Compost filled tubs, winter/spring uses?

I have a few tubs filled with compost which have housed a number of courgette plants this year. Most have now gone over or are on the way so it's about time to remove them, however I'm wondering if I can plant something in the tubs for the winter/early spring, but bearing in mind that I want to grow courgettes again next year (I grow them indoors from seed then plant outside in May).

Whatever I plant in the tubs can be flowers of course, in fact I'm thinking I've putting in some assorted bulbs (maybe Daffodils, Tulips, Crocuses, and so on). Unless somebody has some other suggestions?

The thing is that if I plant bulbs, once they have flowered I understand it's best to dead head them and leave them for at least a month before digging them up, is that correct?

Also, bearing in mind the courgettes and any bulbs, etc will use up nutrients, should I be adding any fertilizer at any stage? I did add Tomorite a few times to the courgettes during the summer.

 

The tubs will be full of roots, so best to empty them out and see how much useable compost you can recuperate. Check that there are no nasties like vine weevil, ants nests etc. You could get away with using it for bulbs, as the potential flowers are already stored in the bulb, but you'll need to add fertiliser for anything else. I definitely wouldn't re-use the compost for next year's courgettes, though. It's asking for a build-up of fungal diseases.

 

While my instinct agrees with this, is it a myth or a real problem? Unless this years plants displayed signs of disease, where would the infectability come from? In nature, plants regrow in the same place, if they survive, do they then collapse from disease ? I wonder if we apply too much logic and insufficient observation. Obviously, suitable conditions should apply, with mulching to supply the soil organisms to continue the cycle of life, natural fertility not chemical amendments,especially in a container to replace that taken out as crop/plant residue. Others thoughts welcomed.

 

Thanks for the advice. No signs of any disease on this year's courgette plants. I really don't want to invest in more compost, it's far too costly.

What fertilizer should I use if I do use the 'old' compost? Just more Tomorite?

 

I planted spring onions in pots that had tomatoes outside. Probably a bit late for that though. Things like mustards might be worth a try, they are so quick growing. I've got some to put in the greenhouse pots, again following tomatoes. I'll be planting them this weekend, I sowed them a couple of weeks ago I think. I just use a general cheap fertiliser with them.

 

I'm just going by personal experience of trying to economise on buying fresh compost each year. Not for veg, admittedly, but the results in my big terrace pots were very disappointing when I did try it. I also had one or two clients who jibbed at replacing container compost each year. It ended in tears.
As most composts only contain enough nutrient for growing plants for about six weeks, I doubt that fertility comes into the equation. It's more a question of what proportion is compost and how much is roots, whether there are pests (the currently available wood-waste-based composts attract a variety of xylophage beetles whose larvae can play havoc with plants too), and whether the compost is sour and compacted.

 

I'm really tight when it comes to things like constantly buying growing medium. I top dress with blood fish and bone or growmore, depends which fertiliser I got at the end of season sales and do a soil soak with provado vine weevil killer....which I've found does for lily beetle and cockchafer grubs too!
If you're at all concerned about too many roots, empty it out through a riddle/chicken wire then top back up.
All my pots also get a mulch of homemade compost, sometimes I add coarse sand(from a builders merchants and yes, it is already washed or washed enough for my needs) and/or perlite to bulk it out and add drainage, it just depends what I intend to grow.

 

The old compost from my Tomato pots is put in the compost bin, I do check this of course first.
Come Spring I riddle the compost and mix with equal parts of Coir with some Perlite. For planting out I add some feed.

 

I've got a small area outside on the garden where I tip out all my pots from this year, it just stays there all winter slowly breaking down to root balls, I then reuse some of it for potting up mostly ornamentals after giving it all a good mix.

Often it's just potting on large plants so, as I feed them all through the summer I don't actually add any extra fertiliser.
I rarely use it for small plants, I prefer fresh stuff for them.

 

If I was to plant spring bulbs in your tubs, then I would not add any nutrition to the 'spent' compost. I think you might be able to allow them to flower and then transplant to a recuperation area for the plant to die back, leaing your tubs ready to be replanted in early June.
Regarding replanting with courgettes next year, I cannot see that you are greatly at risk of any malady that would not befall them in fate! Despite never having grown courgettes confined to a tub, because I never have had the need so to do, I think you could add well rotted manure, or good garden compost, bonemeal or blood fish bone meal to provide nutrients for soil organisms in the compost. I rarely use chemical fertilisers at all, trying to be nature friendly in all respects (slugs excluded!)

 

Hear hear @TheMadHedger , I do that every year.

Any bulbs are fine as long as the root congested soil can be broken up a bit. The bulbs will not survive and flourish for years, but for next spring you should get a nice display.

Technically you can lift the flowered bulbs and grow them on in a sunny spot with fresh compost, watering and fertilising until the foliage dies, but with the ridiculously good offers of new bulbs every year it's hardly worth it in a container gardening world.

 

That's most helpful, huge thanks.

 

I would probably just plant the spent bulbs in a part of the garden and see what appears next year. (and buy new bulbs for the tubs later next year). Eventually I'll have bulbs everywhere .......