Gardening season is upon us and it may have you wondering, can I plant directly into compost? Let’s dig in and talk about this popular planting method.
Can I Plant Directly Into Compost
Yes, you can plant directly into pure compost. Many no-till gardeners successfully plant directly into compost. There are a couple of things to keep in mind though.
First of all, compost is a soil amendment, not soil. Plants do need soil as well. Secondly, you need to be sure that your compost is completely finished going through the decomposition process.
How to Plant Directly Into Compost
When deciding if you are going to plant directly into compost, you need to know that plants need soil as well. A good garden soil, or even your native soil can have beneficial minerals and help contribute to the structure of your garden soil.
You may need to amend your existing soil by mixing in a well finished compost. You can then form some in ground vegetable garden rows. Once your rows are formed, you can top those rows with several inches of compost and plant directly into the compost. Once a year, you can top your vegetable garden rows with another several inches to compost.
Overtime, the organic matter or compost, will naturally get mixed in to the native soil. No tilling required. The same layering process can be used in a raised bed.
What is Compost
Compost is recycled organic matter, also known as black gold. Finished compost has gone through the decomposition process and can be used as a fertilizer and garden soil amendment. Adding it to the vegetable garden is a good idea as it has many benefits.
Benefits of Compost
- Improves plant growth and health.
- Provides plant nutrients with organic matter.
- Encourages root growth.
- Improves poor soil and soil structure.
- Reduces erosion.
- Increases your soil’s ability to retain moisture.
- Moderates soil temperature
- Feeds and adds beneficial bacteria and microbial life
Balance of Essential Nutrients
When you plant directly into compost that has been layered over garden soil or the regular soil, you get a good balance of nutrients for your new plants. Overtime it will naturally get mixed in creating a healthy soil to grow food in. No tilling required.
Plant Directly Into Compost & Maintenance Tips
Not only do I like to amend my garden beds with a thick layer of compost, I also like to use it when I’m ready to put my new plants in the garden. For every transplant hole I dig, a handful of compost goes in as well.
A couple of times throughout the growing season I will side dress my garden plants on the soil surface with compost as well. Furthermore, you can even make a compost tea to use on a weekly basis as a foliar spray.
Types of Plants Suitable for Direct Planting
For best results, think of your nutrient-hungry plants to plant directly into compost. Heavy feeders like squash, watermelon, pumpkins, leafy greens, tomatoes, and bell peppers are all plants that will grow well if planted directly into compost. In my garden, everything gets planted in a thick layer of straight compostlayered over my existing garden soil.
Watering and Nutrient Management
Adding good compost to your vegetable garden will help deliver water and nutrients to your plant roots. Compost helps to build soil structure, creating an environment for water to move freely to plant roots. Good water retention along with good soil structure increases nutrient absorption, which will then give you healthy plant growth.
How Much Compost is Good in the Garden?
I recommend adding several inches of compost to the garden in between growing seasons, just before planting. It can also be used as a side dressing during the growing season.
How Much Compost is Good in a Pot?
When using containers to garden, always start with a good potting mix. They are formulated to provide the drainage that potted plants require. You can safely use a couple inches of compost directly on top of your potting mix or feel free to mix it in.
How to Make Homemade Compost
I have found that the composting process is easiest if you have a large compost bin. A compost pile, in order to build heat to speed up the decomposition process, must be a cubic yard, so 3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet. A compost pile of this size will give you a good amount of compost. Making homemade compost requires only four ingredients.
Ingredients to Make Homemade Compost
- Brown Materials or Carbon- wood chips, dead leaves, carboard, dead plants, paper, crushed egg shells
- Green Materials or Nitrogen- animal manure, grass clippings, coffee grounds, kitchen scraps, green landscape trimmings
- Oxygen
- Water
Layering Your Compost Heap
Making your own compost from organic materials is simple. Just follow the general rule of thumb of of 2-3 browns to 1 part green. In your compost bin, starting with a finished layer of compost start building your new compost pile. Layer in 2-3 parts brown to 1 part green.
Water each layer as you go, without making it soaking wet. Continue with your layers until your compost hep is 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide by 3 feet deep. Top it off with a finished layer of compost.
I use a large broken freezer for my compost bin, building the pile on one side and flipping it to the other side once the pile has gotten hot. After the pile has sat hot for a couple of days, I will flip it over to the other side of the compost bin and let it get hot again.
If I see that the pile has dried out a bit I will add a little more water as I’m moving the compost pile over. This is called hot composting.
Preparing Compost for Planting
Continue flipping your pile until you cannot recognize the ingredients that were layered in and the pile is no longer heating up. Hot composting that is finished properly should have a sweet earthy smell to it.
Once your pile looks like soil, is no longer hot, and smells earthy, it’s ready to use in your garden beds. Unfinished compost can tie up nutrients and possibly burn your garden plants.
Achieving the Right Compost Composition
Finished compost should be dark and crumbly with no large chunks or pieces of organic materials in it. Keep turning that compost pile to help the decomposition process along.
Compost Maturation and Testing
If you want to check the nutritional value of your homemade compost you can use a soil test. This will tell you the NPK and pH of your homemade compost.
Troubleshooting Common Composting Issues
Making homemade compost doesn’t always go perfectly. Every pile I make turns out a little different, depending on the organic materials that were used. Luckily, the common issues most folks run into when making their own compost, like a stinky compost bin, can be easily solved.
Managing Pests, Odors and Bad Bacteria in Compost
Having a good compost bin will help keep the critters out of your compost heap. It’s also a good idea to bury any food scraps thoroughly into the middle of the pile to keep the smell form attracting pests. Furthermore, building a hot compost pile will break down organic materials quickly, keep critters out, and kill of any bad bacteria that may be lurking in your compost pile.
Compost Temperature and Moisture Levels
For hot composting to be successful, you must have enough nitrogen and the correct moisture levels in your compost pile. Chicken manure is an excellent source of nitrogen and will make your compost heap nice and hot if there’s enough moisture. Too much moisture and it wont get hot. It’s a delicate balance. If you find you have too much moisture, add brown material.
Why Hot Composting?
I prefer to use the hot composting method because it’s faster at breaking down organic matter and will kill weed seeds. A properly managed hot compost pile can be ready to use in as little as 30 days. Just be sure to let it cook completely to avoid ammonia toxicity or too much nitrogen, which will burn your young plants. Cold composting can take anywhere from 3 months up to a year before it’s ready to use.
Different Types of Composting
- Hot Composting
- Cold Composting
- Vermicomposting or Worm Bin Composting
- Bokashi Bin Composting
- Mushroom Compost
- Composted Animal or Chicken Manure
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Use Compost?
Compost can be used several different ways. It can be used as a soil amendment by mixing it in to your garden soil when starting new garden beds. Compost can also be put down in a thick layer over your existing soil to plant directly into. During the growing season you can also side dress any plants with compost as a part of your fertilizing schedule. Additionally, you can even make a compost tea to use as a foliar spray. Some gardeners have even been known to start vegetable seeds in compost.
Can I Use Just Compost Instead of Soil?
I personally prefer to use a garden soil or my existing native soil to start my new garden beds with. It’s usually cheaper doing it that way. I do however plant directly into compost that has been layered on top of that soil, adding a new, thick layer of compost every year. In a couple of years, you will end up with a nice, rich soil.
What Happens if You Plant Directly Into Compost?
Planting directly into compost is fine as long as it is well finished compost. Many no-till gardeners put just compost down in between growing seasons and plant directly into it.
Can You Use Compost Instead of Potting Soil?
Potting soil is a planting medium specifically made for container gardening and the need for good drainage. Mixing in compost with your potting soil is ok to give your plants a little extra nutrition. You may find that using just compost in containers holds a little too much water for your plants grown in pots.
Can You Plant Immediately After Adding Compost?
As long as you are using a compost that has been completely finished it is safe to plant directly into compost immediately.
Should You Mix Compost With Soil Before Planting?
Mixing compost with the rest of the soil is a personal choice. It will depend on your soil type and results of your soil test. Fresh compost can be great for breaking up heavy, clay soil. It is also good for adding the needed organic matter to sandy soil. Whereas you may not need to mix in compost if you have the ideal soil, like loamy garden soil.
So, Can I Really Plant Directly Into Compost?
Why yes, yes you can. Just be sure that it is a well finished compost that has had the proper amount of time and or heat to go through the decomposition process. You may prefer to layer it on top of the soil in a raised garden bed, like it’s done in the no-till method or by mixing it into your existing soil as an amendment. Either way, compost is a great addition to your vegetable garden.
Good Luck & Happy Homesteading,
Jenny and her family have been homesteading for over 20 years. They are currently farming on their 10 acre Florida farm, that they built from the ground up, 8 years ago, growing 100% of their meat and a lot of their vegetables. From their small herd of Aberdeen Angus Cattle, Pastured Poultry, Sheep, and seasonal pigs, they are able to raise enough meat for the family while selling extra to the community. All the while, striving to butcher at home, as much as possible, and use the bits and pieces of their harvest by preserving food, making bone broth, and (Jenny’s favorite) tanning all kinds of hides!
Composting Gardening Homesteading
