Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener of Contra Costa County
Help Desk Response: Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardener Program Help Desk with your question about compost.
You said that your compost bin is not getting hot. If the compost pile is not heating up, then the pile is too wet or too dry or there is not enough green material (or nitrogen) present. If too wet, the material should be spread out to dry. If too dry, add moisture to make it “spongy”. If neither of these, then the nitrogen is low and this can be corrected by adding materials high in nitrogen (lawn cuttings, etc.).
You asked whether you can place materials which are not fully composted into the garden bed. My comment was that yes this is possible, but that it will draw nitrogen from the soil to continue the composting process in the garden bed. Also, heat is the driving force to kill funguses or other living material in the pile prior to placing it in the vegetable bed.
We discussed making sure there is enough nitrogen present in the composting contents. The document linked below on rapid composting discusses this –
https://vric.ucdavis.edu/pdf/compost_rapidcompost.pdf
And here is a link on composting basics that you might also find informative:
http://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/composting/composting_basics/
Free Recycle Smart Compost Class: You might also be interested in the compost class offered by Recycle Smart. The class is free, and was developed to help residents understand the importance of organics recycling, build composting systems, recycle food and yard waste at their homes, build healthy urban soils and support thriving landscapes. For APPLICATION, dates and more information visit www.RecycleSmart.org/CompostSmart. The application deadline for the next class is February 22, 2019.
Good luck on your compost. Please do not hesitate to contact the Help Desk if you have more questions.
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (MCW)
Note: UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available almost year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays (e.g., last 2 weeks December), we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 2380 Bisso Lane, Concord, CA 94520. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 608-6683, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/. MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog.
Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardener Program Help Desk. It was nice to speak with you this morning. You asked about when to spread compost on your garden--whether you should do it now or wait until spring. There is no wrong time to put compost into the garden, but the microbes that decompose the compost and make nutrients available work much slower in the winter. As soon as the soil warms up, the microbes work faster. If you choose to wait until spring, make sure you apply it at least a couple of weeks before you plant.
Here's a link to information about rapid composting you might find interesting: https://vric.ucdavis.edu/pdf/compost_rapidcompost.pdf.
And more information about using compost in the home garden can be found at:
http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/files/221120.pdf.
Please don't hesitate to contact us again with further gardening questions.
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (SEH)
Note: UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available almost year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays (e.g., last 2 weeks December), we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 2380 Bisso Lane, Concord, CA 94520. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 608-6683, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/. MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ignore.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog.
Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
Client's Request (via phone): What is the nutritional composition of compost tea?
Our research did turn up some information about compost tea that you might find of interest. Here's a link to a slide presentation on the “Nutrient Value of Compost” which appears to have been given at a symposium sponsored by the University of California in 2009: https://vric.ucdavis.edu/events/2009_osfm_symposium/UC%20Organic%20Symposium%20010609%2005b%20Hartz.pdf Slide 4 in the presentation shows typical nutrient levels of compost. As you'll see, the NPK (nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium)l nutrient levels vary depending on the source of the materials used to make the compost—for example, does the compost contain manures or only crop residues. Slide 17 in the same presentation notes that when the compost is diluted to make compost tea, the nutrient effect of using the tea is likely “insignificant”.
Another University of California source indicates that a potential benefit of compost tea is that the leaves of the plants may be able to directly absorb nutrients that are present in the tea for a quick nutrient boost. See: https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=13471. However, as you'll see if you further review the information at this link, that same UC source is skeptical about the disease prevention claims that are sometimes made for compost teas. The authors eventually conclude: “Plain old compost, not the tea, typically acts to release those same nutrients in a slower manner, plus it has the added benefits of cooling and cushioning the soil. So to really get the most out of your compost, perhaps it's best to apply it to the landscape, and let nature make the tea with rain or irrigation water, unless you have a specific need for a quick, but problematic, boost of nutrients.
We hope that this information is useful as you evaluate your use of compost tea. You are welcome to contact us again if you have other gardening or pest questions.
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program ofCntra Costa County (TKL)
Editor's Note: The editor has been following the use of compost tea for more than several years. While there is a lot of anecdotal enthusiasm for its use, conclusive scientific findings have yet to be made of its benefits. Prof Linda Chalker-Scott PhD of Washington State University has written extensively on compost tea. (click). If you are considering its use, the Editor recommends her various articles on its use. |
Note: UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available almost year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays (e.g., last 2 weeks December), we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 2380 Bisso Lane, Concord, CA 94520. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 608-6683, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/. MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog (//ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/)
/table>Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
With my small garden, the beds fill to overflowing. Thus, I do not always apply all my compost. My question: Can compost “go bad?” if it dries out? If it is not used for months? Thank you!
MGCC Help Desk Response: Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardener Program Help Desk with your compost question. You asked if compost would go bad if it dries out. The answer is not really, but it can change. If it completely dries, it may become a little difficult to wet the compost. You might want to moisten it before putting it into your garden.
When compost completely dries, many of the microorganisms (bacterial and fungi) will die, but some will form "survival capsules" or spores that will keep them alive until better conditions come along. Also, good soil is teeming with microorganisms that will "repopulate" the compost, and will continue to break down compost added to the soil.
So, compost that has dried is fine to use in your garden. It just needs some management. And congratulations on being a successful composter!
Please let us know if you have more questions.
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (SEH)
Note: The UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available almost year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays (e.g., last 2 weeks December), we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 2380 Bisso Lane, Concord, CA 94520. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 608-6683, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/. MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog (//ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/)
Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
Client's Request: Last year I seem to remember that Master Gardeners offered “free” compost. Where can I get your “free”:compost this year?.
Help Desk Response: Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardener Program's Help Desk with your question about free compost.
We do not have a free compost offer schedule this year. The offer of free compost last fall was part of a special event, so that offer has come and gone.
One alternative is to create your own compost. Master Gardeners are offering a lecture on composting at Our Garden (same place as our central county Great Tomato Plant Sale) on Wednesday, May 10 at 10:00am. You may want to put that on your calendar. Other gardening organizations and some cities often offer compost classes as well. Here is also a link to a Composting 101 document if you want to get started now: http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/files/172573.pdf
I am also attaching a document with sources of bulk recycled compost in the East Bay which you may find helpful. Note that this list may not be all-inclusive and is not intended to be an endorsement by the UC Master Gardener Program.
Good luck and we look forward to seeing you at our Great Tomato Plant Sale.
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (ECS)
Don't miss our 2017 Great Tomato Plant Sale:
http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/EdibleGardening/GreatTomatoPlantSale/
Note: The UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. We can also be reached via telephone: (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog (http://ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/).
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Compost and Mulch Sources 5 Apr 2016