10. A great variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers will flourish in your Composter
9.Place compost tube cap on top
of completed compost tube.
4. Place the Garden
Composter in the exact
location that you intend
to use it (it will be difficult
to move once heavily loaded and watered). Orient your tower so the drawer is pointed toward an open accessible area. If you intend to grow trailing vines like squash or melons make sure there is enough room around the tower for plants. Place the first ring and make sure the portion with “Leo’s Garden Composter” comes in the front to lock it properly. Make sure to Fill the rings with soil before fixing it. It is also recommended to use Cocopeat as the base in the last tray.
3. Slide the screen into the screen cavity above the drawer. It is normal for the screen to fit tightly into the track in the base
1: Part List:
• 5 Removable planting rings
• 5 compost tube sections with holes
• 1 Compost tube cap
• 1 Sliding compost screen
• 1 drawer
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS:
2. Slide the drawer into the base. When transporting the base please remove the unsecured drawer.
5: Place a perforated compost tube section onto the centre top of the base ring in the exact centre. Align
the compost tube with the drain holes in the base
ring using the vertical tab running down the inside
wall of the tube (the tab slides into the open slit in
the base ring).
6. Place a loose planting ring (they are all identical) on top of the base ring making sure to align all posts at the bottom of the loose ring with their corresponding holes at top of the attached base ring. Make sure all the locks are locked. Press down firmly until fully seated (a rubber mallet or wooden block can be used to gently tap the rings together if necessary).
8. Repeat step 6 placing any loose planting rings on top of previous ring, now repeat step 7 placing the perforated compost tube pieces on top of previous compost tube piece. Continue placing rings and compost tube pieces in alternating fashion until all pieces have been attached. The solid or blank compost tube section without holes should be placed in the top position of the column.
7. Place a perforated compost tube
section onto the tube section previously
mounted on the base ring making sure that
the vertical tab on the inside of the compost
tube is aligned with the corresponding slit
on the top of the mounted tube.
15: The drawer should be checked every day the system is watered. Any water sitting in the drawer should be poured back into the soil at the top of the tower within hours. This water contains many nutrients and minerals that are collected while passing through the soil, so recycling it back into the system is important. The longer the water or “leachate” sits in the drawer, the more oxygen is consumed and the less helpful it becomes.
12. When starting with seedlings, (small starts or starter plants) clear a space in the soil of the side pocket equal to the size of the root ball, gently loosen the rootball with fingers and place the rootball in this open space and lightly press down around the base of the plant to ensure that the plant is secure.
WATERING SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS
14: When starting with seeds it is recommended that you use a spray bottle to moisten the soil so that you don’t upset the seeds. If using anything other than a spray bottle, take great care to disturb the soil as little as possible so that you don’t upset the seeds.
11. When planting with seeds, make sure to follow instructions on seed package as some seeds require different amounts per pot then others to ensure germination. Usually, a seed will also require 1/8-to-1/2-inch soil to be place on top of seed to ensure that the seeds do not dry out.​​
Emptying a portion of the compost tube is recommended at the end of each growing season (or earlier depending on use and conditions). If you choose to not actively compost in your tower, make sure to follow a regular schedule of care with a quality natural plant food following the product use recommendations.
13: When watering seedlings, we recommend using a watering can with a water diffuser to ensure that you do not damage the plant. Keeping your seedlings moist for the first two weeks is important. Before and after work is recommended.
16. It is recommended that you empty a portion of the compost tube when the tube is full of Compost. To empty compost tube, make sure the drawer has no water in it, then pull the screen out half way to allow compost to exit the bottom of the compost tube, and fall into the drawer. Now push the screen back in. Depending on the degree to which plants have rooted into the compost, it may be necessary to persuade the movement of the compost column with wooden handle.
17: Remove the drawer and place compost on top of the soil at the top of the Composter. Your soil will have had time to settle a bit at this point, so it is recommended that you place a thin layer of compost on top of the soil (1-3) inches or more if possible, being careful not to exceed height of top ring section. If appropriate, repeat the process again and continue emptying the compost tube until completely empty. Any excess compost can be used on your house plant, garden flowers, gifted to a friend or saved to periodically help rejuvenate the soil in your Composter.
