Compost Has No Shelf Life if Dry

Q. I purchase ViraGrow compost a cubic yard at a time and bag it myself using black plastic contractor bags which I store in a location that gets some morning sun but afternoon shade. Does compost stored like that have a shelf life? I plan to gradually apply it around plants as time permits but it may take me most of the summer to finish the project.

Which brings up my second question. Is it ok to apply compost to plants all summer despite the heat? 

A. Yes, the Viragrow compost, any compost, does not have a shelf life. In fact, compost improves during the first six months after it has been made and finished. The process is called “curing”. After this it is the same for many months as long as it is dry. Wetting compost doesn’t really make it bad, it just washes some of the nutrients out of it. Leaches.

Notice the leachate coming from the compost. These are the nutrients leaching from the compost. Compost tea if you like.

As far as use of it during the summer months I would be a bit careful. Viragrow compost is very rich in nutrients. That is what makes it unique and separates it from other composts. Because it is rich in nutrients (fertilizer content) it is much like a fertilizer and can “burn” plants if applied during summer months if you are not careful. I would not apply it to vegetables, leaves of plants or flowers during the heat of the summer. It should be applied before this time or after. Then it is fine to apply to plants during cooler times of the year.

Fertilizer in 1 Cubic Yard of  Viragrow Compost

Did you know if you bought all the fertilizers found in Viragrow Compost it would cost $229.41! These are fertilizers not found in perlite, vermiculite, peatmoss, rice hulls and coconut coir!

Fertilizer contained in one cubic yard of Viragrow compost:

3.73 pounds quick release nitrogen = 17.6 pounds of 21-0-0                     $  22.34

7.2 pounds slow release nitrogen = 129 pounds of Milorganite                 $107.50

15.13 pounds P205 = 33.6 pounds of 0-45-0                                              $  45.40

1.5 pounds K20 = 2.5 pounds of 0–0–60                                                    $    8.50

7.1 pounds sulfur = 7.5 pounds of water-soluble sulfur                             $  16.12

16.59 pounds iron = 83 pounds of iron sulfate                                           $  24.55

1.25 ounces manganese =                                                                           $    5.00 trace elements

                                                                  Total fertilizer value                  $229.41

Fertilizer in perlite                                                                          $0

Fertilizer in vermiculite                                                                  $0

Fertilizer in peat moss                                                                    $0

Fertilizer in coir                                                                              $0

Fertilizer in rice hulls                                                                     $0

You can use Viragrow compost as a compost tea, using it as a fertilizer and for disease control, by spraying a “tea” solution on the leaves but again during cooler times of the year. If done, it must be diluted with water just like any compost tea, before spraying it on plant leaves during the spring and fall months. I would dilute it at least 1:1 with water before spraying it as a compost tea. By the way, compost tea does have a shelf life so use it quickly (24 hours) after you make it. The compost that remains after making compost tea is still a wonderful addition to soil to improve it. It just doesn’t contain as much fertilizer because it was flushed into the tea.