Top dressing.

I have a worm heap at the bottom of the garden which takes all our kitchen and garden waste. Primarily it's sole purpose is for a year round supply of worms for my tropical fish. But of course it is also fantastic for a good rich source of soil once all that waste has rotted down.

I haven't put nothing in the heap since Nov/Dec. All kitchen waste has been going in a big tub for the time being. So all the soil in there is well rotted down now and ready for "harvesting". Once I dig all the soil out I can then start throwing all my waste in there again to repeat the cycle.

My question is, am I better storing the soil for a couple more months or can I surface dress my garden/planters with it now? Is it too early yet to be feeding the garden when the plants are still dormant?

 

I think I'd hold on for a while, we could get lots of rain before spring and warmer temperatures.
Its quite valuable stuff so you don't want any nutrients washing out of it before things start growing.
That just my thoughts.

 

I don't think there's a wrong answer, I'd spread it personally as any frosts will help break it down to a nice tilth and worms etc will start to work it into the soil. Most of the no dig/no till advice is to spread compost in late autumn and winter as crops come out

But you can wait too as Pete says

 

I emptied the heap out earlier, my back's killing me now. I took it right down to ground level. The soil right at the bottom was black, I suspect it's like rocket fuel, lol.

I've stored a load of it in tubs and crates and stacked them up in my shed for now until I decide to use it.

As an aside, I have a small camelia and a small rhodedendron which are both developing flowering buds. I also have no doubt that other plants are "preparing" within. So, in effect, they maybe aren't as dormant as first thought. So maybe feeding sooner, rather than later, may benefit them? Give them a bit of a leg up if you will?

 

I would spread some now.Its the soil,ie the micro organisms, that you feed, not the plants. Nutrients from composting are not liable to be dissolved like chemical salts, they become the life in the soil.You may be tempted to retain some for dusting in to seed drills, to place fertility directly where its used, also you might retain some for compost tea preparation once its warmed up enough.

 

Well I have my own thoughts on early flowering plants.
I see it as they are living on reserves built up from last year, camellias and a lot of the early stuff actually form their buds the year before so are just really running on reserves at the moment.

I think the soil is still too cold for much nutrient uptake just moisture, and not really much of that.