Compost kitchen scraps

Compost kitchen scraps

How to Compost Kitchen Scraps: A Complete Guide for Home Gardeners

Composting kitchen scraps is one of the most practical ways to reduce household waste while creating nutrient-rich material for your garden. Whether you have a spacious yard or limited outdoor space, there are multiple composting methods suited to your situation. This guide will walk you through the essential techniques, materials, and troubleshooting tips to help you succeed.

Understanding the Basics: Greens and Browns

The foundation of successful composting relies on balancing two types of materials: nitrogen-rich greens and carbon-rich browns.[5] A 50/50 mix of greens and browns is the ideal recipe for good compost.[4] This balance is critical because it affects decomposition speed, odor control, and the quality of your finished compost.

Great greens include:[5]

Best browns include:[5]

What you should avoid: Never compost cooked food, meat, or fish.[4] These materials attract pests and create unpleasant odors.

Traditional Bin Composting

The most common composting method involves using a dedicated bin in your yard. To get started, find the right site—ideally in a reasonably sunny place on bare soil where you can easily add ingredients and access the finished compost.[4]

Layer your materials strategically. Begin by throwing kitchen scraps on the pile, then add a handful of brown materials on top, such as leaves or hay.[2] Brown materials create air pockets that prevent your pile from becoming a soggy, smelly mess. Cut food scraps into smaller pieces for faster decomposition.[5]

Turning your compost is a crucial step in the process. This reintroduces oxygen into the pile, preventing anaerobic conditions that can lead to foul odors and slow decomposition.[1] Ideally, turn your compost every few weeks using a garden fork or compost turning tool, bringing the outer edges of the pile to the center.[1] This method also helps distribute heat and moisture evenly, ensuring that all parts of the pile break down effectively.

It takes between nine to twelve months for your compost to become ready for use.[4] Once your compost has turned into a crumbly, dark material resembling thick, moist soil and gives off an earthy, fresh aroma, you know it's ready to use.[4] Remove the compost by lifting the bin slightly or opening the hatch at the bottom and scooping it out with a garden fork, spade, or trowel.[4]

Trench and Pit Composting

If you have limited space or prefer a tidier garden appearance, trench composting offers an excellent alternative. This technique involves digging a trench directly in your garden and burying organic waste, letting nature do the rest.[1] Trench composting works directly within the garden bed, slowly releasing nutrients into the soil as materials decompose underground.[1]

Begin with a bottom layer of coarse, brown materials like small branches or straw, which helps with aeration and drainage.[1] Next, add a layer of green waste such as kitchen scraps or grass clippings, rich in nitrogen to feed composting microbes.[1] Follow this with a layer of brown waste like leaves or shredded paper to add carbon.[1]

For a simpler approach called cathole composting, dig holes in your yard spaced about 18 inches apart, toss in food scraps, and cover with soil.[6] You won't need to maintain a bin or mix the finished compost into your soil. Small pieces like coffee grounds or juicer slurry disappear so quickly when buried that many gardeners dig them into beds being actively used to grow plants.[6] Chunkier materials like broccoli stalks and apple cores take longer to decompose, so bury them in resting beds, well-covered in deep holes or trenches.[6]

The Bokashi Method

For apartment dwellers or those with minimal space, the bokashi method provides a compact fermentation solution. Begin by layering your food scraps with bokashi bran in the bin, compacting them to remove air pockets.[1] It's important to seal the bin tightly after each use to create an anaerobic environment necessary for fermentation.[1]

As you continue adding food waste, sprinkle a layer of bokashi bran on top to promote the fermentation process.[1] Remember to drain any excess liquid that accumulates in the bottom of the bin periodically to prevent odor.[1] Repeat this process until the bin is full, then let it sit for a couple of weeks to allow fermentation to complete.[1] After two weeks, the fermented material should be ready to add directly into your garden or compost pile.[3]

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Even experienced composters encounter issues. If your compost pile is wet and stinky, the problem is too many greens.[5] The solution is to add browns, turn the pile, and put scraps in the center of the pile.[5] Keep a stash of shredded paper or dry leaves on hand to soak up soggy food scraps and prevent odor.[5]

If your compost pile is dry, you have too many browns and not enough water.[5] Add fresh kitchen scraps, moisten the pile with water, and cover it to reduce evaporation.[5]

Managing Multiple Piles

Once the pile becomes large and starts to break down and "cook," consider starting a second pile.[2] Remove the finished compost from the first pile, pull out any noticeably large pieces that haven't broken down, and move them to the new pile of food scraps.[2] Work the compost from the finished pile into your soil where desired. You'll have one pile cooking and one pile accumulating, creating a continuous cycle of compost production.[2]

Using Your Finished Compost

Once ready, use your compost as a soil amendment for your garden or potted indoor plants. This enriched compost will improve soil structure, increase water retention, and provide essential nutrients for plant growth. If you're growing houseplants and notice problems like scale insects on indoor plants, applying compost-enriched soil can help strengthen plant vigor and resilience. Similarly, when you prune garden roses or other ornamental plants, work finished compost into the soil around the base to promote healthy new growth. For plants showing signs of stress, such as those that are overwatered, incorporating compost into the surrounding soil can help improve drainage and help revive overwatered plants by creating better soil structure.

More tips in the section Garden & Houseplants Care

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