Message Board - BigPumpkins.com

Looking for the best compost pile secrets to get grass clippings and maple leaves cooking. I am using molasses drench and layering the two, but is there anything else I need to do to have these piles ready for spring? Oh yeah, I am turning every other week and gonna start covering it soon.

Basically, I am looking for what most do to have a great compost pile.

10/31/2009 5:13:13 PM

Burton, Ohio

Any hot manure (chicken, rabbit, horse) will really get it hot fast. Adding enough water to dampen it thoroughly is very inportant. I used chicken manure and grass clippings this summer and my pile heated to 160º. I turned it over every 3-4 days and it stayed hot for two weeks. Once it's cooled down, it's okay to use.

10/31/2009 5:40:13 PM

ArvadaBoy

Midway, UT

I like to add a little of my remaining fish fertilizer to the compost pile to make sure it has enough nitrogen to get it to warm up. Even after the pile has cooled down the compost needs time to mature. If you put the compost in a cup and plant some radish seeds in it and they sprout you know the compost is ready for the patch.

10/31/2009 6:15:34 PM

Frank and Tina

South East

alfa alfa pellets

10/31/2009 6:21:53 PM

Tremor

Start with equal parts dead stuff green/brown.
Then follow all the advice listed.
Don't forget coffee grounds or molasses.

10/31/2009 6:46:29 PM

cojoe

Colorado

Rock a big pile is a good idea to hold heat though the winter.Nitrogen from manure ,coffee grounds,urea.Also it needs moisture and oxygen

10/31/2009 7:10:06 PM

Bohica (Tom)

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Rock, get a bag of alfalfa pellets, layer a 6 inch layer of composting material (leaves, veggies, grass, etc), put a 2 inch layer of alfalfa pellet and wet it down, follow this pattern untill 3 to4 ft high by 4 ft wide, within 3-4 days it will be 130 degrees.

10/31/2009 9:17:55 PM

Hands on

Coupeville WA

I will also use old hay that has gotten wet and cannot be fed to animals.Usually you can get this from local farms. This is a great source of Nitrogen and you generally do not have to buy it.
Key is not to forget the moisture.

10/31/2009 9:47:02 PM

Tremor

Not a hay fan here. Timothy always seems to happen where Roundup can't go. Seems to be a timing issue in our case but feed hay does bring some weeds. Salt hay is OK.

11/1/2009 12:00:16 AM

TNorange

Hot West Tennessee

Saw a show were he was using blood meal to get it kicking, cost prohibitive. Had some Milorganite. Thought Id try it.
Cooking hot in 2-3 days. Hope this helps

11/1/2009 12:13:28 AM

OkieGal

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

How much DOA pumpkin FRUIT can you add, it was healthy off a clean vine... and where in the layering?

11/1/2009 12:18:08 AM

PumpkinBrat

Paradise Mountain, New York

I'd skip the alfalfa pellets. Alfalfa pellets run about $ 10.00 around here for 50lbs.. You can go to a farmer and get good alfalfa hay for about $ 3.00 per bale. Some famers will have some alfalfa hay that got a little wet and will sale it for about $1.50 per bale. My neighbor gave me 45 bales of alfalfa hay that got wet for free. Even brought to my place to get rid of it. I ground it up with my riding lawn mower then threw it on the pile of leaves and mixed it in. I guess it all depends on how much you want to spend. Hay is hay...... 45% Urea will really heat up a compost pile of leaves too.

11/1/2009 3:09:43 AM

croley bend

Williamsburg,KY

Rock, I read somewhere on here that seaweed would also be good for your pile. Humic Acid would promote fungal growth and molassas would promote bateria growth. To keep the pile hot, you must turn it often and keep it moist. Hopefully your leaves are chopped up, and combined with the grass clippings should heat up fast. Good luck, great post!

11/1/2009 8:00:54 AM

Pennsylvania Rock

Thanks for all the ideas. I will use some of all the input to come up with a great compost pile! I noticed our local municipality runs a compost program and they use strictly the grass clippings (nitrogen) and leaves and within a week it is smokin away. I have added the molasses to help and will turn every other week or so to keep the oxygen to it.

Again, thanks for all the help. And yes, the chopped leaves are a HUGE benefit. I need to hit that 1000 pound mark and get that friggin monkey off my back. I am starting to have back problems from it!

11/1/2009 10:55:56 AM

Hamilton Nj

i just started a pile 3 weeks ago and i got to tell ya i put leaves, old tomato plants egg shells ,bananas,melons and cucumber skins and coffee grounds to start it. the first one i ever tried and i also got lots of worms coming around the pile is this good ????? there about 4 inches long and look like night crawlers . im turning it once a week is that too much??? thanks pizza

11/1/2009 10:56:16 AM

Burton, Ohio

Pizza, your pile isn't heating if you have worms in it. You need some material high in nitrogen, otherwise it'll take a long time too break your pile down to usable compost. That's fine if you're not in a hurry.

11/1/2009 1:03:52 PM

Hamilton Nj

what can i add to speed it up there not in the pile but when i dig new dirt to add to it theres some worms in it not alot only a couple!!!!

11/1/2009 1:16:12 PM

Burton, Ohio

It's not neccessary to add dirt to your compost pile, but add manure or bloodmeal to get it cooking.

11/1/2009 4:06:43 PM

Hamilton Nj

i added the dirt because its pretty bad soil it looks like gravel figured i mix it in it would help the soil ??? i grew tomatoes in it last year and moxed a bag of top soil or 2 with it and some fertilizer !!!! thanks pizza

11/1/2009 5:42:32 PM

roger

Connecticut

isitnecessary to cover it?

11/2/2009 6:27:18 AM

christrules

Midwest

Also, what's some ideas to turn the pile? Let's say the piles are 5ft high and 5ft wide. I have a very hard time turning them with a shovel. I can't seem to get an even turn. It's back -breaking work. uggh. I'd like to work smarter, not harder and get good compost by Spring!
Thanks for your answers. Greg

11/4/2009 1:46:35 PM

Burton, Ohio

I have two bins side by side made out of 2' by 2' lumber and chicken wire for aeration. I move it from one to the other every 3-4 days. I have the front removeable so it's easier to move using a 5-tine hay fork. There are construction plans on the internet for making compost bins. http://www4.uwm.edu//shwec/publications/cabinet/factsheets/WoodandWireCompostBin.pdf

11/4/2009 6:38:08 PM