Discussion forum for the various methods and structures used for getting an early start on your growing season, extending it for several weeks or even year 'round.
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February 14, 2012 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl.
Posts: 2,491
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Anyone mulching/composting mater prunings and end of season mater plants
Is there any benefit with the seasons end of all the mass of mater leftovers?Naturally not the diseased if any.I cut mine up and sprinkle on the lawn.but not in clumps seems to smother lawn at first but it does grow greener.
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February 18, 2012 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,793
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I started a separate compost pile (a big one!) to dispose of last year's plants. We had a cold wet season and a lot of grey mold (botrytis blight). From what I understand, botrytis is ubiquitous in the environment, and so there seemed no point in burning or otherwise disposing the material except to cover it immediately to minimize spore dispersal, and compost it really thoroughly. This is different from things like early blight (Alternaria or Septoria) or leaf miners where the infected leaves are picked off and burned as soon as they appear. I would have needed a huge bonfire to dispose all the moldy plant material from last year's crowded house!
They say the botrytis spores do not persist in the soil - although they can overwinter on plant material. I reckon when the compost is cooked and well done (2013!), I'll use it for a non-susceptible crop, like mustard greens. |
February 18, 2012 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 1,818
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If my plants are healthy at year's end, they go into my compost pile after being chopped into reasonable sized pieces. That's part of my garden clean up.
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February 18, 2012 | #4 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: zone 5
Posts: 821
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Quote:
Mine get tossed on the fire pit. The ashes are spread in the garden. Stacy http://gardenmutiny.blogspot.com |
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February 18, 2012 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: holly michigan
Posts: 380
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This is my first year of composting large scale, and I made a huge pile that I stacked inside of a plastic mesh enclosure with 5' rebar posts for corners. I rake the entire garden as completely free of all vegetative matter as I can. Most diseases overwinter on vegetation, and if completely composted should be gone. I think using on nin-susceptible crops probably best to be safe.
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