coffee grounds - too much of a good thing?

[mitch landen]

This spring -- for the 1st time in several years -- I'm pouring beaucoup 5-gal buckets of used coffee grounds (from a local coffee shop) into/onto my veg garden, berry vines/bushes and fruit trees.

Can anybody think of (or know of) reasons why I should limit this? Are there any studies or data showing that large amts of the grounds have a negative effect on plant roots, metabolism, growth, etc?

I'm thinking that the micronutrients and N in the grounds would be a major plus for the soil, not to mention anti-compaction capability.

Thx much for any thoughts/ideas/anecdotes, etc ....

Mitch

 

[flowerbug]

This spring -- for the 1st time in several years -- I'm pouring beaucoup 5-gal buckets of used coffee grounds (from a local coffee shop) into/onto my veg garden, berry vines/bushes and fruit trees.

Can anybody think of (or know of) reasons why I should limit this? Are there any studies or data showing that large amts of the grounds have a negative effect on plant roots, metabolism, growth, etc?

I'm thinking that the micronutrients and N in the grounds would be a major plus for the soil, not to mention anti-compaction capability.

Thx much for any thoughts/ideas/anecdotes, etc ....

Mitch

i'd spread them out in a thin layer in most places. if you have blue berry bushes they might like more than a thin layer, but i still would not want to overdo it all at once.

i could use some amount of them in the worm buckets, but again, i don't want to overdo it all at once.

worked into garden soil in the fall after the plants are done so they would be fairly well digested by the next spring would also be ok.

if you have a compost pile you can use some of them in there as the composting will speed up the decomposition but also help innoculate the surfaces of the granules with a diverse array of microbes.

i'm pretty sure they'd be ok spread in with the chicken bedding or under rabbit pens and such.

around here, when i'm looking for stuff to put down deep in the ground to perch gardens above the flash flood stage i will use any organic materials i can scrounge up. years later i'll get back to it and move it around or use it. so it is also a way of storage of extra materials.

if you may not always have a reliable supply it is nice to have such stashes handy.

 

[seedcorn]

Check pH.

 

[ducks4you]

I applaud you. The grounds are not as ground up as you would think, therefore they can help keep the soil in your gardens from compacting, so all good. I end up throwing mine, filter and all into my burn barrel and burn them into ash. Guess if I ever devoted a container to them I would use them in my garden, too. Maybe a Tidycat litter plastic bin? I seem to be collecting them.

 

[thistlebloom]

Used coffee grounds are not acidic, the aciduty is in the brew we drink.
I've noticed that where I've dumped them in the winter ( on top of the snow in the flower bed, easily reached from hanging out the door and tossing) they can be a little hydrophobic and repel water.
Once stirred around into the soil there's no issue.

I have also not noticed any boost in the plants that get the most, but I'm sure there's no harm done either.
I think like FB that a thin layer is best.

 

[mitch landen]

Thx a million, all, for the input. I feel better about it. A clerk at the shop asked me once, "How much [grounds] do you want?". I said, "About 5,000 lb, if I can get it!". Only half-in-jest ....

Mitch

 

[so lucky]

If you have the patience, it might be fun to do a little experimenting with a few plants, and some as a control with no coffee grounds applied. See if they make any discernable difference.

 

[ducks4you]

It's all good. ANYTHING to keep from throwing them in the garbage and going to a landfill. I wish I could figure out how to dispose of meat that the chickens/cats/dogs can't eat, but all vegetation goes to the horses or the chickens or the compost. There was a thread on Sufficient Self---anybody ever on this and remember "Wifezilla?" She was a hoot!
We were discussing the possibility of gardening, more specifically starting seeds in used coffee grounds. I know that I did an INet search and nobody had ever studied it. @mitch landen , you could be the first.

 

[ninnymary]

I've only used coffee grounds in my compost bin. I love how it heats up the pile pretty quick.

Mary

 

[flowerbug]

It's all good. ANYTHING to keep from throwing them in the garbage and going to a landfill. I wish I could figure out how to dispose of meat that the chickens/cats/dogs can't eat, but all vegetation goes to the horses or the chickens or the compost. There was a thread on Sufficient Self---anybody ever on this and remember "Wifezilla?" She was a hoot!
We were discussing the possibility of gardening, more specifically starting seeds in used coffee grounds. I know that I did an INet search and nobody had ever studied it. @mitch landen , you could be the first.

meat? just bury it in a garden down about a foot. the worms and other soil creatures will eventually take care of it. the larger the amount the deeper you probably want to bury it, or break it down into smaller chunks and make the trench long enough.

i know that normal worm keepers don't recommend meats, bones and fats for the worm bins, becaues they are using worms that primarily live in organic matter like leaves, or other plant wastes or manures. sure, that's expected, but outside, you can depend upon the soil's creatures to be able to deal with a buried body or spoiled meat. the only thing i worry about is the spread if any long term disease spores like anthrax and it is pretty unlikely that most people are going to be dealing with that...