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Torrance, Ca.

Living in Southern California I have cut grass and leaves most of the winter,whats the latest I should be turning it into the pumpkin patch for next season?

thanks in advance!:)

1/6/2012 6:35:03 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I would make a compost pile...when you turn it directly in you are doing what is called sheet composting..it can tie some nutrients up in the decomposition process

1/6/2012 7:55:38 PM

Hinckley MN

Farmers plow in the crop residues every year and it does not significantly tie up nitrogen. Growing big pumpkins you should be adding significant amounts of nitrogen anyway. I would stop adding leaves and grass clippings about six weeks before the plants roots get to that area and make sure you incorporate the organic matter into the soil well. Your "winter" is probably warmer than most of my growing season. If the soil temp is above 50 the soil organisims will love additional food.
Sheet composting (aka lasagna gardening) never incorporates the material into the soil. It does not lend itself well to cometitive growing, but will make a fine garden for transplanted plants. Seeds don't tend to germinate well in lasagna gardening unless you make a "row" of peat or soil for the seeds to germinate in. I started my home garden by sheet composting and it works well to loosen tight clay soil. I did go back to tilling once the tiller could penetrate the "claycrete".

1/6/2012 8:30:36 PM

Torrance, Ca.

So I'm hearing stop now and stop 6 weeks before planting?And I have no idea what amelio is saying?

1/6/2012 9:04:06 PM

East Jordan, MI

So.Cal.Grower
If you go to User Settings (top right of this window)
Type amelio in the 'User Name to ignore/un-ignore' block Select Ignore
then cick Update Settings

Presto
you will never be bothered by amelio's non-helpful gibberish again

1/6/2012 11:41:18 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Back to normal,thanks cntryboy!

1/6/2012 11:43:59 PM

East Jordan, MI

As for your question.

In my opinion, I would compost the grass clippings because they will have weed seeds in them and as Linus pointed out they will tie up nitrogen while the break down.
It really does depend on your climate how fast they will break down, and tying up nitrogen in the early part of the year is not what I would want to do.

In our area we till in finely shredded Maple leaves in Oct and apply a light mixture of molasses in water to get the little beasties working at full power. Another application of Molasses in late Feb will wake them up and by planting time there are little to no leaves remaining.

1/6/2012 11:49:58 PM

South Hero, VT

Cal grower, most heavy hitters wait a year or two before incorporating compost into gardens. This helps to build beneficial microorganisms and kill weed seeds from turning and composting heat.

Norm Gansert(abbynormal) is very knowledgeable about this.

1/7/2012 10:35:47 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Thanks so much guys!

1/7/2012 11:31:54 PM

Rhode Island

one of the hardest things to do is to have a compost pile ,knowing it needs time and labor to turn occasionally, allowing it time to de-compose,while resisting the urge to put it down right away and till it in.
waiting is still much better for your needs.

1/8/2012 8:01:36 AM

Muddy Waters

I make a compost pile 50 feet long.I pull 2 year old compost off the south end of pile & continue to add to the North end.It sits two years before I use.I add horse,Alpaca & cow to the pile as I turn throughout the season.This will be a never ending supply of organic matter.

1/16/2012 7:12:10 PM

Greenfield, Mass

I guess this thread is a little old, but I'm reading a book on composting right now that has some insight.
You can finish compost in 10 days if you do it just right. Doing it this fast will also help you because it heats up and kills the seeds that may be in it.
You need a heap that is about one cubic yard, and every thing needs to be cut up fine. You can do this to the leaves but running them over with a push mower. The the grass should be fine, but re mulching it might be a good way to mix it with the leaves.

There is an ingredient that you're missing. That's poop. For this to work right, you really need 1/3 manure. But if you can't come up with any, it's possible you can get the compost to work (in a two week way, rather than 8 month way) if you add something else that is very high in nitrogen. Some urea in the mix might work, also peeing on it will help. Maybe save up a few weeks of your pee before making the heap (don't you wish I was kidding). Really the best thing to do is get some manure, bagged dehydrated will do.

So once you've got all your materials ground up, mixed up, and in a heap. Wet it and give it a few days. If it gets hot then it's working, if not then knock it down and adjust your mix.
If it is working mix it every 2 or 3 days, and it'll be done in 10-14 days.

This doesn't work as well in the winter (just like everything), but if you have a nice warm day in the forecast, that's a good day to start. As long at the reaction starts, it'll keep it's self warm.

1/19/2012 10:00:26 AM