making compost in 12 weeks ? yes here's how

Boxing day walk around the veg plot and checking progress of the compost bins still very active still making great compost.

[@WiltshireMan]

4ft paths and 2ft beds hahaa :) I can agree how well the hotbins work, Thanks to using hotbins I have some good quality compost to use too. Nice one Loz

[@thevegplot]

I was gonna end up with 2 foot beds with the rate of erosion 😁 ive got a ton of cow muck coming next week sandy and another ton of rotted horse muck in a few weeks. keep piling it on eh. Looking forward to seeing how you get on this year👍

[@AmirsAllotment]

Just subbed, lovely update, nice to see the plot and listen to your plans, good luck with 2024! Happy Growing 😊🌱

[@thevegplot]

Thank you Amir just subbed you also be watching your vids tonight just rendering my yacon video now im giving some plants away if you fancy some. Cheers.

[@jameslamb4573]

A belated Merry Christmas mate and wishing you all you wish for yourself in the new year.

[@thevegplot]

Thanks James, same to you mate im optomistic about the new year cant see things getting better myself though, who knows. Cheers.

[@MrBucidart]

Loz, I hoped you had a Merry Christmas, and you may have a great New Years, Nice knife.

[@thevegplot]

Cheers Joe, yes all good here all the best for the new year mate.

[@jilltompson2306]

I am surprised worms survive at 70C. How often is the temperature that high?

[@thevegplot]

when you add alot of material the temperature increases but only really in that layer, layers below already having heated up wont re heat so the worms are happy in those layers and live in the cooler parts.

[@JohnDoe-id9hi]

Free refrigerators and chest freezers work well for a bin.

[@thevegplot]

Yes they do mate just need a few holes in the bottom for the liguids to drain out. Cheers

[@grannyjax3955]

Hello, thank you for your content I am finding it very helpful. Can I please ask what make of wood chipper you have please as this is something I am looking into at the moment and would appreciate your input before I commit Thanks in advance J

[@thevegplot]

Hi J i got the petrol forest master 6d which is a good little chipper Cheers

[@grannyjax3955]

@@thevegplot thank you

[@jilltompson2306]

How often and how much water do you add to the mix - if any?

[@thevegplot]

I usually dont add any water the green material has enough plus the moisture given off gets trapped inside.

[@pennythompson4790]

Just found your channel, how oten should you turn compost?xx

[@thevegplot]

Hi Penny, With hotbins you dont really need to turn them you can just fill until they are full and use once they cool down, I turn mine because it speeds up the process a little and means I can also start using the compost that was ready at the bottom as it is now on the top. So called normal heaps need to be turned a few times to get the colder outsides of the heap turned into the middle where there is more heat. Cheers.

[@amydeeaz4746]

is it the horse manure cause the heat or the closed bean

[@thevegplot]

Horse manure will heat up with straw added but the majority of my heat comes from the plant matter I put in, its the bacteria and fungus feeding on it and multipling that gives us the heat. Cheers,

[@laurathomason8693]

Hi just came across your channel and I'm wondering with them amount of heat you have accumulated in the bin, is it too hot for worms to do the composting process? Is it done purely by the heat that you create? Kind regards

[@thevegplot]

Hi Laura where the material is very active yes it is too hot for worms what happens is the worms move into the bin from the bottom as the compost cools they love it there then they move up the bin as the process continues, when i turn the bin they are noticeable at the bottom and in the corners once turned they move to the areas that suits them best and they multiply like crazy. Regards.

[@laurathomason8693]

@@thevegplot ah thank you for your reply. I only cold compost and my bin is ramming with worms so knowing what you've just told me I may look into this whole hot composting thing. Thanks again

[@thevegplot]

@@laurathomason8693 yes much better for killing weed seed etc and certainley no shortage of worms at the end.👍

[@amydeeaz4746]

sir which part of uk r u in , sir can we put fall leaves direct into the ground by digging trenches n covering it with soil , at this time in december, will they get rot by may......

[@thevegplot]

Hi I am in the north west uk nr blackpool, You dont really need to dig the leaves into the ground, if you put a decent layer straight onto the soil surface and cover it with weed membrane or some other sheeting, by the time march comes around the worms and other soil life will have mostly decomposed the leaves and you can plant straight into the ground, just rake in any bits of leaves that are remaining. Cheers.

[@amydeeaz4746]

thanks

[@richardpalliser7495]

Welcome back to the patch Loz👍🏻 I had a mixed fortunes last year, basically my first year of growing. A mixture of lack of knowledge and a odd weather year, gave me limited successes. But one thing I took from last years exploits…………only a fool like me, buys compost. £70 it cost me, more than seeds and feed put together, and I’d definitely question the quality of said quality compost. I’ve watched with fascination and foot dragging over the last year. But I’m all over the hot composting now, cheers Loz. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@thevegplot]

Hi Richard dont be disheartened takes a lifetime and more learing how and what to grow, the weather is probably the biggest variable and can catch anyone out, just feed the soil dont sow too early and make a hotbin 😁 cheers