Composting Guru

Cary Oshins is a life-long backyard composter, besides his day job at the composting industry group that was founded in 1990 to promote compost utilization and recycling of organic materials to benefit its members, society, and the environment.He lent some of his insights at this key moment in our composting year.Read along as you listen to the Oct. 11, 2021 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts here).composting advice, with cary oshinsMargaret Roach: Hi, Cary. How are

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you are looking to grow a lush and fru

It’s a true story, and one to give a prospective gardener pause: the young couple decides to grow their own tomatoes, and when the summer is over, they manage to harvest a single fruit. How did they do it,

There’s few things more rewarding than growing your own food​, and seasoning that food with fresh, homegrown herbs — priceless! The important thing to remember about herb gardening is that it’s relatively easy. Plants thrive indoors and outdoors providing you have plenty of sun (or lights!) and good draining soil. Herbs grow well in pots, have few pest problems, and add great beauty to our landscapes. They provide variety and flavor to any recipe in which they are used and are important in many ways.

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Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

This year I’m getting compost as and when I need it (which at this time of year is frequently). They have a special deal at our local independent garden centre on compost when you buy 3 bags, so I’m buying 3 bags at a time. However with so many seedlings to sow and especially prick out, 3 bags doesn’t last long, as I’m sure you can imagine. Maybe when I go tomorrow I’ll buy 6 bags.

Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants co-founder Rosy Hardy on one of the electric buggies used at the Hampshire nursery

Up here in Vermont, the winters are long.For me, this means mont

If your compost is not broken, add water until the consistency is similar to that of a moist wrung-out sponge.

Commercial compost is a range of products sold in plastic wrapping in garden centres, DIY shops and sundry retailers. This is not to be confused with your own garden compost made from decomposed plant matter. The contents of these types of commercial compost vary and can affect the growing result considerably. All have a base which has no or negligible nutritional value plus additives that make it useful for a specific purpose.

For thousands of years, gardeners have been using the rich nutrients found in organic matter to boost the health of their flower beds, shrubs, and lawns. At times, composting can be smelly, unsightly, and a bit of chore (especially in winter, when you have to run outside in your socks to compost kitchen scraps). However, if done correctly, the level of effort is minimal and the rewards rather delightful.