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Spent Compost

• Message 1. 

  Posted by mum-at-the-oven (U13677580) on Thursday, 4th November 2010

  We only have a tiny garden but managed to grow quite a bit in tubs. Tomatoes,peas,herbs etc.
  
  Can anyone tell me if it is safe to put the spent compost onto a raised bed where we grow courgettes and runner beans or would we run the risk of contamination?
  
  Many thanks in advance

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by elderman4 (U10843761) on Thursday, 4th November 2010

  I cannot see any reason why you could not put the compost on the raised bed.
  If you had a composter and you were in any doubt, I'd put it in there.
  
  One thing I would do is burn or dispose of the tomato plants as I never put them in the compost bin as they are a relative of the potatoe, which has a virus that is quite devastating.
  
  Providing you spread the used compost over the bed and let the winter do its job, then dig it over next spring - sounds good to me!!

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by 7magpies (U8108459) on Thursday, 4th November 2010

  Can't think of any reason not to put it in your raised beds. It will have given up some of its goodness but it will still be a uesful soil conditioner, and there's no reason to think it will cause contamination, any more than whatever's been in the beds already.
  
  In fact this is better than putting it into your compost heap. Composters needs to build up heat to break down the fresh vegetation, and if you add too much already-composted material, it will slow down this action.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by mum-at-the-oven (U13677580) on Thursday, 4th November 2010

  Thank you both for your helpful replies.
  
  I was concerned that the spent compost might have become contaminated with viruses/blight or similar as although the tomato plants have long been desposed of,the tubs containing the compost are still sitting in the garden.
  
  Thanks again

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by 7magpies (U8108459) on Friday, 5th November 2010

  I see what you mean, but I doubt if there's a problem. I think it's advised not to grow tomatoes/potatoes in the same soil in successive years, because of blight,but if you're planning to put the compost in an area for growing beans/courgettes, this amounts to sensible crop rotation, so you should be OK.
  
  In any case, some people are saying that blight survives only on living tissue, and not in the soil over the winter. It tends to be spread on the wind in warm, damp summer weather, and there's not a lot you can do to avoid exposure to it. You might get the occasional "volunteer" potato left in the soil/pot that harboured it over the winter, but if a tuber had blight it would probably have died by now anyway. And blight spores are no risk to other crops in different groups, like beans or soft fruit or courgettes.
  
  I can't think of any other nasties that would lurk in the soil until next season.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by mum-at-the-oven (U13677580) on Friday, 5th November 2010

  Many thanks for that explaination 7magpies. I know people that have had a tomato crop decimated by blight and wanted to do my upmost to prevent it.
  ATB

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