June 5, 2006

Coffee News: Recycling coffee grounds for use in gardens

"Coffee grounds are an excellent source of organic matter and plant food for vegetable gardens. Research at Virginia State University's Sustainable Agriculture Program a few years ago indicated spent coffee grounds contain about four percent nitrogen, one percent phosphorus and three percent potassium. All are important nutrients for plant growth.

It is commonly believed that coffee grounds are too acidic for garden use. It has been proven that most of the acidity is removed in the brewing process. Used grounds are generally neutral and composting them with other materials will buffer any minor residual acidity. Always combine spent grounds with brown material such as leaf mold or straw. This generates heat and speeds up the composting process. Incorporate the aged grounds liberally both before and after planting.

There are several other chores for early June. Dedicate a Saturday morning during the next two weeks to accomplish a thorough weeding of the garden. Weeds are easiest to control when less than an inch tall. A quick pass with a stirrup hoe or hard-tined rake will knock back baby weeds before they deprive vegetable plants of vital soil nutrients. It's much more pleasant to do some light weeding early in the season than to have to hack and dig for an entire afternoon in the heat of July."

Full article here.