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| New to composting (well, new to gardening, really). I bought one of those compost bins shaped like a barrel that you turn every few days and it's going great. I'm amazed how quickly things break down. I'm assuming that, at some point, I have to stop adding stuff to it, if I ever want to use the compost. Is that correct? Here are my questions:
1)Do I have stop adding stuff to the bin?
Thanks for your patience with questions I'm sure you've seen before. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Yes, you'll stop because of the turning you can't sneak out finished from the bottom. Make as much as you can now before the weather is too cold. Have another container to store your winter compost ingredients to add to it in spring. There are many ways to compost & most of us use a few different methods. 1. Continue to add probably until weather is freezing. Follow directions given with composter. In spring use the bucket or so of finished compost after screening out the larger unfinished chunks to put back into the composter. |
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- Posted by jonhughes So.Oregon (jonehughes@hotmail.com) on Sat, Oct 1, 11 at 16:24
| Hi Jeanar, What corrine said is true "There are many ways to compost & most of us use a few different methods. " No-Doubt about that ;-) I compost everything, especially tomatoes, They are a wonderful addition to the compost pile as tomatoes, and then if and when seeds sprout as volunteers next year, they get pulled and tossed into the compost bins as wonderful greens.
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| 1. Bins are batch composters and you will need to stop adding material at some poins. Most of what I see says when the bin is half full. 2. The volume of your compost deteermines whether the cold weather we have will stop the digestion process. It does not normally completely stop in my 4 x 4 x 4 bins although it does slow down. However, a really cold winter could well stop the process. If your bin is half that size the process most likely will stop. Excess moisturee in the mix will also contribute to stopping the process. 3. Whether to put things like tomatoes in the compost is always a question because if the seeds are ripe they could sprout. I've never found that a problem since disturbing them will cause them to die. Same thing can happen with squash or many other fruits. Some people do get parnoid about not adding any seeds to compost, ever, but mixing, turning, the compost uproots those germinated seeds and wil cause them to die. |
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| Thanks all. I will keep adding for awhile more and then stop when it gets really cold here. And pass on the tomatoes this year. |
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- Posted by berryman135678 (My Page) on Mon, Oct 10, 11 at 15:45
| I'm not to far from the Windy City so i can add my two browns and greens worth... and well I break the composting rules (don't get me started on bread). I add in the Winter if there is room. I am currently at 5 composter's and usually spread out winter addins equally. I add green and brown layered and turn it or airerate it in warmer months. I will - started empty out the bottom so i have room for this winter. And i fill them to the top. None of mine came with instructions (especially the home made ones). I do add tomatoes to mine but no parts of the tomato plants due to blight. |
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| If you are interested in composting during the winter it is possible but it takes a lot of time and effort to insulate and protect your compost from the cold. Alternately you could bring your bin indoors but the smell might get to you :) |
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