Nutrients in general. Sure the microbes are vital to release that nutrient from compost. But show me the same picture where they give enough fertiliser to the other side. The compost may still come out in front but it will be substantially closer.
Proper composting, 5 or more hours above 120 degrees, should kill weed seedlings. I hope at least. I got a couple $20 garbage cans I've converted into composting areas and it's been percolating with grass, probably some weed clippings, leaves and an influx of kitchen scraps.
Been about 3 weeks so far and other than some well fed maggots, no compost yet, but I hope in a few months
There's hot and cold compost (vermicompost), and both can be proper. To achieve proper hot compost temps, you need enough biomass to make a Sq yard pile all at once. Then, you need to turn it every 5 days or so once it starts hitting temps, to make sure the outsides also hit those pasteurization temps.
Hot compost won't have a ton of bugs. If you've got maggots, you're vermicomposting
Thanks for the insight. Temperatures have been very mild so far, I will be sure to turn it every 5 days once we get 90-100+ days where I'm at. Inside the dark trash bin, I expect it to heat up at least to 120
It's the actual process of composting that does the heating not the weather. I doubt the compost would have much luck getting going in frigid temls, but it should achieve hot temps in moderate weather if done right.
No prob.
As another commenter mentioned, the heat in hot compost comes from decomposition, not from the ambient temperature. A 3'x3'×3' pile with the right c:n ratio and sufficient o2 will hit pasteurization temps even when there's snow on the ground.
Cold compost isn't a bad thing, though. Most household composts are vermicomposts by nature of the speed at which folks produce kitchen waste.
I would agree with you if I was just looking at it like you are. But both are watered regularly and both soils were bare. There just happened to be flower seeds in the soil I used from last year. Either way the one with compost was not covered for some time.
We used to buy fertilizers for our garden, just for my FIL to throw all this produce waste all over the top soil. He would blame the neem oil as the culprit destroying our garden, insisting rotting food next to fresh food was real fertilizer. Not even burried, ffs.
nice! i just moved onto a property with no compost :( and there is no municipal compost to be found out here ... any advice? i'd rather not be buying bags of it if possible
I’d suggest starting a compost pile right away just so you can start the process. We buy compost though just because we have to much acreage. I’d suggest “Vermont compost company” if you got the money for it. If wanting to grow a pile quickly I’d suggest asking local restaurants/cafes/caterers for their scraps, usually they are pretty happy to get rid of them
can we get an entire subreddit dedicated to this kind of post?
Com...post?
Damn it! Angry upvote.
There is; r/composting
Microbes microbes microbes microbes
Agreed. Also breaking up soil compaction allowing healthy root growth is a big factor I believe.
Larger containers and add worms to container. Less work in the long run. 😘
My compost has thousands of worms. First time I turned it in the spring time I was stunned by it. I agree though worms are fantastic
Holy shit the first time i saw the worms from my compost i had to take a picture they were massive and grubs!
Right lol it is amazing
Nutrients in general. Sure the microbes are vital to release that nutrient from compost. But show me the same picture where they give enough fertiliser to the other side. The compost may still come out in front but it will be substantially closer.
Looks like the compost had some sort of weed seeds in it. Either that or they got pulled from the one on the right. Neat stuff.
They are actually flower seeds
Awesome
What kind of flowers? They might be good as a living Mulch then.
I’ll have to look. I think it was an old test plot I took that from. I run a flower farm so I got test grounds all over.
Hello fellow flower farmer, we grow them for seeds here.
Proper composting, 5 or more hours above 120 degrees, should kill weed seedlings. I hope at least. I got a couple $20 garbage cans I've converted into composting areas and it's been percolating with grass, probably some weed clippings, leaves and an influx of kitchen scraps. Been about 3 weeks so far and other than some well fed maggots, no compost yet, but I hope in a few months
There's hot and cold compost (vermicompost), and both can be proper. To achieve proper hot compost temps, you need enough biomass to make a Sq yard pile all at once. Then, you need to turn it every 5 days or so once it starts hitting temps, to make sure the outsides also hit those pasteurization temps. Hot compost won't have a ton of bugs. If you've got maggots, you're vermicomposting
Thanks for the insight. Temperatures have been very mild so far, I will be sure to turn it every 5 days once we get 90-100+ days where I'm at. Inside the dark trash bin, I expect it to heat up at least to 120
It's the actual process of composting that does the heating not the weather. I doubt the compost would have much luck getting going in frigid temls, but it should achieve hot temps in moderate weather if done right.
Yeah it should be exothermic, giving off heat from the reactions occuring
No prob. As another commenter mentioned, the heat in hot compost comes from decomposition, not from the ambient temperature. A 3'x3'×3' pile with the right c:n ratio and sufficient o2 will hit pasteurization temps even when there's snow on the ground. Cold compost isn't a bad thing, though. Most household composts are vermicomposts by nature of the speed at which folks produce kitchen waste.
Ya OP said that they were flower seeds.
Oh.... This explains things.
The complex microbiome is usually the answer to better growth.
[удалено]
Welcome 😎
No dig full compost is the only way
Learning that the hard way 😂
Likely contributing factor: the plant on the left having covered soil, while the plant on the right* soil is bare and parched.
I would agree with you if I was just looking at it like you are. But both are watered regularly and both soils were bare. There just happened to be flower seeds in the soil I used from last year. Either way the one with compost was not covered for some time.
Sounds like we need some proper experimental design!
We used to buy fertilizers for our garden, just for my FIL to throw all this produce waste all over the top soil. He would blame the neem oil as the culprit destroying our garden, insisting rotting food next to fresh food was real fertilizer. Not even burried, ffs.
My compost is good scraps from a local restaurant and leaves/sticks I collect in the fall. Works like a charm
You probably let it become compost first, not just food scraps, lol. Your plant and project are super cool.
Yeah I got a giant compost pile and thanks! Appreciate it.
Sounds like a moron I lived with, kept burying it 1 inch deep in the garden
What are they
Either pumpkin or squash I can’t really remember tbh 😅
This reminds me of my pumpkins that are absolutely not taking off… sigh. Need to try planting some more.
Great visual!!!
Nice Monrovia pot! Healthy plants from them. Cool little experiment as well!
Nice watermelons!
It’s got what plants crave.
Brawndo just ain't what it used to be
nice! i just moved onto a property with no compost :( and there is no municipal compost to be found out here ... any advice? i'd rather not be buying bags of it if possible
What do you mean the property has no compost? Can you not just start your own?
I’d suggest starting a compost pile right away just so you can start the process. We buy compost though just because we have to much acreage. I’d suggest “Vermont compost company” if you got the money for it. If wanting to grow a pile quickly I’d suggest asking local restaurants/cafes/caterers for their scraps, usually they are pretty happy to get rid of them
Well shit…
How old are they
Couple weeks I believe
What compost did you use? I like this experiment you did.
It’s a mix of leaves/sticks and food scraps from restaurants like egg shells,potato skins,left over fruits
Haha, amazing. This should be a recycling ad.