I just recently started organic gardening. I've been growing tomatoes, berries, and greens. I got started on it after reading an Organic Gardening article on Welloria. It took me through the process of setting up my own garden step by step. It mentioned that I could either buy or make my own organic compost. There were some great tips about what to put in my own compost, but I've been wondering... Is there something I can or should be adding to my compost for better tomatoes? For instance, should I be adding carrot peel shavings or dry tomato plant stems, etc... Anything specific I should make sure to add? The article I got all my information from is on Welloria. The link to it is http://www.Welloria.com/Organic_Food/Organic_Gardening_p1.html (I think there's a free sign-up if you're not a member, but it's a great article. I'm a member so I get to it directly.)

Any info will be much appreciated!
Thanks!
Amanda

Well...one thing to avoid are sick/diseased plants...some of those illnesses are almost impossible to cook to death in the compost pile. If you add weeds w/seeds, make sure your compost really cooks to kill the seeds...Sick plants and weeds go in a whole other pile at my place. Some plain old garden soil contains the microbes needed to kick start the decomp process. Manure from herbavores is also a great additive, but again, make sure your compost pile is cooking at temps warm enough to kill seeds not fully digested by the animals...no pet poo! That can make your SICK! As for certain things to add to help particular plants, I can't really help you w/that. If it ever came from a plant it goes in my pile, except for those items noted above. This includes paper towels, coffee grinds and filters, some newspapers, kitchen scrapps, grass clippings, etc. Now I'm not as much as a purist as some...I don't worry about how my coffee filters were processed...I did drink the coffee after all...but I won't use my neighbors grass clippings as they use all sorts of chemicals.

The key to having a well balanced soil is to make well balanced compost and the means adding a wide variety of material from your garden and outside. The Biodynamic people believe that by adding minute quanities of certain things you can make plants even more healthier than just a soil well amended with organic matter will. However, most of us believe that simply providing the soil with adequate levels of organic matter, that includes compost, is sufficent. Many websites have what borders on misinformation and since the master composter website went to subscription I have been looking for a comparable source of good information free from much of the misinformation and the would be at http://www.compostinfo.com/
Since the website you posted requires a subscription I'm not going there so I can't say whether the information they have is good or not.

Thanks for your input. I hadn't really thought about separating out any sick plants or weeds, mostly just because I'm not very knowledgeable about plants yet, so unless it's obviously really sick, I wouldn't be able to tell. Based on your suggestion though, I think I'll definitely pay closer attention!

Thanks for your input too. I'm working on making my compost well-balanced by adding a wide variety of things to it, although I have to admit, I'm curious as to what Biodynamic (?) people think are some of the things that could help. Thanks also for the interesting link, but the original article I cited I think has a lot more information. The site did have some great additional resource links though.

welcome Amanda -

use the Search Forums feature here with keywords Captain Compost AL, he's da man on compost.

You can also keyword compost and you'll be reading all day, lots of good information.

Welcome to the OG forum Amanda. We are glad you have joined us and I hope you will stick around.

I canÂ’t add to what beebop said except to agree that Captain Compost is the man to read. He really knows his stuff so by all means do that search.

I add everything I can to my compost. dont hold back throw it in and stir.
happy composting
Budman

thanks y'all happy to have found this site...

Amanda, One method of catering to a specific plant's needs is to amend the soil in the hole you set the plant in. Tomatoes like extra P, bonemeal is one source, and magnesium, Epson salts is one source. So when you plant a tomato, add a handful of bonemeal (or another P source) and 1 teaspoon of Epson salt..Mix well and plant. I use homemade compost and also give certain plants a little extra of what they like. Hope that helps.

Have a question and please don't take this the wrong way. I have often wondered about Epson Salts, is it considered Organic? I know it works, but after I went cold turkey off chemicals I thought it was a processed chemical.

Thanks for the suggestion Peggy. I think I'll definitely try the bonemeal. Organic arky makes a good point about Epson salts... are they considered organic? Being new to this, I'm not sure. Would like to hear what you think.
Thanks!
Amanda