The Garden Community for Garden Lovers
 
wayno

By Wayno

Cheshire, United Kingdom Gb

hi, i have recycled my compost from last year will my plants still flourish, tomato plants etc




Answers

 

if you mean multipurpose compost then the answer is no really. all the nutrients will have been used last year. you can add slow release granules but the risk of last years diseases being passed on is quite high.

I use it as a mulch in the autumn on the bare flower beds. Or I put it on the compost heap also in the autumn.

3 May, 2011

 

When you say recycled the compost did you collected the compost from all of last years pots and plants and collate it or did you add it to a compost pile and want to use that?

3 May, 2011

 

I cannot agree with seaburngirl on this one.

Re cycled compost if done properly will be far better than what you are forced to buy nowadays.
Do a search on the internet for BTD fertiliser and Nutrimate. Mix in sterilsed top soil or John Innes no3. Get a wetting agent.That's all you need.
As to nutrients in composts, most have enough for about 6 weeks. Making your own mix will be far superior.
As to passing on diseases, there are far more problems with garden soil in your beds yet not many people replace that soil every year. And most plant problems are air borne any way.
As a guide, i've been using the same rooting compost for my dahlias for the last 7 years.
My tomato compost in home made grow bags is in it's 3rd season.

3 May, 2011

 

I agree if [and a big if to boot] done properly it can be reused but many people dont have the resorces to do so. And as for problems with the soil that is true but crop rotation limits that.

3 May, 2011

 

I use a wheelbarrow to mix 20 litres at a time.
You don't even need weighing scales as measures are provided.
So it's just a question of say 3 parts compost, one part soil, 5 scoops fertiliser, all mixed with a shovel.
If you want a seed compost sieve the above, leave out topsoil, use silver sand instead, use 3 scoops fertiliser.
You can adjust your compost to your needs very easily.

Crop rotation sorts out, as best as possible, nasties left in the ground...eg,maggots of carrot fly, onion fly cabbage fly....none of these are likely in the composts being made up. It won't sort out blights as the majority of infections are airborne and climate orientated.
For tomatoes, if your greenhouse crop is affected by blight or virus then obviously you wouldn't use it to grow tomatoes again. Use it for growing flowers :)

3 May, 2011

How do I say thanks?

Answer question

 


Not found an answer?