winter composting
by Emily
(Hayfork)
Compost piles
My husband and I live in a neighborhood on a decent sized lot and we're trying to grow as many veggies as possible. We're about to purchase a Sun Mar composter (we don't have enough space for piles or bins) and my question is this...when we start producing compost this fall/winter, should we apply the compost directly to the garden? Would all the rain and snow leach the nutrients from the compost? If so, is there something we can do to help the compost retain the nutrients? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!
Winter Composting
Winter Composting is just a little slower than summer composting but will make good compost.If your beds are ready you can just put the compost on the beds all winter and then turn it in during your spring bed preparations. Whatever leaches in will be in the beds. If you have a lot of compost in relation to your bed space so you can put on 4-6 inches I think that is a good idea and makes bed preparation very easy. If you have a more limited amount of compost and or are using winter cover crops to increase you soil fertility and soil texture then it is best to pile it and cover it. In the spring you can use it sparingly just where you are planting and you will have some good soil to use in preparing flats and pots for spring planting. Hayfork valley is a beautiful place.
Happy gardening
Farmer Dave
