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W. Lafayette, Indiana

I know there have been discussions about coffee grounds but I have a pile that’s about 4.5ft high and 10 feet in diameter of used coffee grounds. Once in a while I will mix shredded paper in and I turn it once every 2-3 weeks…65% of the pile is coffee, 25% is 3-4month old horse manure, 10% is shredded paper. I continue to add 200-300 lbs of grounds a week (I stop by 3-4 Starbucks) and was curious if this is too much coffee. My garden is 25 ft wide and 70 ft long. I figure this will only add a few inches to the “pumpkin” section of my garden (25 X 50 approx). Is there something else I should or should not be doing? Is this too much coffee? This pile seems to be pretty hot and I don’t want to ruin my garden by going overboard….like I think I’ve done. On a side note the soil I am working with has a LOT of clay and very little organic matter. Thanks for any help!!
Mike

2/19/2008 7:38:47 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

PK, no knowledge here, but a couple questions....worms in the pile? checked internal temp of pile? ever fed it, molasses or anything? Maybe some in the know will help us out??? Are you turning this pile (to replinish the oxygen) on a regular schedule? My (uneducated) guess would be, if you are seein steam, when you dig into it, it should be pretty good stuff!!! Peace, Wayne

2/19/2008 7:45:19 PM

Utah

I think a 2-3 inches spread out over the patch would be great for it. it really depends on how your soil is now. I might be concerned about is the pH. Coffee gorunds are acidic, so if your soil was already acidic then you might want to check it and add lime accordingly.
next year you could try collecting lots of extra leaves in the fall and layering them with the coffee in your pile as you build it over the winter.

2/19/2008 7:58:44 PM

W. Lafayette, Indiana

I haven't put any worms in the pile and when I turn it I haven't seen them yet. I haven't yet added any molasses or anything to help the composting process because it seems to be working....it's steaming when i turn it. I haven't checked the internal temp and I turn the pile because that's what I thought you were supposed to due to newer/fresh horse manure....LOL...for oxygen i guess?! :)

According to all the literature I've read, the PH of used coffee grounds is fairly neutral. I've check several websites and they all say the same thing...PH of 6.7 to 7.0 for USED grounds. But I will certainly have a soil sample to confirm the lime deal.

Thanks for both of your responses....I hope to have more if anyone out there has experience. Thanks! :)

2/19/2008 9:24:36 PM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

If you spread it out over the entire area it really isn't that much. I wouldn't stop collecting.....

2/20/2008 11:30:22 AM

Colorado

This link might be of help. The Nutrient info is at the
bottom of the page...LB

2/20/2008 2:00:58 PM

W. Lafayette, Indiana

Thanks Petman. I didn't really think it was a problem but I would hate to have found out planting day and been in real trouble. Thanks! :)

LB...I would like to see the link you've posted but I am not finding it....I think you might have forgetten to add the link. If you could be so kind to repost that it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Mike

2/20/2008 8:33:38 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I would spread it out a bit. My observations of coffee grounds in plastic bags always has a ton of worms sitting under them...the proximity of soil to the nutritional value seem to attract the critters. I 'll bet where you soil and grounds meet are full of them. more surface area will bring em in. GrowEmBig! Chuck

2/21/2008 12:38:51 PM

Colorado

Yea I guess it would help to paste in the link...LOL

http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/compost.asp

2/21/2008 3:37:47 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Geeze long bear, forgetting to post the web addy. Your getting as bad as the WIZ. Just kidding.

2/21/2008 6:53:46 PM