• Join Home Gardening Forum

Compost carbon to nitrogen ratio

Mike

Might know the answer
Messages
977
Location
Kentucky
Planting Zone
6b
Anyone can throw a bunch of leaves in a pile and slowly turn it into compost, but if you're wanting the best compost you'll want to make sure you have the proper Carbon to Nitrogen ratio.

The ideal compost C:N ratio is 25-30:1, the below table should help you keep your carbon to nitrogen ratios in check.

Browns = High CarbonC:N
Ashes, wood 25:1
Cardboard, shredded 350:1
Corn Stalks 75:1
Fruit Waste 35:1
Leaves 60:1
Newspaper, shredded 175:1
Peanut shells 80:1
Pine Needles 80:1
Sawdust 325:1
Straw 75:1
Wood chips 400:1


Greens = High NitrogenC:N
Alfalfa 12:1
Clover 23:1
Coffee grounds 20:1
Food waste 20:1
Garden waste 30:1
Grass clippings 20:1
Hay 25:1
Manures 15:1
Seaweed 19:1
Vegetable scraps 25:1
Weeds 30:1
 
N

Northernfox

Guest
I would love to learn more. I rely on static piles and luck ;)
 
R

Rolex

Guest
I've always made a habit of keeping a separate pail for ALL the kitchen scraps and dropping it into a hole in the back of the garden. In the spring it's always dug up and tilled into the soil. That includes eggshells and bones, fat, either raw or cooked and anything past its time such as bread or milk.
If you leave it undisturbed for one summer and mix it with leaves, the amount of earthworms that will do the work for you will amaze you.
 
T

the1honeycomb

Guest
I keep my compost pile in the back with the chickens and they are great about adding their nutrients as well as stirring up what is out there! I add everything to it except meat and meat bi products. I don't want to attract coyotes near my chickens!!!
 
M

MB3

Guest
my perpetual issue is having mostly greens/ N sources (kitchen scraps) but not many or any sources of browns.
 
Top