Kudzu compost - for Southerners

ScottinAtlanta · June 16, 2013

Folks, I have been experimenting with kudzu compost this spring. As you know, kudzu compost is an old Southern secret, which apparently works because kudzu, a bean vine, is high in nitrogen.

Using a machete, I collect a batch of green kudzu, vines and leaves - a couple of bushels - put it through the wood chipper, and end up with a chopped green mulch. It acts like a turbo charge to the compost pile.

24 hours after mixing it with some water into browns (mostly dry mulched leaves and chipped wood), the compost pile is steaming. I can't put my hand into the middle of it, the heat is so high. After a week or so, the browns become a kind of humus, light brown and crumbly. In six weeks, black compost. Amazing!

I now do this every few weeks as the compost pile gets more browns.

Any other experience with kudzu compost?

June 16, 2013	#1
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	Kudzu compost - for Southerners Folks, I have been experimenting with kudzu compost this spring. As you know, kudzu compost is an old Southern secret, which apparently works because kudzu, a bean vine, is high in nitrogen. Using a machete, I collect a batch of green kudzu, vines and leaves - a couple of bushels - put it through the wood chipper, and end up with a chopped green mulch. It acts like a turbo charge to the compost pile. 24 hours after mixing it with some water into browns (mostly dry mulched leaves and chipped wood), the compost pile is steaming. I can't put my hand into the middle of it, the heat is so high. After a week or so, the browns become a kind of humus, light brown and crumbly. In six weeks, black compost. Amazing! I now do this every few weeks as the compost pile gets more browns. Any other experience with kudzu compost?