COMPOST REVIEW 2013

I generally make up my own compost mixes, but use bought composts as a my base. (http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/compost-mixes.38688/)

I keep an eye on the Aldi website early in the year and buy their seed and cutting compost..as much as I can afford at that time...usually 20 x 40 litre bags, Its cheap as chips and I riddle it, what gets riddled out goes on the border as extra humous..so no loss there and what is left is a good start medium for seeds or other mixes.

Later in the year I buy (top up my stock) with their multi purpose compost, same size and treatment.

This cheap as chips approach and altering my base to suit my needs far exceeds any compost I have ever bought, and for the moment I wont entertain buying any organic compost until there is something good on the market. I keep abreast of organic (eco) composts by reading here or talking to other plot holders.

Takes me about 3 mins to riddle through 40 litres of compost.

Steve...

 

What riddle / "hole size" are you using Steve?

I have a relatively fine riddle I use for seed compost, but I am thinking about getting one that is very coarse so I can use it to "find" any lumps that just need rubbing between my hands to break them up. I basically want something where a 60L bag will just "fall straight through" apart from the "bits" that need attention.

 

5mm Kristen, the riddle is circular and around 11in wide.

I have been searching for a bigger one online but so far have had no luck there. I would like one barrow size.

Steve...

 

Apart from fungus gnats I now have weed seeds coming up, Verve Multi-purpose compost

 

That's odd Spruce. I know I carefully planted on 2 of each of my various Tomato seeds in ech pot but many more than that have germinated . They have a rounder leaf and I don't think they are Toms. I think I planted the Tom seeds deeper and that they aren't showing yet. This was in JAB MPC,
Jenny

 

Here's another:

£140 ... I'll pass!

The Rotary Sieve:

has mixed reviews - difficult to turn the handle to get soil through the mesh, flimsy build, productivity not very high
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Recycle-Works-Rotary-Sieve/dp/B0016N0K5A/ref=pd_sim_sbs_lp_3

The square one seemed to be favoured:

and has mesh sizes of 1/4" and 1/2". However. small size means that you can't put much in the hopper at once (and several reviewers commented that too much weight just pushes the grill out of the bottom of the sieve - presumably the reason that the big round ones have a cross-brace)

There are this type of metal-rim sieves:

Amazon Marketplace £7.75

but I think a cross-brace type would be better:

Amazon Marketplace £14

or its a traditional Beechwood rim:

which is available with 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" mesh, but they are about £25 each
Amazon Marketplace £25-ish

 

Thanks for all the hints about sieves, but I'm now thinking of making my own...using this http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/187720

It's 6mm not 5mm like I am used to using, but at £3 its worth a try and should make a barrow sized sieve.

Steve...

 

Well you'll be needing to read this then

http://www.nifty-stuff.com/compost-sifter-screen-sieve.php

and then this

http://www.nifty-stuff.com/automatic-compost-sifter-screen.php

Old draw runners, or possibly up-turned inline skates, or hanging from an old swing-seat frame? (This video uses a tubular frame [like skinny scaffolding bars] and some bungle ropes, plus a reciprocating saw ... Heath Robinson would have been proud!)

Wide mesh on the top to catch the largest lumps (see second link's final video) and divert them separately seems like a good idea to me

Other thoughts - trommel style rotary sieve:

The Scheppach RS400 rotart sifter £350 - £400 ... might be OK for an allotment associate to buy for its members, but otherwise its expensive - other than as a free idea for DIY!



Compost Sifter £155 (turned manually by handle)

Both have the same issue of having a single sieve size (Compost Sifter 8mm mesh may be too small for initial sifting of compost I reckon). I think they would need an inner "ring" of wider mesh, projecting further out of the back, so that large lumps / stones are carried into a more distant pile / bucket.

However, a motorised trommel style sieve/tumbler less likely to shake itself to bits then a motorised oscillating-table I reckon!

High enough to get a barrow under it, not so high that you have to shovel up-hill to fill it.

Here's some DIY models I found:


Bicycle rims with mesh cylinder inside, grove of the rims running on some castors. No idea how you turn it - by hand and wear gloves? Recipe for blisters I reckon
http://www.instructables.com/id/Trommel-Compost-Sifter/
(Several impressive photos on that link's comments that DIY'ers have built and uploaded - I liked the "Form < Function" comment a lot!)

An old washing machine to tumble drier might work - probably just need to drill some additional / larger holes? or a cement mixer? I'm sure these are all things that you have lying around!

This one looks pretty pucker to me

 

Blimey! I think just a homemade frame, bigger than what I have already will suit me fine.

Thanks for the info though...

Steve...

 

Maybe I got a bit carried away!

Isn't it quite a lot of "grunt" to operate?

 

Not really...just exploring the options..same as I have done. This is the "good" part of the net as you can see what others have tried and get ideas thus.

Most compost is rubbed through by hand...and I'll keep the size under control and adjust to suit as I use it/get used to it. Probably a couple of foot square will do it, maybe less. I just want something bigger than I currently have.

Steve...

 

That's a very good point - different issue if trying to sieve a compost heap, or some stony ground.