O.K., good! You composted. You threw a bunch of stuff in a pile and it appears to have turned into something other than leaves and food scraps. It looks ... composty. But how do you know if your compost is really ready to use in the garden? By testing it. Here's how ...
You've thrown stuff in a pile and it seems to have become something other than what it was originally. So is it compost? Is it "done"? If it looks like soil and smells like soil, chances are your compost is ready to use.
If you don't know how to make compost or you're intimidated by it you can learn how to compost here. I use a hot composting method, which ... well you can learn about what this is if you click that link.
Composting isn't hard.
But other than looking at it and guessing, there's an actual cut and dry method to test if your compost is really compost.
How to Test If Your Compost is Ready to Use.
There are a few clues as to when your compost is ready to be used in the garden. It has a sweet sort of smell to it like black earth and it's crumbly.
But sometimes it doesn't look like that. Sometimes after months it still looks a bit rough with pieces of identifiable stuff like sticks or straw.
If it SMELLS like soil though, your compost is probably ready to use no matter how lumpy.
One year I was at my deepest depths of compost despair because my compost smelled but didn't look like soil. It was enraging. I considering giving up composting and all this gardening stuff to moving to a shiny skyscraper with a quick witted doorman named Charles.
But then I got some secret information.
I went to a talk from a local organic CSA farmer. These people are SERIOUSLY into the science of agriculture. Plan B Organics is run by 2 brothers and a wife who not only farm but have travelled to Mexico to learn about generations old organic farming practices.
During this talk I grabbed onto one tiny piece of information and locked it into my brain. (the stuff about calcium absorption, hormones, plant DNA and such tried really hard to make it into my brain but ricocheted right off unfortunately)
The tiny piece of invaluable information?
Plant some radishes in it.
- The seeds should germinate in a few days. If they don't the compost isn't ready.
- If the seed germinates, but the leaves are yellow, the compost isn't ready.
- If the seed germinates, and the leaves are a nice green the compost IS ready.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
Of course I experimented with this to test it out.
This was the compost in question. It heated up and decomposed like crazy for a few weeks then it just clunked out. It could have needed more nitrogen, more oxygen, more water or more carbons. Or ... it could have been be ready. I just didn't know.
It was nice and dark but you can see that everything hadn't completely broken down. Before I added a compost accelerator to it I wanted to see if this compost, even though not completely broken down was ready to use.
So the experiment commenced with me throwing some compost in a pot, sticking a few radish seeds in it and seeing if they grew. Of course I didn't use my special multicoloured radish seeds - I'm adventurous, but I'm not an idiot - I used my regular, every day Raxe radish seeds. (which are BIG red radishes)
After you get a few seeds in there, cover them up with a thin layer of compost. (You can even just throw the radish seeds in your compost pile if you don't plan on turning it. No pot needed.)
To round out the great radish experiment I also did a test group in a pot of regular potting mix. And then I sat. And I waited.
I suspected the seeds in potting soil were going to win this fight. I was wrong.
The radish seeds in the questionable looking compost (on the left) sprouted several dark green radish leaves. The potting soil, on the other hand sent up one germination with a couple of more on the way. Plus the leaves on the one germinated radish seed had a yellow cast to them.
The moral of this story? Even if your compost doesn't look ideal, it could be perfectly useable and ready to go.
Even though my compost was full of sticks and straw and chicken poop, it was the store bought potting soil that turned out to be crappy.
There you have it. The best way to check if your compost is ready. All you need is radish seed and a few days.
Now if you want an actual radish, that's going to take a bit longer.
Feral Turtle
Thanks Karen! This is some great information.
Ashley W
Great post Karen, as always. But the comments just may have won this time. :)
Karen
Oh I agree, lol! ~ karen
kathy
I subscribed last night and it was perfect timing. Started laughing with the ex that took the compost, all the silver fox comments and of course the reasons why this silver fox doesn't meet the mark. Then there is my interest in compost ( I am trying the garbage can plan) and I love radishes. Glad to be here:)
Karen
Hi Kathy! Welcome to The Art of Doing Stuff. With regards to today, it always seems to be like that around here, lol. ~ karen!
Robin
I'm still puzzling over the man who took the compost pile with him when he moved out.
Must have been some good compost.
Ellen L Caldaro
That one got me too! That's a big red flag there!
jainegayer
You had me scared there for a minute with talk of ditching the chickens, moving to a shiny skyscraper and Charles. Then you'd probably get a shiny new job and leave us.
I'm going to have a glass of wine now and destress.
Cynthia Jones
Oops, feel I did something bad. Promise I will 'pull my head in' as Nanna used to say and stick to the topic.
At least you had a look and it gladdened my heart. Wishing a lovely day with coffee, poop and projects.
Sally A
I feel bad too! It was fun though!
Karen
LOL. NO! My mother read all the comments and thought it was hilarious! ~ karen
Karen Duke
I'm sorry to report that you shouldn't add dog or cat poop to your compost. Don't throw in meat, or poop from a meat-eating animal. However, I do add lobster shells and shrimp shells and they break down ok... if they manage to compost before my chickens find and eat the seafood shells. I figure that if the chickens eat the composted material before it rots down on its own then it just skips that link in the composting chain.
Teresa
I am saving this one! Just getting started with composting and the Back to Eden Garden method. The only thing I am lacking is the chicken poop! Our city can't make-up its mind if the citizens can handle backyard flocks, so the ordinance/guidelines/whatever they call it has been tabled for almost a year now. Trying to outsource some poo, but shoveling it into my mini-van for transport to our Garden of Eatin' here on the Farm in the Dal somehow grosses my kids and the man out. Go figure?
Olga
I wonder if it's illegal to mail poo in the box? I could definitely share some chicken poop with you (o:
Nancy Blue Moon
What the hell happened here???
Karen
Nancy ... I have no idea, lol. O.k. everyone, listen up. I did not meet the silver haired man. I met his brother (who gave the talk). I am not in any way, shape or form looking for another man to take care of. No I am not. No ma'am. No sir. And yes, I do agree he's a handsome man but from the looks of it I'd almost bet he's never been incarcerated which means he's probably not my type. There are very few men out there that I think could do anything but bore me after a week or two so it's good that I'm perfectly happy on my own. But thank you all for scouting and (in the words of the fella's father) trying to cut one out of the herd for me. ~ karen!
Olga
I agree, I don't know why people thought he was your type. lol To me he looks like a mail men, and I think you're type would be rebel with a long pinky nail, who doesn't care about helmet laws and can move more then a pile of poo lol.
Now that we done and over with this, let's make something! lol
Karen
Oh my god, lol. I'm gonna have to vote no on the long pinkie nail man, but I get your point. ;) ~ karen
Nancy Blue Moon
AMEN to that Honey..especially the incarcerated part..same type I attract..lol
Tigersmom
I wasn't saying you should adopt him. I was thinking more of a test drive for a week or two. Like a vacation or something.
Su
Right - I agree... just go kick the tires!
Karen
LOL. ~ karen
Rebecca
Oohh this is so interesting! Thank you for sharing, Karen.
Alicia
Karen...really now, why aren't you even acknowledging all of our silver fox comments? You know we'll just keep going!
At least tell us you agree on the looks but he has an awful personality, or a shockingly high-pitched voice so we can stop daydreaming on your behalf!
Christie
That is super helpful!
Olga
I can't get my compost going either. Technically, I do everything "right", I put poop, I put brown, I put green, I've even added some dirt from my garden beds, I keep it moist (when I don't forget about it), spin the compost bin, but my compost just does not break down to the compost like texture. Sometimes it's get hot, but not steamy hot, and I have my hopes that it's start moving along, but then I forget and ignore it, and it crap just sits there. I really wish my crap start smelling all sweet and earthy, but it hasn't got me that excited yet. I'm willing to add some dog poo, as I get plenty of that from our great dane also. I envy your smelly compost.
On another note, I'm sorry, but I don't know why everyone think that grandpa on the picture is a saint fell from the sky. He looks like an ordinary middle aged dude. Put some brown shorts and shirt on him and he might as well drive UPS truck... Sometimes I wonder if people visiting your blog just live in the woods and never see normal looking people haha.
Nancy Ann Page
Well, ha. I live in the woods and never see normal looking people but he still looks like a UPS driver to me...
judy
Sorry about the Iraq thing-watch a lot of news and right now it is Iraq Iraq and nothing but IRAQ! if we send American kids back into that mess we are certifiably coo coo!
judy
We have two dogs 140 Lbs. and 98 lbs. that generate an ENORMOUS amt. of excrement-had a poop overload there-sorry, can it be used? Being in my seventies I didn't look @ the "guy" but I wonder being as hot as he is and silver haired if he might not bat for the other side , which might explain his seeming availability. I have noticed, and I haven't a clue why but gorgeous guys always seem to be with other guys? Go figure...none of my business but as an old lady I find we humans endlessly fascinating. Why do we do what we do? A trillion tax $ spent in Iraq and its going to hell in a hand basket. Why did we and why do they? when logic screams-spend it on something good, like education,inventions,medical research etc.
Debbie
I notice your not talking about a possible cutie pie, so I will ask if you know anything about bunny poop? Can I use it like chicken poo?
Olga
Debbie, I have heard that rabbit poop (and I'm assuming rabbits and bunnies have same poop lol) is a great poop for lawns and gardens, and apparently it doesn't even need to be composted because their poop is not "hot" like chickens, dogs, humans etc. I have not used rabbit poop myself in my garden, but we have plenty of rabbits on our lawn every night.
jeannie B
I used to pick up free compost at the landfill site. Big mountains of steaming, dark, rich compost to add to my flower beds. Many questions in my head today. If I ordered a " box" from the Organic brothers, would it be delivered to my door by the handsome silver fox, who would then, help me wash and scrub the vegetables.
Nah, that won't happen so I'll just continue getting my chemically treated produce from the store. Two brothers, one wife! Hmmmmm.
Manisha
Thanks for this post. I had neglected my compost pile for years and recently discovered I had "compost" but it was was not crumbly. I used it anyway for beans and peas which are now a couple of feet high. I knew that all was OK but this post gave me a lot of needed reassurance!
Marion
^^^ all these silver fox comments are making me snicker at work. Seriously though, he is a very nice looking gentleman. Also, thanks for the compost tip! Why radishes though? Would this work with other seeds?
Alice
I think it's because radish seeds germinate really quickly.
Deneen
Holy shit!!!...and I'm not talking about chicken poop! The silver haired fox is dead sexy! I think Betty needs to take control of the situation & get this ball rolling like only a mother can :)