Content
You can put apples in compost in almost any form, with the exception of cases where the trees are affected by insects or infectious diseases. You cannot lay it after treatment with drugs (at least two months must pass). The rules for preparing compost from fallen fruits and other raw materials are described in detail in the article.
Is it possible to throw apples into a compost bin?
Fallen apples and other fruits are called carrion. They can almost always be put into compost, since the pests gradually die off, and the fruits themselves provide nutrients useful for fertilizing.
Is it possible to throw fallen apples into compost?
In order not to throw away fallen apples, they can and should be placed in a compost pit. They contain organic substances that accelerate the maturation process of the fertilizer mixture. In this case, fungal spores that may be present in apples are not preserved. Insect pests and bacteria also die over time. Therefore, there is no need to worry that apples will harm plants that will be fertilized with compost.
If you still have doubts, the raw materials can be left to mature for 2 years - this is more than enough to kill fungal spores and other pests. In addition, during this time the causative agents of scab and codling moth are guaranteed to die.
Is it possible to add rotten apples to compost?
There is a widespread belief among summer residents that you should not make compost from rotten apples. It is believed that they will “contaminate” the rest of the raw materials, and then the soil and plants. In fact, rotting is a natural process carried out by bacteria. Moreover, composting is also rotting.
Therefore, rotten fruits can be put into compost. If the apples have a lot of healthy parts, they are cut and used to make compote. The remaining (rotten) fragments are placed in a compost pit. They accelerate the decay process, making ripening faster.
Fallen apples can and should be put into compost
But you should not use stone fruits, such as cherries, plums and cherry plums. They decompose for a very long time - it will take at least two years to ripen.
Is it possible to put apple tree leaves in compost?
If you can throw rotten apples into the compost, the question remains whether you can use the leaves to make fertilizer. This can also be done, since the leaves enrich the fertilizer with organic matter, including nitrogen compounds, which accelerate the growth of any crop.
Along with the apple tree, it is recommended to use leaves of other fruit varieties (plum, pear, cherry, grape). It is allowed to use birch, maple, poplar foliage (preferably after grinding).Oak, on the contrary, should not be used. It contains tannins, which slow down the maturation of compost.
What apples should not be composted?
In some cases, fallen apples cannot be put into compost:
- Fruits that have begun to rot while still on the tree (right on the branch).
- Fruit from trees that have been damaged by insects or disease this year.
- Fruits of apple trees that were treated with chemicals less than two months ago. In this case, substances that have not had time to decompose will end up in the compost - they will pollute the soil. Ideally, this season the trees were not treated with chemicals at all.
The occurrence of diseases and pests can be determined both by the fruits themselves and by other external signs. Symptoms of powdery mildew are:
- white coating on shoots, inflorescences and buds;
- browning and appearance of black spots;
- stunting;
- drying out and falling of leaves;
- absence of ovaries;
- the fruits are covered with a characteristic net.
It is strictly forbidden to use apples and leaves from diseased trees.
When infected with scab, the following signs are noted:
- spots on the leaves are olive green, later they turn black;
- curvature of the fruits, covering them with growths and cracks.
The development of rust can be identified by yellow-brown spots on the leaves and black marks. Sometimes similar formations appear on fruits. In this case, the bark on young branches becomes covered with “warts”.
Benefits of apples in compost
Apples serve as a source of organic matter, so they provide great benefits for compost:
- acceleration of decay processes;
- enrichment of the mixture with carbon and nitrogen compounds;
- source of microelements, including iron, manganese, boron, zinc, magnesium, sulfur and copper.
The ratio of carbon and nitrogen in apples is 25-30 to 1. This is the best option, which is suitable specifically for compost raw materials. For example, in green freshly cut grass the ratio is 20:1, which is close to normal. And in dry fallen leaves - 70:1, which is too much.
How to make compost from apples
To make compost from apples, you need to follow the standard procedure:
- Choose a place, dig a hole.
- Cover the bottom with straw or wood chips, tree bark, small branches without shoots.
- Grind the pulp of the fallen fruits and place them in a small layer in a pile.
- Next, add soil, wood ash or manure.
- Then add leaves, potatoes (peels), grass clippings (without seeds), and carrots.
- Repeat the same layers, and if all the fallen fruits have already been used, you can simply lay the soil.
- You can use fallen leaves, mowed weeds or dry straw as the top layer.
The fertilizer matures within 8-12 months, sometimes up to three years. If you plan to use it for the next season, after chopping the apples, be sure to sprinkle them with soda in the amount of 100 g per 10 kg of raw materials. Otherwise, they will greatly reduce the pH, i.e. will increase soil acidity.
But if the fertilizer is planned to be left to mature for two years or more, there is no need for preliminary preparation. During this time, the acids will completely decompose and the balance will be completely restored.
In bags, compost matures in 2-3 months
Compost fertilizer can be prepared fairly quickly. In this case, take a garbage bag and place food waste and plant debris in it:
- fruits of apples, pears;
- leaves;
- small branches;
- tree bark;
- cardboard and paper (pre-shred);
- wood;
- food waste;
- tea, coffee (can also be done after brewing);
- vegetables, fruits, cereals in raw form.
All components can be mixed, add 100 g of baking soda per 10 kg of chopped apples. Then moisten with a spray bottle and fill the bag to the top, compacting it a little. Tie, leaving a gap for air access. Make several holes and place it outside so that the bag is constantly exposed to the sun.
After two weeks, place it in the shade, for example, indoors or under a canopy. In a few weeks, the compost will be ready - it is better to let it sit for three months, but if necessary, it can be used after 30 days. Fertilizer is applied to the soil when digging, covering 8-10 kg per 1 m2.
Conclusion
You can safely put apples in compost without fear that rotten fruits will spoil the fertilizer. Along with them, it is allowed to put foliage. If the tree has recently been ill or has been treated with chemicals, you should not take apples and leaves from it.
