Home Page
   Articles
       links
About Us    
Traders        
Recipes            
Latest Articles
Compost Question
Page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Author 
 Message
Smiler



Joined: 25 Jul 2005
Posts: 9
Location: West Norfolk
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 05 7:03 pm    Post subject: Compost Question Reply with quote
    

Hello all,

Am I right in thinking I can't compost citrus fruit peel????
I am sure I read somewhere that it was a no no but I have looked everywhere and now wonder if I made it up??

So citrus good or citrus bad?

Thanks
Smiler

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 05 7:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

They say it can make the heap too acidic and attract fruit flies. However, I garden on chalk so add as much peel as possible and not noticed any problem. If you throw out whole fruit make sure it is chopped up. If the heap get's too acidic then leave it out or add lime.

If it's not a large amount I'd just add it.

dougal



Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 05 9:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

But half grapefruit skins are ideal slug "refuges". In quotes because its only a temporary refuge until you come looking...

Anyone had any luck with using citrus peel to keep cats out of the veg plot? ("Deferred success" (in current PC jargon) for me.)

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 05 9:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

dougal wrote:
Anyone had any luck with using citrus peel to keep cats out of the veg plot?


Do you mean throwing whole fruits at 'em?

dougal



Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 05 9:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Perhaps that would be more successful.
The smell is supposed to persuade them to "go" elsewhere...

mochyn



Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales
PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 05 5:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Small amounts (probably less than 1%) of citrus seem to pose no problem. I chuck in peel, whole fruit (from the shop's waste) and the scraps left from curd-making: no probs with flies and it turns out cracking compost! I also put in plenty (up to a third) of paper/card, screwed up and wetted.

As for slugs, I now have a slug bucket into which go all the slugs I find as presents for the ducks!

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 05 7:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

We throw citrus peel onto the compost heap, and the heap is covered in flies. So what?

otatop



Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 1425
Location: North London
PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 05 8:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Why not candy the citrus peel instead. Candied orange peel is especially good covered with dark chocolate.

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 05 9:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

otatop wrote:
Why not candy the citrus peel instead. Candied orange peel is especially good covered with dark chocolate.


Because I can't eat that much candied peel More to the point, a lot of it is already zested by the time if goes on the compost heap.

tawny owl



Joined: 29 Apr 2005
Posts: 563
Location: Hampshire
PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 05 2:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

cab wrote:
We throw citrus peel onto the compost heap, and the heap is covered in flies. So what?


They're probably only fruit flies anyway, and they're useful for composting. I bung all my citrus on there too, but only after the peels have spent a few days in a bowl on the lav windowsill, making it smell all citrusy!

Bugs



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 05 2:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I think...we have let peel dry out for a few days then used it as a firelighter/fuel...am I making that up TD?

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 05 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

tawny owl wrote:

They're probably only fruit flies anyway, and they're useful for composting. I bung all my citrus on there too, but only after the peels have spent a few days in a bowl on the lav windowsill, making it smell all citrusy!


Precisely, they're only fruit flies, so they're doing little harm. A little offputting when one comes to 'water' the heap, perhaps...

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 05 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

cab wrote:
A little offputting when one comes to 'water' the heap, perhaps...


Definitely, don't let it put me off though.

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 05 2:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

tahir wrote:

Definitely, don't let it put me off though.


I just try not to think about them watching.

Bugs



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 05 2:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Is it my imagination or do you two take any opportunity to revive these disturbing images?

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Reduce, Reuse, Recycle All times are GMT
Page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2
View Latest Posts View Latest Posts

 

Archive
Powered by php-BB © 2001, 2005 php-BB Group
Style by marsjupiter.com, released under GNU (GNU/GPL) license.
Copyright © 2004 marsjupiter.com