Raised Vegetable Beds as Compost Bins?
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
3 years ago
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Tote bin raised beds?!?!?
Comments (20)Hi so glad to find this site and getting more ideas and since I am cleaning pots to fill for this year --gathering my seedlings and hoping it warms up soon My cheap plastic plant pot it just starting to crack around the edge-- few pictures I took yest. would love to see pictures of all your gardens and raised beds-- my little bed is starting to buckle -hope it goes a few years more Have a wonderful day -bright and sunny Mari PS how does one post more than one photo ???...See MoreShould I raise my compost bin?
Comments (6)"There is a small school of thought that compost needs to be in contact with the soil so that the bacteria that wil ldigest the material can get in there, but on the material you put into your compost pile are the bacteria that will digest that material, they do not come from the soil, which is why compost tumblers, sometimes, work." Compost tumblers sometimes work? Small school of thought? If there are bugs in your compost throw it away and make a pile right the next time? Get a good reliable soil test for your lasagna bed before planting in it? Once compost is finished it is finished, there is no such thing as compost turning to humus? Some of your recent comments are beginning to cause concern among your fellow members, and sending a mixed message to newer members causing untold confusion. Is everything all right over there? Do you need someone to come see about you? Some of us are starting to become worried Mayaosu said: "I've also read that the compost being in contact with the ground is best for allowing worms and other critters to do their work." That is one of the best ways that I know of to allow worms to get from the soil into a compost pile; and too, worms may be found within manure added to the compost pile, thus there is more than one way to skin a cat. All of my bins are in contact with the ground, but that is not to say building one on concrete, as my friend Bill Hill (among others) does with very good success should not be done. Both ways will give good results; it boils down to a matter of choice. As it relates to making air passages in the compost pile, this too is a matter of personal preference. While it is true a well-constructed compost pile will allow good air circulation, it too is possible to make air circulate better with the addition of air channels of some kind within the pile. In my experience, these air channels allow the compost pile to decompose further away from the center of the pile towards the corners, thus allowing less turning. Again, it is not necessary, but a lot of things are not necessary; however I like the results I get with the air passages in all my piles. The best I can do with Bermuda grass is pull it up when it invades the pile, staying on top of it is the best defense IMO. Building a compost pile is something like cutting grass. There are many ways to get the job done, it is the state of mind and results after the job is complete that are important Blutranes...See MoreCan I Make Compost In The Raised Bed?
Comments (20)Scotty66 - "Dirt" and "soil" are typically used interchangeably. Soil does have an actual definition and an entire science behind it, although I am not all that knowledgeable on the subject, as I mentioned in my first post. But I do know that compost and soil are NOT the same thing, and compost is not the same thing as a mixture of peat moss, coir, and perlite or vermiculite, as another person suggested. Compost (if it's purely compost from kitchen and yard waste) lacks the minerals found in both natural soil AND potting soil. It breaks down to one important element of soil, humus. I didn't really think that things simply *can't* grow in compost only... if that were the case, weeds would never grow on the pile, and I often see that when people have piles they just allow to sit. But, based on what I have read, it's not generally an optimal growing medium. I can grow certain plants in a glass of water, but that doesn't mean that's the optimal medium for their growth. I also don't think that an unamended bale of straw is the best medium for long-term growth of plants. It's definitely not "dirt" even if you can grow in it. Interesting experiment JH, to prove that things can grow well! I do wonder whether there is a difference between growing solely in compost in a closed container, and growing solely in compost which is sitting on natural soil or crushed rocks, or next to such a surface (to allow for adequate drainage.) Jon's experiment aside, a raised bed filled with compost but open to the ground is different from planting in only compost. If I had huge amounts of compost and didn't want to spend money to purchase additional soil, then I would probably try to plant in only the compost. But, since that is not the case, I prefer to add soil. In the case of someone wanting to compost in the raised beds... adding soil or some amendments will likely be a necessity, if for no other reason that that compost piles shrink dramatically and it will be difficult to make enough compost in the beds to fill the beds by spring....See MoreRaised vegetable bed questions
Comments (40)My raised bed garden is about 13 feet square and surrounded by stacked bricks... can not remember the name now but they have plastic tabs in the back holding them together with a 14x10 inch cap. They work great and I can walk on them when I am working. I live in Chandler and have never had a problem with the heat but I keep the garden pretty wet. the price of brick is higher on the front end but they will last forever and look very nice. I took about 10 inches of dirt out from the bottom and put in all new soil. It was a long time ago but I know it was a lot. I add steer manure every year but need to add another 5 bags of soil, do not know where it is going. Every time I turn the garden over with the shovel the level gets back up near the top of the bricks. The soil is amazing... if I step in where I have worked my foot sinks about 6 inches....See Moreprairiemoon2 z6b MA
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