Allotment Week - Under lockdown - Day 9 - Digging Compost

Today was compost day.

We've had three "Dalek" bins sitting there for a while now. The first two (black, on the left) have been there for two years. The third one (green) for only a year. It's time that they were dealt with.

(Photo taken yesterday before I dug the beds)

(Today's photo)

The problem with compost is time. Anything can, and will, turn into compost given enough time, but since this first dalek has only been here a year, there are lot of solid matter that could do with being left in the bins a little longer.

Some bits don't want to compost well at all. I am finding a lot of stuff, including:

• Egg shells - in future they need crushing before being put in.
• Avocado Shells - Nothing deal with these. They hang around for ages. I'd suggest not putting them in at all.
• Avocado Stones - See shells. Although some have split and have sent out roots. I've planted one into a pot just to see if it'll take.
• Root balls - From old pots. Yes the soil does flake away, but the actual root ball itself needs more time.
• Plastic "Biodegradable bags" - No, just no. I've given up on these altogether. They just don't work and are still hanging around way too long.
• Stick and twigs - Stalks and such from plants that we've thrown in there. They just need more time.

So the majority of the most recent bin, resumed a place in the moved bin afterwards. (See green bin below - it's full)

But the rest of the good compost/soil was dug back into the bed that they came out of.

The second black dalek had a much better yield. Of course this bin had been around a couple of years. Although the top layer was still pretty much intact and just went straight back into the bin, once I started digging down the soil was superb. I dug out my old griddle and starting sieving the soil. This fine soil was liberally sprinkled on the Strawberry beds, and bed that was dug yesterday immediately adjacent to the bins.

I suspect that this bed will be the eventual home of the Beetroot and possibly some turnips.

On the subject of Beetroot and Turnips, in the greenhouse all is looking well.

The Courgettes have now all got their cotyledon leaves.

As, do most of the other plants, although I can't tell on the Peas because they are just poking their heads through.

And the Crown Prince are just making an appearance.

But three hours digging in the sun is enough exercise for me to handle for one day. Time for home.