Compost is a valuable enrichmentfor every garden, but an unbalanced and unkempt compost pile is like a stew simmering on a low heat. It takes a long time to cook and even if you are patient, the consistency will still be quite chunky. If you're running out of time and can't wait more than a few months for good compost, consider moving forward with composting. Below we will explain how you can speed up composting.
How can you speed up composting?
Although you can slowly make compost by throwing garden and kitchen waste into a pile and let nature take its course. However, it can take a year or more for them to fully decompose. Even worse, compost that stays too cool will preserve live weed seeds, insect eggs, diseases and other pests you don't want in your garden. That's why you could speed up composting.
Make a bigger pile
The conversion of your organic wastein nutrient-rich fertilizerfor your plants occurs through heat. If you want to speed up the composting process, you should make sure your pile is large enough. The larger the pile, the faster it heats up because the area is larger. Another advantage of a larger pile is that it retains moisture better.
Accelerate composting with the right material ratio
A high ratio of brown carbon material to green nitrogen material is recommended for rapid composting. If you find that your compost is not decomposing as quickly as you would like, add more brown carbon material, such as shredded brown cardboard, hay, and shredded sticks.
Chop everything up so you can move the process along
As you increase the amount of brown carbon material in your composter, be sure to shred everything. Smaller materials decompose faster than larger ones, and when you shred everything, you create air pockets in the compost pile, which speeds up aeration and the composting process.
Turn your pile over and aerate it
As mentioned, aerating the pile helps speed up decomposition. Not only can you rely on the natural substances to create air pockets, but you can create yoursAlso turn the pile regularly, to ensure even decomposition and to ventilate it at the same time. Fresh oxygen significantly speeds up composting, regulates temperature and produces aerobic microbes.
Speed Up Composting: Keep Your Pile Moist!
Another important factor for rapid composting is the moisture content. Your compost should be moist, like a damp sponge, but not mushy. If you feel like your mixture is a little dry, add a little water to reach the right moisture level.
Good tip: Compost can be sprinkled with lime. Algae or dolomite lime (or limestone powder) are suitable for accelerating the compost.
Don't forget worms
Adding worms to your pile causes compost to rot faster becausethe worms the leftover foodeat them and decompose them more quickly. If you wish, you can add red worms or earthworms. As long as your compost pile is in contact with the soil (i.e. not in a container with soil), many microorganisms, worms and other beneficial insects will be naturally attracted to the buffet you offer.
However, if you are concerned about the presence of microorganisms in a newly created compost pile, a simple solution is to add a layer of garden soil from your yard (not store-bought soil) to your compost pile. Together with the soil, you add a lot of naturally occurring microorganisms. You can also try a biological compost accelerator to add microbes directly to your pile. However, this is usually more helpful when used in closed compost bins where the compost is not in contact with the soil.
Speed up composting: Bokashi bucket as a tip
A bokashi bin is a small compost bin that turns your food waste into nutrient-rich compost and soil conditioner. It is small enough to fit in your kitchen or another suitable location in your home. It is odorless and does not attract insects. Plus, it's easy to use and will help you reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in landfill.
Bokashi is a natural composting process, in which beneficial bacteria, so-called “effective microorganisms,” are used to ferment food waste and eliminate the unpleasant odors associated with food spoilage. The Bokashi bacteria are introduced into your bin either in a grain mixture or as a liquid fertilizer. Organic material breaks down up to 10 times faster than traditional heap composting.
Speeding up composting as follows will result in fermented, nutrient-rich organic matter. These must be buried in the ground to complete decomposition into compost. The juice you get is rich in microorganisms and can be used as a liquid fertilizer.
Speed up composting with home remedies
When we talk about “decomposing compost quickly,” we can also tell you the following. You can make compost acceleration tools yourself at home: from yeast, sugar and water.
What you need:
- Cubes of fresh yeast (2 packets of dry yeast)
- circa 1 kg Zucker
- 10 l water (chlorine free)
Mix your compost accelerator and let it sit for two hours. When the weather is good, it can be spread over the compost material using a watering can.
