I think it's probably best to start composting during the daytime because you can see what you're doing better then.

If you're going to hot compost, you can get compost in a fairly short time (under ideal conditions, a few weeks). Some people like to let the compost "cure" or "age" for a few months after that, but others use it right away.

So, if you want to let it age, the sooner you start the longer you'll have to age it.

Cold composting takes much longer, so if you're going to cold compost, you probably want to start ASAP.

Some people make "lasagna" gardens by alternating layers of "greens" (high nitrogen stuff like grass clippings, the plants from the garden, used coffee grounds etc) and "browns" (high carbon stuff like tree leaves, paper, cardboard, sawdust, chipped wood etc) in the fall. In the spring, it has greatly reduced in size and you can plant directly in it. If you want, you can put a little soil where you're planting, but I don't think it's necessary.

If you search the board for lasagna, you'll find a lot of info on this approach.

Any time is a good time to start composting but if I wanted compost by spring I would start in late summer/early fall, combining grass clippings and vegetation from the end of the garden - chopping if necessary - with fall leaves, making a pile that has time to heat up and keep working for a couple months, with, if possible, the addition of some compost/manure worms (red wigglers) to help it along, before deep freeze sets in.

In other words, any time now. :)

Based on our past history (comments) on this forum, I offer these thoughts as it relates to composting.

Most members gather a lot of their brown material during the fall of the year. Piles/bins/tumblers are loaded with these leaves and other garden refuge for the last pile of the year. This pile(s) are turned until weather dictates that they are allowed to sit. Very little gathering is done during the winter except in areas with milder climates, but for the most part piles are allowed to do what I call "Tiffy" winter composting (left alone and covered to hold in the heat).

The most active composting is done once the weather breaks in the spring. Winter piles are turned, fresh green material is gathered, and new piles are made with other peopleÂs leaves and yard refuge. These spring piles cook rather quickly, and the compost piles from the past winter are prepared to be spread over the garden beds. Pile making and garden tending are done throughout the spring and summer; the whole process is then repeated.

Variations of this process, of course, are practiced, but for the most part that is what is discussed throughout the year. So, to answer your question, right now is the best time to start composting. I trust this helps in some wayÂ

Blutranes

P.S. Bpgreen, you are a very funny man, LoL...

The best time to start composting is when you have the materials to compost. That would be in the spring, summer, fall, or winter since everybody has material to compost all year round.

The best time to start composting is now. Whenever now is (as long as it's daylight-like bpgreen said). Start gathering stuff now, maybe focusing on greens so you'll have enough when the leaves start to fall. What doesn't finish by winter will be there in the spring, plus you'll add stuff over winter. In the mean time, fine tune your bin & techniques. The main thing is to start.

tj

Undoubtedly -

THE BEST time to start composting is....

(drum roll please)

the year before to start your garden.

See composting tips above.

mystaura- I started composting about this time of year when I did it. Here's how I did it:

For beds that I was making NOW, I did lasagna-style. I gathered whatever ingredients I could find- newspapers, cardboard (grocery stores are good for this, or your local r/center), corn stalks and other greens came from the produce department (just ask; usually they have no problems offloading it), coffee grounds came from Starbucks...I held it all in place with some composted manure that the farmer down the street dumped for me. These beds were ready for planting in spring.

For my main composting (I have a large open field to use), I had the farmer dump me a 10-wheeler load of 'older' manure. I used this as the 'base' of my compost heap. To it, I add everything I can find in the way of grass clippings, garden cleanup stuff (including weeds), more cardboard & house 'trash' items, kitchen waste...dryer lint...you name it, it's in there.
This pile is turned a couple times a month with a tractor (it's a big pile). I started using it the following spring.

I have a load of manure dumped at least once a year now to start my new pile. I use a LOT of it, and it took me only 2 seasons to use the 10-wheeler load from fall of '05. My new pile I started a couple months ago, and what I did was '1/2ed' it to make 2 smaller 'working' piles that are about 10x6x6h.

One of the piles, that I don't 'add' to just yet is currently overgrown with greens, and I'll turn those back into the pile before they go to seed.

There's many sources of 'stuff' for your composting; you merely need to think outside the box maybe, and see where you can get them in bulk. Oh, by the way, freecycle is a good source if you put up a want-ad...someone usually has SOMETHING you can use, which is a big help in starting a pile- manure, grass clippings, stall cleanouts, etc.

Good luck!