[tomato] Compost
Marguerite (Tomato@GlobalGarden.com)
Sun, 07 Mar 1999 10:19:29 -0600
Paul,
Thanks for all the information regarding soils, compost, and no-till
planting. You mentioned that you maintained a compost "heap". I am
trying to get started with a compost heap or bin. I found a web site
http://www.gov.nb.ca/environm/comucate/compost/magic.htm which has
information and instructions on how to build compost an maintain the
pile. Do varmints ever try to get in your compost material, because of
the selected kitchen scraps?
Have you tried the kitty litter in prior years to have seen results of
the addition of that ingredient to the compost, or is this the first
year to experiment with kitty litter as an ingredient? Are there any
other experiments you have done in maintaining your compost heap, that
you found successful, and would care to share with "beginners" in the
task of building a compost heap?
This year, I am going to experiment with Mycorrhiza in newly delivered
topsoil that is deficient in phosphorus, but pretty much O.K. on other
ingredients (that is according to the soil test done on the topsoil
delivered from the same source, last May). I added the recommended
amounts of phosphorus in the topsoil that was delivered last May, so
that soil will likely not be a good spot to experiment with Mycorrhiza.
In newly constructed raised beds, away from the main garden, I am going
to experiment with the Mycorrhiza in the new topsoil. I will add
nothing to the new topsoil, which I am assuming is also deficient in
phosphorus. That way, Mycorrhiza should be able to "do its thing". I
would like to add compost to both soils: the main garden, treated with
chemical fertilizer last May, and the new tandem truck load of topsoil
which will not be treated with any additional chemical fertilizer.
Thanks for any advice you can give.
Marguerite Ruch