to mix and aerate the compost. Sounds like a gimmick to me! Peter |
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