How long to make usable compost

For efficient composting, the pile should be approximately as wet as a wrung-out sponge. The University of Missouri Extension describes an excellent trick to check the moisture of compost. Take a handful of compost and squeeze it in your palm. If no water drops come out, the pile is too dry. If a drop or two of water appears, the moisture is just right. A wet pile will also need to be turned more often for proper aeration of the contents. Cover the pile during wet weather to prevent excessive moisture.

However, rainwater is the best source of moisture for a dry pile. Compost will develop even if the pile is not turned, ever. Then again, in order to establish it faster, turning it frequently can help achieve that. A temperature drop will slow down the decomposition rate drastically — no one wants that, of course. Turning frequently will also keep the pile optimally aerated for the aerobic bacteria to work effectively, distributes moisture evenly, and increases the surface area of organic matter exposed to the microbes.

All of these benefits ultimately contribute to a faster end result — dark, crumbly compost! Microbes decompose organic matter and turn it into compost. Where do these organisms come from? However, adding additional tiny workers will make the process faster. Soil or prepared compost provides an additional army of decomposers in the form of fungi, insects, bacteria, and other organisms to help break organic matter faster.

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. What will be seen at this stage is dark, crumbly material with a sweet, earthy smell.

Another check for the finished compost is its temperature. If a couple of hard bits are still left uncomposted, it is not necessary to wait any longer. Just sift it through a 1-inch mesh screen onto a fresh pile. Friable finished compost will pass through the holes, while the uncomposted pieces, such as twigs, plastic, or stones, will be trapped over the screen. The finished compost pile is now ready to go into a garden. There are different ways to go about the process.

Pile up yard waste in a 3 feet high and 3 feet wide mound, or dump waste in a large bin wooden or wire mesh. Gardeners can also purchase a ready-made compost tumbler to make their work easier. Indoor composting is also a possibility, mostly preferred by apartment gardeners. Composting is accelerated if the contents are turned frequently. A compost tumbler makes it comparatively easier to turn the organic matter.

If the contents of a compost bin or pile is turned at the same frequency as that of a compost tumbler, then the compost will prepare at the same rate. Composting time is also affected by the size of the waste pile and the ingredients. It may be necessary to water the compost at the beginning or when aerating.

Commercial facilities process a batch of finished compost in three to six months. Intensive composting requires a steady supply of the proper blend of materials and the ability to aerate the material often.

Given an ideal 30 to 1 ratio of carbon to nitrogen, consistent aeration, and adequate moisture, it is possible to make a batch of ready-to-use compost at home in as little as one or two months.

Compost piles should be between 3 and 5 feet tall, wide, and long. Piles this size efficiently build internal heat for the best results. Gardeners with less debris should consider using an enclosed composting system, such as a compost tumbler, that can process a smaller volume of material more thoroughly. Using a thermometer to check the internal temperature of the compost is an excellent way to determine the right time to turn it.

High temperatures indicate that biological activity is high, and oxygen is being depleted. But, if the temperature goes much higher than , it begins to kill beneficial microbes. Without a thermometer, wait 10 to 14 days before turning a new pile.

Then turn it every 7 to 10 days. If using a compost tumbler, turn it two or three times per week. Compost is ready to use when the material appears as dark brown, crumbly earth with a sweet, earthy scent, the volume is about half its original size, and it no longer builds heat. How compost is made The major elements that fuel the composting process are the nitrogen and carbon that make up the material in the mix. How long does it take to make compost Commercial facilities process a batch of finished compost in three to six months.

How often to turn compost Using a thermometer to check the internal temperature of the compost is an excellent way to determine the right time to turn it. How to grow and harvest glass gem corn. Photo credit : Tiffany Woods. Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy. Skip to content The process of making compost can take anything from a couple of weeks to several years — it all depends on which composting process you use, and how much work you put into it. A summarised version of the process is below: Chop up material into small pieces.

Build the compost heap in 1 to 2 days. Ensure that the pile has a carbon:nitrogen ratio of roughly The pile needs to be turned every day to reach a finished stage within two weeks or slightly longer. Turning it every other day will add a week to the composting process. In most circumstances, nothing further is added to the compost heap during this process.

Compost Bins Insulated bins such as the HotBin compost bin or the Green Johanna are a great alternative to compost piles.