6Harvest time
Your compost is ready to harvest if it looks like dark, rich soil and smells earthy. This normally takes 3 to 6 months. Spread the compost around plants or mix it with soil to create your own potting mix. Always cover soil and compost with a layer of mulch to keep it alive and thriving.
Tumblers allow you to batch produce compost as they have two compartments so you will never have to stop composting. When one side is full you can let it mature while you simply start filling the second compartment. By the time one side is full the other side is ready with fresh compost from your garden.
Place a bucket or cart underneath the compartment you will be emptying. Open the door or hatch to release the compost into your chosen container. This container can be permanently kept underneath the tumbler to collect any liquid to be diluted and used as a fertiliser on your garden.
小窍门
Compost is always good for vegetables and exotics plants, but is often too rich for native plants.
Don't worry about eggshells or avocado seeds not breaking down. If the rest of the compost is black, fluffy and smells earthy then it's okay. The eggshells won't be visible in your garden once you add a layer of mulch over the top.
If neither side is not quite ready to harvest you can empty one side and cover it with a tarp or rug and leave it in the sun for another few weeks until it's ready.
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Your backyard compost is unlikely to get hot enough to kill seeds. If plants like tomatoes and pumpkins sprout where you don't want them, just pull them out and thow them back into the compost or replant them in a veggie garden.
Apartment Composting
What to do with more compost than you need. Finished compost is ideal for topping up garden beds, potting up new plants, or moving a plant into a bigger pot. You can also top-dress up to 5cm thick around existing plants, including in pots — just keep a gap of a few centimetres around the base of the stem, as burying it puts most plants at risk of collar rot (citrus are especially sensitive).
If you still have more than your plants can use, post it on Facebook Marketplace/Community page or your local Freecycle/Buy Nothing group. Some community gardens may even trade produce for a bag of good compost.
