How do I know when allotment compost is ready?

Compost is ready when it is dark, crumbly and earthy-smelling and most of the original soft ingredients are no longer recognisable. If it is slimy, sour-smelling or still full of fresh material, give it more time and correct the mix.

Judge the material, not only the calendar

The RHS says garden compost can take between six months and two years to mature. Larger quantities, warm conditions and regular mixing can speed the process; small bins and winter conditions usually slow it. That range is why appearance and smell are more useful than a promised finish date.

Coarse woody pieces may remain after the rest has matured. Screen them out if you need a fine material, then return them to the active heap. Do not mistake recognisable perennial weed roots for harmless woody fragments.

Use it as a soil improver

Spread mature garden compost over beds as mulch or lightly fork it into the surface where that suits your method. Home-made garden compost is a soil improver; it is not automatically the same as a formulated seed compost for raising seedlings.