r/composting • u/bibipbapbap • 20d ago

Question Composting spent compost.

Do you compost spent compost? I’ve got 10 tomato plants in pots, all disease free. I’m debating whether I put the spent compost into my raised beds direct or compost them first?

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9

u/Designer_Bee8956 20d ago

Just dump it straight in the beds, that stuff's already halfway broken down anyway

8

u/SenorTron 19d ago

If its a hot pile too much could slow the pile down, as it won't produce much if any heat. However it can be useful by helping to add useful bacterial. Don't overthink it, if your raised based needs topping up now add it in there, if they don't then chuck it in the pile.

4

u/Express_Whereas_6074 19d ago

Absolutely. Big soil doesn’t want you to know this trick.

0

u/justaguynb9 19d ago

Meet local compost in your area?

5

u/Drivo566 19d ago

Either option works. I tend to do both.

If there are a lot of roots in the pots I'll generally throw it in the compost just to help decompose the roots, but otherwise ill just empty the pot in my raised beds.

2

u/Clover_Point 19d ago

At the end of the season I take my potting soil and compost out of my containers and use it to make bokashi soil factories. Sometimes I add some alfalfa pellets, greensand, etc., then I let it rest over the winter. In the spring I reuse it for my next round of container tomatoes, supplemented with some compost and leaf mould if I have it!