anyone experience of compost heaps?

Are you looking for information or help in the garden. Post your agriculture, flora and fauna questions, suggestions and comments here.
gavilan
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 2164
Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:59 am
Location: Alcaucin

anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby gavilan » Sat Apr 11, 2020 11:14 am

since driving to the basura these days is limited I was considering constructing some sort of compost heap ... always been a bit cautious about such things for fear of an inundation of flies and rodents ... but might be useful now ... I would be very interested to hear of others experience ... maybe give me some dos and donts ... thanks in advance ...

olive
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 4500
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 7:13 pm
Location: Poniente, Granada

Re: anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby olive » Sat Apr 11, 2020 12:06 pm

Cannot help. We tried in our early days and after two years most stuff looked like it did the day it was added. Tried watering and various other tips.
We do have a heap of branch trimmings, prunings and other veg waste rather than take to household waste. We leave it to dry out and then burn it (when it is safe) and then spread the ash over our olive groves.

It will be interesting to see how other folk manage.

User avatar
knowal
Resident
Posts: 1911
Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:35 pm
Location: England

Re: anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby knowal » Sat Apr 11, 2020 12:29 pm

I always found it was just two dry to get things to compost in Spain. We tried different methods, but each failed and we ended up burning the stuff which had dried out.

User avatar
gerryh
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 8046
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:17 pm
Location: Cajiz, Malaga

Re: anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby gerryh » Sat Apr 11, 2020 12:48 pm

Bought a plastic composting bin.
Chuck in the kitchen waste, add a bit of water occasionally.
Wait for a few months and good compost at the bottom.
This bin has a door at the bottom which can be opened to remove the compost.
Cheers
Gerry
Gerry Harris

gavilan
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 2164
Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:59 am
Location: Alcaucin

Re: anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby gavilan » Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:43 pm

thanks all for your comments ... sounds a good idea gerryh ... just have to wait til lockdown lifted so I can get to a vivero ... thanks again to all

User avatar
Enrique
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 9488
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:47 am
Location: Mytchett/Alcala La Real

Re: anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby Enrique » Sat Apr 11, 2020 3:53 pm

Hi gavilan,
Following on from Gerry's Post............
Have a read up on worm bin composter............ :idea: Example............. http://compost.css.cornell.edu/worms/basics.html

I made mine with a black dust bin, it's sealed with a closed lid. To get the worms, water a patch of ground, cover with wet cardboard topped with black plastic, after a few days lift and transfer worms to the prepared bin.

I have a slatted wooden bin built from pallets but only put "garden" cuttings in it.
All my best learning experiences start with a problem I need to solve.

gavilan
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 2164
Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:59 am
Location: Alcaucin

Re: anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby gavilan » Sat Apr 11, 2020 6:25 pm

thanks for that Enrique ... interesting to see if wet cardboard with black plastic will attract worms ... hardly see any such creatures here as too dry ... also hadnt realised compost bins need worms ... so all very helpful ... thanks again

User avatar
Enrique
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 9488
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:47 am
Location: Mytchett/Alcala La Real

Re: anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby Enrique » Sat Apr 11, 2020 6:40 pm

Hi gavilan,
It will depend on how you compost........... worms are only needed in worm bin.

I would have three conical bins....fill first in one session, turn into second after 10 or so days , turn into third bin as a holding bin.
This method requires a lot of plant material at each filling session..

With kitchen veg.....a worm bin is best.
All my best learning experiences start with a problem I need to solve.

User avatar
spanish_lad
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 6218
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:13 pm
Location: Alhaurin el Grande since 99, cartama campo since 2022

Re: anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby spanish_lad » Wed Apr 29, 2020 3:38 pm

#Aliexpress € 5,63 45%OFF | Organic Waste Kitchen Garden Yard Compost Bag Environmental PVC Cloth Planter Kitchen Waste Disposal Organic Compost Bag
https://a.aliexpress.com/_B1n1wW


We have a couple of these, at the base of two orange trees in garden. They last a couple of years as they are mostly in the shade, simple - open the top, throw the bits in, and after a few weeks lovely compost comes out when you open the flap at the bottom. We use it in pots and on the vegtable garden beds, the tomatoes love it.
Alhaurin el Grande since 99, working at the airport since 2011.

gavilan
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 2164
Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:59 am
Location: Alcaucin

Re: anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby gavilan » Wed Apr 29, 2020 7:24 pm

and thanks again sl ... most helpful and will pursue ...

User avatar
spanish_lad
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 6218
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:13 pm
Location: Alhaurin el Grande since 99, cartama campo since 2022

Re: anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby spanish_lad » Sun May 03, 2020 1:04 am

You can get them.from other places, but direct from china cant be beaten for the price, especially if you dont mind waiting for the postage (think in months not days.)
Alhaurin el Grande since 99, working at the airport since 2011.

Rummii
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 69
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2017 7:29 pm
Location: Spain

Re: anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby Rummii » Mon May 04, 2020 8:46 am

I heard a few people in campo having issues with heat and the setting on fire so I decided against compost heap plus didn’t want the ratties moving in lol but we are deep in campo

User avatar
spanish_lad
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 6218
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:13 pm
Location: Alhaurin el Grande since 99, cartama campo since 2022

Re: anyone experience of compost heaps?

Postby spanish_lad » Tue May 05, 2020 6:17 pm

We have not had rats in the compost at all, we get alot of 'fruit flies' inside it tho, but thats probably because of a little hole in the side ?
Alhaurin el Grande since 99, working at the airport since 2011.


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests