Can you put a pile of old apples on a compost heap

I live next to some open fields and there are wild apple trees (3 or 4) which are covered in apples. These are mostly small and not really worth trying to peel and use.

Would it be OK to dump a load on to a compost heap ?

No doubt it would be better to chop them up first, maybe into quarters.

thanks !

ps there are piles of nettles too ... could these (ie the tops) be added to the heap as well.

This year I made nettle tea, but I'm sure even if I cut all the tops off now, there will be plenty more next spring, for another 'brew'

 

You could do, but might it be better to clamp a load of them under some straw and earth and then put them out for the birds when the ground is all frozen

Nettles are very good on the heap, but make sure the heap is big enough to reach a hot temperature, if the nettles have gone to seed then you need it hot enough to kill them, otherwise you'll be forever weeding nettle seedlings out.

 

I don't see any problem with adding apples to your compost heap Willie.
It's not necessary to chop them up first, I chuck all the damaged windfalls from my two large apple trees on the compost heap and they break down in no time.
If adding large quantities of apples though, it would be best to mix in some drier material too, such as leaves, straw or shredded prunings, otherwise the apples will simply become a soggy mess.

Agree with Zigs about the nettles too. If they've already flowered, they will contain thousands of seeds, which needs a good hot compost heap to kill them off.

 

Also helps if you cover the apples over with a good layer of say grass cuttings, stops the wasps.

 

Hang about? You're going to compost them? Crab apples make excellent crumbles if you mix them with something sweeter like brambles or wild plums (but not sloes, which are 'orrible).

Then just compost the cores, peel, and any bad ones.

 

In a good year I put over 600lbs of pressed pomace after pressing for apple juice in my dalek composters - to avoid wasps - but they still attract millions of fruit flies and the soggy mesh can sit there until the following spring until it starts to decompose.

 

I've said it before, the Field Fares will appreciate the apples far more in the winter than the value or hassle we'll get out of them trying to compost them

 

Buy a piglet to eat them?

 

Never mind crumbles (yucky School dinners memory) Crab apple Jelly is very nice. 1 pint of juice to a pound of sugar.

 

Short answer: yes.

Slightly longer answer: as long as you are getting your green and brown layers in balance.

Longer answer: see posts above

 

Evening
I don't put much in the way of apples into my compost heap. However I remember, my father putting large numbers of windfalls into his compost heap and they took quite a while to rot.
My understanding is that as apples are quite acidic this upsets the balance of the compost heap and is best counteracted by scattering garden lime amongst the apple layers.
Nigel

 

Thank you for all your replies. I don't think I'll bother now.

 

Well, we have just made 6 jars of Crab apple Jelly. The bit on the plate to check setting tasted lovely.