I'm starting my journey in vegetable gardening at a community plot, and I want to do better than last year. My soil wasn't great, so I'm thinking about adding compost this time around. I'm planning to plant cool-weather crops like peas and arugula soon, but I read that I might need to add compost earlier than I did. If I add compost now, do I need to wait 2-3 weeks before I can plant my seeds?
5 Answers
You don't have to worry about adding compost early! You can actually add it right before you plant. Just keep in mind that for quick growth, you might want to mix in some nitrogen fertilizer too, especially if you're planting heavy feeders. Compost does take time to break down, and while it’s a great source of nutrients, it might not release nitrogen quickly enough for your plants when they need it most. Bloodmeal or feathermeal can be good quick options to boost nitrogen for faster growth!
You should be adding compost regularly, not too early or too late. The more you can add, the better for your soil! It really helps in building up the good microorganisms in your garden soil.
I usually add compost right before planting with no problems! It works well for me, so I say go for it if you're ready to plant.
I use a countertop composter for my compost. The stuff that comes out is actually pre-compost and needs to sit in the soil for about 2-3 weeks, or it can harm the plants as it finishes breaking down. But regular compost is fine to add right before planting!
Absolutely! Just remember that plants need a balance of sun, water, and nutrients. I usually mix in blood meal and bone meal before planting, and I fertilize with diluted fish fertilizer every few weeks for those heavy feeders like tomatoes and peppers. Oh, and don’t forget to remove weeds to make sure your plants get all that hard-earned nutrition!