Compost Question..

[SmileySue]

I am growing potatoes in big sacks....it has taken a lot of compost to fill up a sack!! Once I have harvested to the potatoes, can the compost be re-used?? It seems such a waste to just throw it away..

[stanhol]

Hi Smiley Sue, I havent grown spuds yet so I will be asking questions when mine finally chit!

The compost, it does seem a waste. I would imagine that your spuds have taken most of the nutrients out, so i would mix it in with my garden compost and re use. As long as your spuds didnt have any pest or disease problem that is.

Sandra

[SmileySue]

Well - I have done a bit of further research and apparently it should be ok to sift out all the rogue roots and store it in a bin to be re-used for other plants, and I need to mix in some fertilizer as the nutrients will have been used up for the potaotes.

I will try this - nothing ventured, nothing gained eh?!

[DunDiggin]

I regularly reuse the compost for potatoes from one year to the next, however I always add about 20% well rotted manure when refilling my tubs when planting, and 2 scoops Fish/blood/bone per builders barrow of compost when "earthing up" ie topping the tubs up. If I have any available I'll also add partially rotted wood shavings or leaf mold.