Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Imogen on June 16, 2010, 22:01

Title: Potato stems
Post by: Imogen on June 16, 2010, 22:01

Just a quick question.

As they are a member of the nightshade family, are the left overs stems and leaves of a potato plant OK to compost?

Imogen.

Title: Re: Potato stems
Post by: JayG on June 16, 2010, 22:08

Best not I think, but only because they may carry diseases over to your plot next year.

Title: Re: Potato stems
Post by: solway cropper on June 16, 2010, 23:16

If they are disease free then theoretically yes. Having said that, I never put any part of a potato or tomato plant in the compost.....call me paranoid.

Title: Re: Potato stems
Post by: Trillium on June 17, 2010, 03:28

If you're sure they're diseases free (blight, blackleg, etc) then yes, you can compost them. I do all the time.

Title: Re: Potato stems
Post by: mumofstig on June 17, 2010, 10:15

This always causes much discussion   ::)
Some do some don't...........I do add healthy leaves and stems, but have stopped adding potato peelings to the compost heap.........mainly to stop them regrowing  :lol:

Title: Re: Potato stems
Post by: Imogen on June 17, 2010, 21:34

Thanks for all the advice, i am happy the ones i have put in are disease free.

Imogen