[sandygreen]

Last year I put my old tomato plants in my compost bin and put the green tomatoes on the windowsill to ripen.  Some of the tomatoes had that look when they have blight and I threw them away.  I wasn't sure if the plants themselves had blight, I can never really tell when it is in the early stages if it is blight or just the plant dying off, it was October by this time and it had been so dry I didn't think it could be blight.  On reflection I was probably stupid putting them in my compost bin but now have the dilemma, do I discard the whole compost bin or use it?  I wouldn't use it for tomatoes or potatoes anyway but wondered if I might be able to use as a soil improver where I am not growing any vegetables but as blight is an airborne disease would I still have the problem.  Does anybody have any suggestions please as I am totally unsure what to do?  As this is the current compost bin I wouldn't probably use it until next winter or even next summer anyway.

[mumofstig]

IMO it would be fine to use

next winter or even next summer

but you could always use it where you are not going to grow tomatoes or potatoes, if you are worried about it.

[sandygreen]

Thanks very much, I wouldn't like to lose a whole bin of compost if I can help it.

[AussieInFrance]

Most experiences opinions say that blight only prospers on live plant material... ie when the affected tomato plant dies off and eventually composts the blight spores do not survive. I have always composted my tomato plants whether infected or not and not had blight transfer to next years crop, so i accept the above opinion as correct. I know some play it safe and dispose of anything suspect but i'm always reluctant to waste material for the compost bins.

HTH