[Broadhaven]

I have grown tomatoes for the first time this year in the greenhouse. I am now cutting them down after taking off the toms I can use.

I grew them in a ring culture way and am putting all the soil from the grow bag on my compost bin and throwing any infected toms away.

I am also throwing away all the root system rather than putting it on the compost.

Am I correct to do this?

[JayG]

You don't mention what sort of "infection" your tomatoes were suffering from. As a general rule, it is unwise to compost any plant material or spent compost known to be contaminated with an infective agent.

This would of course include tomato blight or a virus which are diseases which you definitely do not want to recycle via your compost heap.

[madcat]

If they are fading because they have come to the end of the summer and as there isn't any blight then I dont see why the roots can't go in the compost bin.  They will rot down fine.

However I worry about you putting the spent compost that you grew them in into the compost bin.  It won't rot down any more and will cool the bin, making it harder for other material to get hot and rot down properly.  It won't have a lot of goodness left in it but makes good organic matter or mulch.  Can you spread it somewhere where it can lighten the soil?  

[Broadhaven]

JayG
The only way I can describe them is that they went mouldy looking. Not sure if this is classed as an infection. Sorry I can't be more decriptive.

Yes Madcat I have plenty of borders in my garden that I can use the spent compost on, so thanks for your answers.

[realfood]

I reuse the growbags for a different crop the following year and have never had any problems.

[madcat]

JayG
The only way I can describe them is that they went mouldy looking. Not sure if this is classed as an infection. Sorry I can't be more decriptive.

Mildew?  Grey mould?  That would be fine, just rotting off at the end of the season - its blight you have to worry about.  Google for pics.

[sunshineband]

They sound like normal tomato roots for the time of year tbh.

I've just chopped mine up and added them to the compost bin. Teh growbags will be 'refreshed' with some added compost and then am planting winter lettuce -- Winter Gem.