[matt80]

Hi,

I was thinking of throwing my spare potatoes into big containers rather than throw them away, but the cost of the compost to fill them kinda makes me wonder whether its worth it!

What do people do with their container compost at the end of the year - is it re-usable?

[cathangirl]

Well rotted home made compost is definitely usable.  That's why we make it.
cathangirl

[andreadon]

What do people do with their container compost at the end of the year - is it re-usable?

I don't re-use it straight away, I put it into the compost bin so that it can work its way through - the theory being that the heat from the compost bin will kill any nasties and the nutrients lost will be replaced.

I'm sure if it's not a good idea, someone will come along and let you know.
(but I've not died yet...)

[wafflycat]

I don't re-use it straight away, I put it into the compost bin so that it can work its way through - the theory being that the heat from the compost bin will kill any nasties and the nutrients lost will be replaced.

That's what I do with mine.

[Stripey_cat]

I turn mine out on the beds as a soil conditioner - not much nutrients lefts, but still plenty of coir to open up the clay.  If there'd been disease problems, I'm not so sure: maybe stick it on the rhubarb or something else that it couldn't kill!

[celjaci]

Try an equal mix of:

sterilized loam ( good buffer for nutrients and helps re-wetting )
composted green waste ( often very cheap from councils who produce it )
ground bark ( ideally 1-8mm  not too large )( helps drainage 'air-filled porosity'

add some general organic fertilizer plus hoof and horn to avoid nitrogen drawdown by the bark or use Blood fish and bone