Hello all,

My assumption is that most natural things are compostable. I have an apple tree which will be cut down this fall because I hate to pick up apples before I mow. I would like to know if there is a maximum quantity of apples that should be applied to a compost pile. My tree is loooooooooaaaaded with apples!!!

I would rather compost them instead of throwing them away. If anyone could give me any insight if there such a thing of too many apples because of the acidity factor or if alot of apples would be too much Nitrogen to properly compost.

Captain Compost, as always, your insight and wisdom will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks-Salem Hokie

Wait a second, you're cutting down a beautiful apple tree just because you hate picking up the apples that have fallen? :| I don't know waht to say to that. That seems, to me, darling, stupid. I say that you pay a couple of neighborhood kids to pickup the apples that have fallen, and tell them to put it into the compost pile. THen you mow! See problem solved. B-) You become a cool neighbor, and you save a tree.

Chris J.

PS- But if you are going to cut the tree anyways, I would somehow, smash the apples into a pulp, then pour them into the pile. Since they are mainly water, just hold off on watering your pile, and when you pour the juice/pulp mixture, your good bacteria buddies will be praising to thier god(s).

Chris J.,

I never said the apple tree was beautiful and yes I hate picking up apples. I just moved into my house a year ago and the tree was butchered by the previous owner. So, I am looking for a viable option to dispose of the waste from the tree until I can cut it down and plant a "new" tree.

What is the difference from composting whole apples versus pulped apples? Is there a benefit to pulping apples? This would be a cold-composted pile anyway.

Darling, paying a couple of neighborhood kids to pickup apples is "stupid". I am particular not lazy. And I'm not going to mention your "bacteria praying gods".

Sorry about the uhm, snickering and complaining...Thought that you lived there for like ever, and yeah...

ANyways...Difference between composting whole and pulped is that the whole ones will take FOREVER to decompose... The pulped up ones will have more surface area than teh whole ones, and the more surface area one has, the faster decomposition takes place...

Also, about the remark with the bacteria and god(s) thing. Sorry. I didn't realize what in heaven's name I was typing. I was just saying that they would be praising you for all the nice food that they will be recieving...Sheesh. Don't get your undies tied into a bunch.

Well. OFf to bed...

Chris J.

My neighbor has 2 huge apple trees and 2 huger pear trees. He can't come close to keeping up with them. I usually gather several 33 gallon garbage cans full (meaning 10+) and dump them straight in the compost pile with horse stable waste. They're gone in nothing flat. I've bout got the neighbors trained to bring me their garbage. I'm quickly running out of compost pile room! But I'll figure something out. This has been a plentiful year for greens and browns are never a problem. What's the worst that will happen? They'll rot! More browns please.

Enjoy,
Dirt

BTW Captain, I agree! Just checking to see if you were paying attention.

Dirt Pit, Have you seen the latest issue of OG? Well, there was a lady who had the same problem as you. Well, instead of building horizontally, she built up! She put a shelf above a pile, then put stuff ontop of the shelf. When teh top was done, she pulled out the shelf, and let the stuff fall onto the bottom pile.

Chris J.

Yep, remember reading that. Not quite sure of the logistics and how it would work in my situation. I appreciate the reminder, though.
Thanks,
Dirt

Dirt Pit,

Thanks for the tip. Chris J. mentioned pulping them and that's not a problem. But, if your are getting the results with adding them whole sounds like a plan to me.

You mentioned horse stable waste. Do you think I'll be okay just adding straw minus the manure? I still have quite a bit of finished compost so I really don't need the compost til next spring so time isn't a factor. Also, is there an odor factor with such a huge qty. of apples? I guess if that's a problem would you just add more browns?

Thanks again-Salem Hokie

I have been known to undertake some labor intensive activities associated with composting but pupling/shredding leftover fruits isn't amongst them, I'd rather play in fresh cow manure! I've added vast quantities and without fail they've composted in short order (meaning before I needed it in the spring). The link below is a pic of a miniscule amount. I worked at a golf course and it wasn't unusual to bring home 10 33 gallon trash cans full everyday for weeks on end. Just need to feed it enough browns. Straw will work fine, mine is wood chips which might be a little easier when turning time arrives but there's a simple solution to that - DON'T! I would recommend lots of straw between layers of apples and it'll be fine. I would be surprised if an odor problem occurred. Keep us updated on results. I'm always interested in other people's garbage! :^O

Dirt

http://public.fotki.com/DirtPit/gardening/composting_tr..._course_goodies.html

PS. I don't think I did it earlier - Welcome to OG.

Dirt,

Cool link. What are those orange things, apricots?

I plan to use my apples right away for composting. Kinda hate I threw away a few bushels now that I got your advice.

I agree odor shouldn't be a problem. And if it is my grandad has alot of hay bales. I should know I picked and stacked almost everyone of them "xxxx's"

Thanks-Salem Hokie

What are those orange things

Leftover fresh squeezed oranges.

Dirt

Salem,

Remember though that apple seeds have arsenic in them (not enough to worry about if you are eating a few a day). A few years ago they put up a new school in one of the old orchards in the area and had to trash the top 10" of soil as it was to contaminated to have kids playing on, etc..

Salem Hoakie,

As Dirt Pit said, the apples will break down in short order with enough browns. We had been piling ours in the far ditch up until I started composting them with leaves and newspapers last fall. They always dissappeard quickly, and the odor problem doesn't exist with enough browns. Go for it!

I think a bit more research is needed on the "School in the Orchard" situation.



the type of cyanide found in apple seeds (like that of stone fruits), breaks down rather quickly in the soil. If your top 10" of soil had to be removed, I would suspect an outside contaminant. ?:|

Also, if the school has wood in its walls (I realize that few do anymore), it could have cyanide, or arsenic, leaching into the ground right now. ALL pressure treated lumber contains either cyanide or arsenic (even the new stuff). This is why lumber stores require their employees to wear gloves when handling the stuff. And (contrary to what the lumber companies say about pressure treated lumber) if the stuff can be put into the lumber, it CAN come out. And into you skin.

There is a maximum quantity that one compost pile can properly digest at one time, just like anything else, and how they are put into the pile can also affect how many at one time. Whole apples will simply take more time than cut or even smushed apples, and a simple way to tell if you are getting too many is the odor. If it smell like rotten apples there are too many apples and not enough other "stuff".

The soil in the school yard was not removed because of the cyanide in the apples, but because of the "stuff" that was sprayed on the orchard over the years contaminating the soil beyond what would be something children should be exposed to.