spent hops

[diver]

I have a ready supply of spent hops from a small local brewer... can I dig them into my allotment or put them into the compost or use them as a mulch.....I am new to allotments and am trying to get my compost bin full...I have just made it out of pallets and am unsure if the hops will rot down ok....please help

[Wombat]

G'Day Diver,

Anything will rot down, given time, but it works faster and hotter if you get you carbon to nitrogen ratio right. I can't remember the actual ratio but it is something like25-30 carbon:1 nitrogen. So lots of carbonaceous matter, straw, hay, herbivore manure (not chooks) leaves, shreaded newspaper will be needed as I think your hops will be up to 5% nitrogen and very little carbon.

Does this sound reasonable?

[diver]

thanks wombat, I will add lots of shredded newspaper and straw ( I will visit the local stable) and veggie matter.

[Andy Hamilton]

According to Caroline Foley in the Allotment Handbook spent hops can also be used as surface mulch. Which local brewery did you get them from diver? You can also add shredded cardboard to your compost, old corn flake boxes and the like.

[diver]

I looked through yellow pages and found a small local brewery making specialist beer, he had a problem getting rid of his spent hops each week so I go and collect them. he gives me a large black bag full each week and saves them for me if I can't make it. I tried the big brewery nearby bur couldn't get anyone to talk to me....they all thought I was mad. I am sure there are many small breweries around who would be only too happy to givre their spent hops to gardeners....once I have some veg on my allotment I shall take him some in return