There's definitely a knack to get good compost from a hot bin. I've been told not to do lasagne layers and think more along the line of Bolognaise sauce - mix all the ingredients together each time you add some more in. I hope that helps!
Thanks for this update and your own honest appraisal of your first year of the hot bin. I'm sure it's a learning process as with everything on the allotment. I think for me I've decided it's just too much kafuffle lol! As you mentioned, my time gets totally consumed by sowing seeds, planting, nurturing, nets, maintenance, weeding, pest control etc etc that when it comes to compost I just want to chuck things in, walk away and hope for the best. However, I really understand why people like the quickness of it and also the fact that it should in theory sterilise the seeds within it.
Hi JB, your compost looks really good and filling up the raised bed nicely, too. Lots of hard work involved in the hot bin. I'm quite happy with my wooden one. Interesting video update. Love the music, reminds me of lovely Steve ❤Thanks for sharing and take care 😊
Great video, some advice with making compost, turn it around every 3 months, this will open it up, allow more oxygen into the heap. Add a sheet of black plastic on top of the heap to help keep the heat and moisture in.
Hi jb it’s your first time with hot tub you are very busy so don’t beat yourself up about it / draw a line through it & start again ! I think your compost look fantastic a bit wet ! don’t for get last year it rained all the time ! lv Irene 😘 xx
Such a great time of year for infrastructure work on the plot i struck gold with woodchip last weekend and iv chipped the whole plot plus my garden paths plus a load of manure and iv now aggrivated my shoulder arrrggh irritating good luck 4 the season
JB don't be too down hearted picking up new skills takes time and persistence. If you take the time to do the preparation of the materials (chopping and shredding) film it so it then becomes part of the process and we will be able to see what it involves over time. Plod on and stick with it 👍
Fascinating update on the hot composter. Not sure I'd be able to generate enough matter to do the hot composter method. I use a geo bin myself, and I'm able to generate enough compost for supplementing my needs during the season.
I have a small hot composter There’s 2 of us but I mow my daughters lawn to. I put kitchen waste and scrap paper Amazon card board in twice a week fully mixed. I add grass clipping every other week and repeat through the season. Lasagne style composting doesn’t work you do need to mix before you put/in the bun. I had a valve at the bottom of mine for run off but yes it get wet the thermometer is not a tight fit and let’s in rain water. At I harvest with a trowel as it’s heavy and easier to remove small amounts from the opening side panel. Overall I like it more than a deleck but I do have 2 of those for hedge waste and large things I don’t cut up when I’m feeling overwhelmed A mix and match approach
If you are struggling to fill the hot box, maybe dividing it into two bays with an insulation board would make it less stressful. You could fill one half first, then the other half later while the first is working through. Or you could use the second bay to gather up your ingredients in separate bags till you've got enough to mix up. Just a thought. I haven't used one but am thinking of building one like Niall Gardens.
I'm reference to the hot composter. I grow comfrey in my garden (makes available lots of minerals for plants. I plant beside my fruit trees). But it can produce lots of green material! You could put in spots out if the way as a way to help make more green material.
Got a hotbin for christmas and i'm enjoying the process of learning how it works. I'm putting a lot of cardboard and paper in compared to green to stop it getting wet, have pre-shreded sacks full of material and stored it as the ratios have to be right for it to work so need stuff on hand. I did get it up to 60c fairly easily but has struggled in the freeze of the last week. I think your expectations of having some kind of ready seed compost straight from it are somewhat unrealistic. Whichever way compost is produce it would require further processing in the from of sieving and drying to get seed starting compost from it. Think it's worth persevering with the hot composter, but they are a lot of constant work to get them to work efficiently
Hi JB, I noticed you have a metal screen thing next to the hot composter - would that not be useful as a floating shelf in the polytunnel instead of the heavy wooden planks you had mentioned about using? Danny from Grow Up had used something like that and it works so well - it lets more light through as well. I remember Eli and Kate used something like chaff from some stores to increase their browns and to decrease the moisture. So mixing in sawdust, chaff, etc to the greens when you add it in may help.
I think your hot bin compost will be full of goodness. Perhaps the worms invaded it after it composted down at high temperatures (maybe). I don't really know much about it but even though it was wet it did look like nice compost to me. Hope you have a great gardening year, and a lovely trip to Japan.
Just fill the hotbin with manure I have lined pallet bays I fill with fresh horse manure from jan to may and I use it in oct nov dec it's imo fine 2 use is generally loose and well broken down probably only take a cpl mths in a hot bin
Thanks for the insights ref hotbins, I've always contemplated them but never got around to it as the three "pallet" style home made ones at the plot work really well for us, although they have needed repairing a few times over the last 25 years. We get several cubic meters of good compost out of them every year with minimal effort (everything goes in whole, and they get turned once). Then I have two wheelliebin style wormeries at home that take the garden weeds, food waste and card and paper. The idea of having to phaff around chopping everything up really doesn't appeal, I'd rather be 😊 gardening 😊😊
I only use my pallet bins which do give me now a decent amount of compost to top of my beds. I have wondered about getting a hotbin as you can put more cooked food waste in apparently, as I think Eli and Kate do (need to go back to their videos again it has been a while). But apart from the cost (I would have got a small one) I am concerned about vermin, even though they are sealed pretty well. I grow at home and I already have an issue with the occasional rat in my cold bins and that is just peelings and greens from the veg beds and cardboard but rats eat anything. Luckily my local foxes have been dealing with that issue at the end of the garden. Like you I was expecting you to turn out a gorgeous layer of compost so it's a shame but at least it will give your crops in the greenhouse a great start for sure.
JB I have the small Hotbin. I like it as processes everything very fast. I agree it runs very wet but I get loads of run off liquid fertilizer which I’m storing in milk bottles for use on the garden in the spring and summer. What I do (I’ve had this for a year now) is empty it every 10 weeks approx. putting back in the top third to the bottom to mix with the new intake. Then what I’ve harvested I leave to cure in bins/bags etc., as it’s very mulch textured at that point. Fine to go out on the beds but not yet compost as we want it. I need to just keep the process going to increase my stock of curing compost hitch I’ll dry off in the warmer months. I do get it up to 50-60 every four days so I know it’s doing its job, the worms move up from the bottom as the layers cool. I’ve always got them in there on the lower cooling layers. I figure that’s their job and they go into the curing batches.
Hey JB, what a giggle with your hotbed. You sound like you're trying to convince yourself.As for the tried and proven pallet compost bays, if you think they wont work you don't put the work in to maintain them. Anyway all the best!
Hi JB I will be making a hot bin from pallets and insulation to finish off the compost created by the chickens. And if my peppers don’t germinate this week I will order from Grown Local and start again. Hard work therm raised beds? Is it worth it as they don’t seem to last. Anyhow you’re putting in the graft, hope you have a great season.
I have the large 210l hotbin composter and not been overly impressed with it. I follow the 50/50 browns & green rules even gone more browns to try and keep moisture down. I get too much moisture throughout and have to try and dry out in the sun and sieve as never breaks down fully. Struggle to keep it warm anytime of the year. i now tend to use it as a composter to break down over a year or 2 not and not the stated 3 months.
I can see why you're disappointed with the hotbin results. In terms of texture, it doesn't look any better than what you get just by chucking stuff into a pallet compost bay. But with any luck it will be pretty free of weed seeds, the worms probably moved in after the composting process was complete and the thing cooled down.
I am surprised at the results of your hotbed compost does not look too good. In my small home garden 20ft x 24ft, compost bins are too wide to fit along side of my bungalow, instead I use 3 x 120 litre heavy duty garden waste bags which I have made holes at the bottom and approx 6” up the sides, to let out moisture. I follow the procedure of layers, cutting up contents. regular turning and moving contents from bag to bag. Don’t throw away any garden waste and produce approx 150 to 200 litres of compost per year. Also do a lot of container gardening both flower/Veg keeping all the used compost, mixing it with fresh home made compost plus a feed. 2025 will be 3rd year
If you want more heat in the hotbin, then maybe you need more greens as that is the nitrogen, and that makes the heat, not the brown, that is the carbon
There's definitely a knack to get good compost from a hot bin. I've been told not to do lasagne layers and think more along the line of Bolognaise sauce - mix all the ingredients together each time you add some more in. I hope that helps!
Thanks for this update and your own honest appraisal of your first year of the hot bin. I'm sure it's a learning process as with everything on the allotment. I think for me I've decided it's just too much kafuffle lol! As you mentioned, my time gets totally consumed by sowing seeds, planting, nurturing, nets, maintenance, weeding, pest control etc etc that when it comes to compost I just want to chuck things in, walk away and hope for the best. However, I really understand why people like the quickness of it and also the fact that it should in theory sterilise the seeds within it.
Hi JB, your compost looks really good and filling up the raised bed nicely, too. Lots of hard work involved in the hot bin. I'm quite happy with my wooden one. Interesting video update. Love the music, reminds me of lovely Steve ❤Thanks for sharing and take care 😊
Great video, some advice with making compost, turn it around every 3 months, this will open it up, allow more oxygen into the heap. Add a sheet of black plastic on top of the heap to help keep the heat and moisture in.
Hi jb it’s your first time with hot tub you are very busy so don’t beat yourself up about it / draw a line through it & start again ! I think your compost look fantastic a bit wet ! don’t for get last year it rained all the time ! lv Irene 😘 xx
Such a great time of year for infrastructure work on the plot i struck gold with woodchip last weekend and iv chipped the whole plot plus my garden paths plus a load of manure and iv now aggrivated my shoulder arrrggh irritating good luck 4 the season
Good honest review on the hot compost bin 👌 Last vlog was good BTW it showed you are normal 😊
Thanks for the video
JB don't be too down hearted picking up new skills takes time and persistence. If you take the time to do the preparation of the materials (chopping and shredding) film it so it then becomes part of the process and we will be able to see what it involves over time.
Plod on and stick with it 👍
Fascinating update on the hot composter. Not sure I'd be able to generate enough matter to do the hot composter method. I use a geo bin myself, and I'm able to generate enough compost for supplementing my needs during the season.
I have a small hot composter There’s 2 of us but I mow my daughters lawn to. I put kitchen waste and scrap paper Amazon card board in twice a week fully mixed. I add grass clipping every other week and repeat through the season. Lasagne style composting doesn’t work you do need to mix before you put/in the bun. I had a valve at the bottom of mine for run off but yes it get wet the thermometer is not a tight fit and let’s in rain water. At I harvest with a trowel as it’s heavy and easier to remove small amounts from the opening side panel. Overall I like it more than a deleck but I do have 2 of those for hedge waste and large things I don’t cut up when I’m feeling overwhelmed A mix and match approach
If you are struggling to fill the hot box, maybe dividing it into two bays with an insulation board would make it less stressful. You could fill one half first, then the other half later while the first is working through. Or you could use the second bay to gather up your ingredients in separate bags till you've got enough to mix up. Just a thought. I haven't used one but am thinking of building one like Niall Gardens.
I'm reference to the hot composter. I grow comfrey in my garden (makes available lots of minerals for plants. I plant beside my fruit trees). But it can produce lots of green material! You could put in spots out if the way as a way to help make more green material.
That was really interesting JB. Thanks!
Got a hotbin for christmas and i'm enjoying the process of learning how it works. I'm putting a lot of cardboard and paper in compared to green to stop it getting wet, have pre-shreded sacks full of material and stored it as the ratios have to be right for it to work so need stuff on hand. I did get it up to 60c fairly easily but has struggled in the freeze of the last week. I think your expectations of having some kind of ready seed compost straight from it are somewhat unrealistic. Whichever way compost is produce it would require further processing in the from of sieving and drying to get seed starting compost from it. Think it's worth persevering with the hot composter, but they are a lot of constant work to get them to work efficiently
Hi JB, I noticed you have a metal screen thing next to the hot composter - would that not be useful as a floating shelf in the polytunnel instead of the heavy wooden planks you had mentioned about using? Danny from Grow Up had used something like that and it works so well - it lets more light through as well.
I remember Eli and Kate used something like chaff from some stores to increase their browns and to decrease the moisture. So mixing in sawdust, chaff, etc to the greens when you add it in may help.
I think your hot bin compost will be full of goodness. Perhaps the worms invaded it after it composted down at high temperatures (maybe). I don't really know much about it but even though it was wet it did look like nice compost to me. Hope you have a great gardening year, and a lovely trip to Japan.
At the top we’re the temp is there is a soak take it out and try it
Just fill the hotbin with manure I have lined pallet bays I fill with fresh horse manure from jan to may and I use it in oct nov dec it's imo fine 2 use is generally loose and well broken down probably only take a cpl mths in a hot bin
Thanks for the insights ref hotbins, I've always contemplated them but never got around to it as the three "pallet" style home made ones at the plot work really well for us, although they have needed repairing a few times over the last 25 years. We get several cubic meters of good compost out of them every year with minimal effort (everything goes in whole, and they get turned once). Then I have two wheelliebin style wormeries at home that take the garden weeds, food waste and card and paper.
The idea of having to phaff around chopping everything up really doesn't appeal, I'd rather be 😊 gardening 😊😊
I only use my pallet bins which do give me now a decent amount of compost to top of my beds. I have wondered about getting a hotbin as you can put more cooked food waste in apparently, as I think Eli and Kate do (need to go back to their videos again it has been a while). But apart from the cost (I would have got a small one) I am concerned about vermin, even though they are sealed pretty well. I grow at home and I already have an issue with the occasional rat in my cold bins and that is just peelings and greens from the veg beds and cardboard but rats eat anything. Luckily my local foxes have been dealing with that issue at the end of the garden.
Like you I was expecting you to turn out a gorgeous layer of compost so it's a shame but at least it will give your crops in the greenhouse a great start for sure.
JB I have the small Hotbin. I like it as
processes everything very fast. I agree it runs very wet but I get loads of run off liquid fertilizer which I’m storing in milk bottles for use on the garden in the spring and summer. What I do (I’ve had this for a year now) is empty it every 10 weeks approx. putting back in the top third to the bottom to mix with the new intake. Then what I’ve harvested I leave to cure in bins/bags etc., as it’s very mulch textured at that point. Fine to go out on the beds but not yet compost as we want it. I need to just keep the process going to increase my stock of curing compost hitch I’ll dry off in the warmer months. I do get it up to 50-60 every four days so I know it’s doing its job, the worms move up from the bottom as the layers cool. I’ve always got them in there on the lower cooling layers. I figure that’s their job and they go into the curing batches.
Hey JB, what a giggle with your hotbed. You sound like you're trying to convince yourself.As for the tried and proven pallet compost bays, if you think they wont work you don't put the work in to maintain them. Anyway all the best!
Hi JB I will be making a hot bin from pallets and insulation to finish off the compost created by the chickens. And if my peppers don’t germinate this week I will order from Grown Local and start again. Hard work therm raised beds? Is it worth it as they don’t seem to last. Anyhow you’re putting in the graft, hope you have a great season.
I have the large 210l hotbin composter and not been overly impressed with it. I follow the 50/50 browns & green rules even gone more browns to try and keep moisture down. I get too much moisture throughout and have to try and dry out in the sun and sieve as never breaks down fully. Struggle to keep it warm anytime of the year. i now tend to use it as a composter to break down over a year or 2 not and not the stated 3 months.
When you starting your Chillies JB?
You ought to try and get some Japanese seeds while you’re away.
The no dig Norfolk Gardener has a vlog about his hot bed which he made himself and he seems to get a lot more than you, might be worth a look
I can see why you're disappointed with the hotbin results. In terms of texture, it doesn't look any better than what you get just by chucking stuff into a pallet compost bay. But with any luck it will be pretty free of weed seeds, the worms probably moved in after the composting process was complete and the thing cooled down.
You’re a fusspot! Makes sense tho!
I am surprised at the results of your hotbed compost does not look too good. In my small home garden 20ft x 24ft, compost bins are too wide to fit along side of my bungalow, instead I use 3 x 120 litre heavy duty garden waste bags which I have made holes at the bottom and approx 6” up the sides, to let out moisture. I follow the procedure of layers, cutting up contents. regular turning and moving contents from bag to bag. Don’t throw away any garden waste and produce approx 150 to 200 litres of compost per year. Also do a lot of container gardening both flower/Veg keeping all the used compost, mixing it with fresh home made compost plus a feed. 2025 will be 3rd year
If you want more heat in the hotbin, then maybe you need more greens as that is the nitrogen, and that makes the heat, not the brown, that is the carbon
Top Good work jb you the best te bed the compost thans te video Top week 🍁🧤👍😎🧣🧤👌🌤☕️🌡