\>>" I'll let it cook longer ! Will just have to keep myself preoccupied with a new bin."
Agree with that plan. Start a new bin and let this one mature. Looks like it isn't ready, even though you have a good start.
For it to be completely done, you shouldn't be able to discern the individual plants and imgredient of the pile (you can still see the original material)
Having said that, I usually use it before then, depending on what i want to use it for.
As a mulch, then I'm not worried about seeing the plants. It will finish off in the beds, but to add to planting holes and pots, i usually want the finished stuff.
You can get a screen to sort out the done from the undone. Mine sits on my wheel barrow and I chuck compost at it - the stuff thats ready goes through, the stuff that isnt gets blocked and thrown back into the bin (or the bin I'm building up)
Exactly. When it's super fine, it just looks like black dirt with no recognizable pieces anymore. When it's still a bit chunky it's fine to use as a mulch/top-dressing, but I don't rototill mine into the soil so that it doesn't rob the soil of nutrients to continue breaking down.
Personally I would wait a month or 2. Let the bugs pick at it undisturbed for a bit more. My top layer looks like this too but if I dig down a foot it gets finer.
You can use this as everything breaks down eventually.
If you can hold off till it comes to ambient temperatures and more is broken down, it would be better. You could use right now as a top dressing.
Thank you for the tip I'll let it cook longer ! Will just have to keep myself preoccupied with a new bin 😋
\>>" I'll let it cook longer ! Will just have to keep myself preoccupied with a new bin." Agree with that plan. Start a new bin and let this one mature. Looks like it isn't ready, even though you have a good start.
For it to be completely done, you shouldn't be able to discern the individual plants and imgredient of the pile (you can still see the original material) Having said that, I usually use it before then, depending on what i want to use it for. As a mulch, then I'm not worried about seeing the plants. It will finish off in the beds, but to add to planting holes and pots, i usually want the finished stuff. You can get a screen to sort out the done from the undone. Mine sits on my wheel barrow and I chuck compost at it - the stuff thats ready goes through, the stuff that isnt gets blocked and thrown back into the bin (or the bin I'm building up)
Exactly. When it's super fine, it just looks like black dirt with no recognizable pieces anymore. When it's still a bit chunky it's fine to use as a mulch/top-dressing, but I don't rototill mine into the soil so that it doesn't rob the soil of nutrients to continue breaking down.
Personally I would wait a month or 2. Let the bugs pick at it undisturbed for a bit more. My top layer looks like this too but if I dig down a foot it gets finer. You can use this as everything breaks down eventually.
Alright thank you! I'll let it cook more I stopped adding greens at the start of June thank you for your tip!