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I finally did it!!! We finally planted some veggies in my square foot garden. I planted some tomato plants (compact sized ones) a zuccini and a red peppers for starters. Can I use unfinished compost as a Mulch around the Veggies now or should I wait a little longer for the compost to completely finish?
I read about putting Epsom Salt on tomatoes. I never heard of that. I bought Epsom Salt a few yrs. ago for my roses. Can I use this on the tomatoes too? Thanks!!!

unfinished compost would still be 'working' to 'finish'... using nitrogen in the decomposition process.... but , used on top of the soil as a mulch, it could only use the nitrogen in that top bit of soil, not down by the roots of the plants.... so I'd say, sure, use it.... but just as a precaution against the decomp, the addition of a little nitrogen containing fertilizier wouldn't be a bad idea....

yes, use Epsom salts around the tomatoes same as you did with the roses.... the magnesium in the salts is a trace element and not much is needed, so go lightly.... one time.... more is not better with this stuff, like a lot of things we use in the garden!!.... mine get a cup of Epsom salts dissolved in a two gallon watering can and then just a 1-2-3-4 around the plant...done in about a good breath.....

just keep your compost mulch from touching the plants , ok?.... leave a little space around the plant.....and not TOO deep... no more than three or four inches.... plants gotta breathe too.....

Toots hit on everything!

I learned a long time ago that Toots knows her stuff!


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and youse guys taught me most of what I know!!... you and the extension office.....LOL!!... I just have one of those memory things.... when it works..... heehee.....

Thanks Toots for your advice!!!
I went on-line to see if it was OK to add banana peels to my raised garden as well. It said it was very beneficial, so I added them along with coffee grounds. (I had alot of decomposing bananas in kitchen bucket!)
Today was perfect! It rained alot last night and this morning and now the sun is shining! My kind of day (although I never work in backyard after it rains....) :-(