Can you answer my compost questions please?

Question

Can I add printed newspaper as this is the only way I can even out the balance of greens and browns?

Do teabags need to be broken before putting in?

Do I need to turn the compost or just put holes into it to airate it? (I seem to get conflicting answers on this one when searching the internet)

I have small flies and some ants in the bin when I take the lid off, is this ok?

Is it ok to put old unused potatoes into the bin as I have cut some up and put them in however I think they are growing?

Answer 1

With newspaper I rip it up and layer it.

Teabags tend to break up, but you can

open and scatter them.

As regards turning the compost, It will take a little

longer to decompose if mixed up.

The flies are helping with the rotting, as for ants, unless there

are a lot, leave them be ( boiling water removes them, but thats up to you).

Potato peeling can grow so, no, leave them out.( burn them)

ps..Got some lovely marrows coming on.

Answer 2

I agree with all the others. To clarify the potato peel problem - if you peel the potatoes as normal you shouldn't have any trouble. Potatoes sprout from the eyes on the potato so if you put a piece of potato with an eye it might grow, if it does just ignore it, the plant will die from lack of light.

Answer 3

for the newspaper- sure, just make sure you pick out any not-decomposed bits before using the compost

for the teabags- i'm not too sure here, i just put the actual tea in, and i throw away the bag itself

you should turn the compost and airate it..

the flies, ants, and other bugs are very good for the compost, they help turn it over/ break down foodstuffs

with the potatoes - go ahead and put them in, if they are growing, just pluck them out, no big deal

Answer 4

yes

no

yes

yes

no

Answer 5

Newspaper is fine. These days they use ink made from vegetable dyes so it all breaks down.

Teabags can be broken up or not, it really doesn't matter.

I find it better to turn the compost, preferably from one heap to another.

The flies are not a problem, nor the ants but they do farm aphids which can be a problem in other ways. Pour boiling water on the ants nest when you find it.

I do compost old potatoes, some will tell you not to, but if your compost is going alright then they should rot down anyway. You can always leave them to rot in a bucket with a lid on, this works especially well for potato peelings I'm told, until they turn into a slop and use it as a liquid feed (bit like comfrey and nettles but you don't need to soak in water)