Feedback from the pros

[desertgirl]

After doing some research and lurking here a bit, this is how my compost plan is shaping up.

I have one of those compost bins that are everywhere (plastic, opens at the top, doors at the bottom to scoop out the finished compost).

I have some old compost at the very bottom. A local organic vermicomposter/gardener said it would be ok to leave this at the bottom. From there I have been layering;
--newspaper/aspen shavings/chicken poo
--pine needles,dead plants from yard work
--greens from kitchen (salad garbage), and coffee grounds.

I've misted it once or twice in the week since I've started it. (we live in the high desert, where it is very dry), and I am planning on "mixing" at about one week.

Any advice?

 

[obsessed]

Things sound great. but I think that you may need to more than "mist." Especially considering how dry a desert is. You need the pile to me moist and not soggy. But definitely moist.

 

[desertgirl]

Good point. Also-much of what I've read says to fertilize my vegetables with high nitrogen fertilizer. How do I know if my compost meets this criteria?:/

 

[digitS']

I think of my compost as a soil amendment and apply fertilizer in addition.

Even after 18 months, it is fairly coarse "stuff." It hasn't been mixed during all that time, just layered in the building of the pile.

For the veggie garden, I buy organic fertilizer. I go for the one with a higher first number (nitrogen) partly because I grow so many leafy greens. Usually, "vegetable" fertilizer has the NPK in a balanced ration 1:1:1, like 5 - 5 - 5.

Yes, you can use compost as your sole fertilizer in the garden. It's just that I don't. Compost is important to me for soil improvement. You would need to test not only the soil but the compost as well to know for sure what the crop needs and what you are applying.

. . . just my 2

Steve

 

[desertgirl]

I very much want to stay organic. Could you recommend a good organic fertilizer with the high nitrogen content for my veggies?

 

[digitS']

There never seems to be enuf compost but that should not stop us from buying it if necessary. When I have relied heavily on compost in my veggie garden, Alaska fish emulsion was an easy way for me to cover the bases. That may be the way you would like to go, DesertGirl.

I think my tomato plants especially liked the fish emulsion but I have continued to use it during the growing season, especially for onions and leeks.

It is rated at 5-1-1 (NPK). Aaaand, I've just learned that this company has a new hose-end sprayer for their product!! I'd given up trying to make that work and just continued to mix it in a sprinkling can.

Steve

 

[desertgirl]

Alaska fish emulsion, huh?

I'm all over it. Thanks for the advice!

 

[smom1976]

It is rated at 5-1-1 (NPK).

now at our county extention office they mentioned that you wanted a high nitrogen at the begining of the season rather than when producing (lets just pic tomato) fruit because the higher nitrogen encourages green growth. is this correct?

with that the case then a watering can would be best to pick and choose who gets it...

 

[Purple Strawberry]

There never seems to be enuf compost but that should not stop us from buying it if necessary. When I have relied heavily on compost in my veggie garden, Alaska fish emulsion was an easy way for me to cover the bases. That may be the way you would like to go, DesertGirl.

I think my tomato plants especially liked the fish emulsion but I have continued to use it during the growing season, especially for onions and leeks.

It is rated at 5-1-1 (NPK). Aaaand, I've just learned that this company has a new hose-end sprayer for their product!! I'd given up trying to make that work and just continued to mix it in a sprinkling can.

Steve

What is the company name? I would like to order some.

 

[digitS']

It is rated at 5-1-1 (NPK).

now at our county extention office they mentioned that you wanted a high nitrogen at the begining of the season rather than when producing (lets just pic tomato) fruit because the higher nitrogen encourages green growth. is this correct?

with that the case then a watering can would be best to pick and choose who gets it...

Using compost that hasn't decomposed completely may result in the nitrogen in the compost not being available for plant use, early in the season. It will be available eventially (after the microbes are done with it) but maybe not THIS year.

Chlorophyll molecules are made up of 4 atoms of nitrogen and are tied into a membrane protein complex - more nitrogen in the protein. (Hah! I can use Wikipedia! ) As your plant leaves grow, nitrogen is a big requirement.

There may come a time when you don't want any more growth and want to see some flowering and fruiting. However, there are other things besides a lack of nitrogen that prompts that reproductive cycle. With lots of veggies, we are disappointed when our spinach or something - suddenly "bolts" to seed. And, would have appreciated a little more growth.

I've also read some experienced tomato growers, with a straight face :/, who claim that there's no "top end" to nitrogen for their plants. In my short-season area, I do not want to risk not having the crop ripen before Autumn frosts, however. That's happened too often to me because of improper selection of varieties. So, once we move out of July, I stop fertilizing the tomato patch.
Having that nice dark chlorophyll out there doing its job for the plants is generally - a very good thing :rainbow-sun.

What is the company name? I would like to order some.

Alaska - it is a Lilly Miller product so you should find it at the garden center.

Steve