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Good Question: Seeds + Compost = Sprouts?

8_13_2007-sprout.jpg
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So many good questions! Today's comes from AT:Green Home reader click chick. She wrote:

I want to start composting my kitchen waste and I'm wondering whether seeds from produce can go in. One would think that pepper seeds might start a plant of their own in the compost pile.
What say you?

I found the EPA's web page on compost, which lists shoulds and should nots - but it doesn't address seeds. When I was a kid on the farm we kept what Mom called a 'slop bucket' under the sink and fed it to the hogs. Everything went in there... including egg shells and Mom's cigarette butts! So I guess I need clear guidelines.

Thanks!

 
 

Dear Click (Ms. Chick?),

It's our understanding that just about anything organic can go in compost: bones, banana peels, unprinted paper.

The do's and don'ts matter if you are in a rush or if you live in a place where wild critters (or neighbor dogs) might rummage through your pile: in that case, leave out the paper and anything that contains meat, like spoiled leftovers. We are a little perplexed, though, by the EPA's language: animal manure is in, but pet waste is out? Huh?

A further aside about language and culture: it is shocking that 24% of our garbage is "yard trimmings and food residuals." We wonder why the EPA doesn't call it what it is: waste.

As for seeds...A properly functioning compost pile gets hot enough that few seeds will germinate, and the chemical composition of a compost pile is simply too rich for most plants: so many nutrients are actually poison. (Remember back to your childhood when your neighbors over-fertilized, and killed, their lawn.) So compost away, seeds and all. A few seeds may tough it out, but it's unlikely you'll end up with a pepper plant in your compost pile.

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Comments (10)

i would guess the reason you can use animal manure and not pet waste is because that is assuming these "animals" (ie cows, goats, etc.) eat mainly grass, while dogs/cats eat a combination of meat and grains... what you put in is what you get out.

our city has a composting program. what you can deposit in a yardwaste container (yard clippings, veg/fruit scraps, egg shells, etc, but NOT meat or dairy) is made into compost, so the same rules probably apply.

http://www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Yard/Composting/SPU01_001997.asp

posted by meredith on August 13th 2007 at 10:44am
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Regarding not composting Pet-Poo...since cats/dogs are fed meat products, their poo should not be composted - doesn't break down and is especially attractive to vermin.

And cat/dog poo can contain pathogens/parasites that should not be composted (and spread on your veggie garden...).

Link to more info

posted by JenPDX on August 13th 2007 at 10:44am
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I put plants with seeds in both my vermicompost and compost. I suggest that you do not anything in the compost that is invasive and has seeds (you don't want invasives in your garden!) or plants with seeds such as ragweed (allergies!)

Ocassionally I get things sprouting in both composters. Last year I got an accidental zuccini plant in my garden thanks to the compost that I used!

posted by michael d bailey on August 13th 2007 at 10:46am
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if you are planning to use the compost as fertilizer, i recommend not putting any weeds in your compost. other yard waste should be okay. my mom spread compost that included weeds on her vegetable garden and it was covered with weeds. now we have a "good compost" pile that can go on the garden and a "bad compost" pile that just decomposes on its own.

otherwise, i think the rule is no animal products and no foods cooked in oil.

posted by damova on August 13th 2007 at 11:52am
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In an ideal compost pile with the proper green/brown ration, the heat would get high enough to kill the seeds and keep them from germinating....but in a northern climate, it might not get hot enough for long enough to cook the compost.

posted by polkadot on August 13th 2007 at 12:43pm
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Both this year and last year I had the pleasant surprise of getting many tomato and squash plants from my compost. I think it may depend too on where you put your compost pile. More sun might equal less germination. It's nice though, to discover that you have fifteen sungold tomato plants mixed in with your parsley.

posted by Wandres on August 13th 2007 at 4:40pm
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Agreeing with what others have said - it depends on if your compost gets hot enough to kill the seeds, or if you mind getting a few plants in unexpected places. So far we've had all sorts of vegetable seeds in ours, and no plants yet.

Definitely don't put weeds in to compost though, as they're tough and will likely return from the grave to haunt you!

posted by stringy on August 13th 2007 at 8:08pm
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I wouldn't put bones in either! Unless you really like rats! Basically - veg/fruit scraps (don't worry bout the seeds), gardening waste (I put weeds in too, especially nettles which are great for activating the compost, I think cos of their nitrogen content), egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags and unbleached, unwaxed paper and cardboard (like eggboxes) if it's torn into pieces. Cigarette ends only if you smoke filterless roll-ups!

posted by tin_angel on August 14th 2007 at 2:50am
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Seeds provide the best surprises! We had thrown some rotten winter squash in the compost bin one year, and a few years later, near the bin we found a HUGE squash plant! Needless to say, we were very well fed that week.

posted by kmswann on August 14th 2007 at 8:35am
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Remember that if your pets are rabbits, their poo is -excellent- for compost. It's just the meat eaters that cause problems.

posted by moiety on August 14th 2007 at 10:27am
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