Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: strangerachael on February 06, 2009, 18:04

Title: potato peelings in the compost?
Post by: strangerachael on February 06, 2009, 18:04: I've heard that you shouldn't put potato peelings into compost - anyone know why? I always put mine in.
Title: Re: potato peelings in the compost?
Post by: peapod on February 06, 2009, 18:05: Its because they can sprout
I always put mine in too and its never happened to me
Title: Re: potato peelings in the compost?
Post by: mikem on February 06, 2009, 18:34: Quote from: peapod on February 06, 2009, 18:05
Its because they can sprout
I always put mine in too and its never happened to me

I always wondered where the sprouts came from! ;)
Title: Re: potato peelings in the compost?
Post by: Trillium on February 06, 2009, 20:26: I've never had sprouts either. They must rot down too quickly for that to happen.
Title: Re: potato peelings in the compost?
Post by: wighty on February 06, 2009, 20:57: The best potatoes we've had have always come from 'surprise' plants where we have spread the contents of our compost bin,. Just don't put in the peelings of your JA's because they will sprout as well.
Title: Re: potato peelings in the compost?
Post by: Salmo on February 06, 2009, 23:15: Slap on the wrist for Wighty!!!

Never ever let surprise potatoes grow, whether in compost or a bed. These are the ones that start blight epidemics. Your neighbours will not thank you.

I think potato peelings are OK in compost as long as you make sure they are well buried and therefore rot down. The ones that grow are usually where a potato has been rejected in the kitchen and thrown out with the peelings. i.e. green, split, bug holes or just too small to peel.
Title: Re: potato peelings in the compost?
Post by: Stripey_cat on February 07, 2009, 13:46: You can also spread diseases via the compost, if the peelings have scab on them, or you cut out manky bits and throw them in the bin too.
Title: Re: potato peelings in the compost?
Post by: beansticks on February 07, 2009, 17:38: Dont know how much truth there is in it ,but i read somewhere that if you microwave the peelings first they will not sprout,never tried it myself though,i just dont use them.
Title: Re: potato peelings in the compost?
Post by: sunshineband on February 07, 2009, 18:44: I had some brilliant spuds from the compost. Oh dear Wighty, looks like it's us again... must be those alumninium preserving pans!!!