[Arid_gardener] Sunflowers In Compost - Fiction

[Genie]

 Dear Suzanne,

Dick is correct... the rumors regarding compost "toxins" are false.  
Some folks are paranoid about composting sunflower heads
and seed hulls, in addition to the stalks!!!  The concerns about 
sunflower, oleander, eucalyptus, walnut (juglone), rhubarb leaves
(oxalic acid), grass clippings (treated with herbicides), etc., are 
likely due to their effect on humans and/or livestock consuming
the active poisons -- or perhaps some gardeners are eating their 
compost.  <yeecchh !>

If YOU are concerned about the effects of these plant parts in your 
compost, Suzanne, simply add a bit of your (old) compost
to the new pile... to introduce beneficial microbes.  If this is not 
practical, allow the compost to completely degrade into humus
before using -- then test it with a few tomato seeds.  When the seeds 
germinate, it's OK to use.

As for your experience with sunflowers and slowpoke beans... keep in 
mind that beans require LOTS of nitrogen to produce
an abundant crop, along with soil inoculant (mychorrizal/rhizobium 
beneficial bacterium) for nitrogen fixation.
And, depending upon how many sunflowers were grown, there may have been 
competition for the available nitrogen.

Hope this alleviates any concerns, Suzanne.  Good Luck!

Kindest Regards,  Genie        

>Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2006 10:40:35 -0700
>From: "Dick Gross" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
>Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Sunflower Stalks in the Compost?
>To: "Suzanne Vilardi" <suz at vilardi.com>
>Cc: arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
>Message-ID: <002401c6a05a$1f400d30$9b30e644 at your55e5f9e3d2>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>I have been a backyard compostor for over 50 years, Susanne, and still learning. I love sunflowers, have grown and composted a lot of their debris with no ill effects that I have seen. Sun flowers extract a lot from the soil and additional fertilizer and water would be needed for pole beans and sunflowers growing in close proximity. I would have no compunction about putting both species in the same hole for natural trellis.
>
>I have heard that eucalyptus and oleander are both toxic to competition from other plant species but I believe neither, when completely composted, would leave any of the deliterious effects in the soil. Oleander will, of course, make one sick--or worse, if ingested.. 
>
>I would not knowingly grow any plant I believe to be toxic or poisonous. I hate oleander and caster bean, for example. You will never see any of these botanical outlaws growing in my space.
>
>I have a Eucalyptis tree. Every leaf and branch that I can physically shred goes into my compost with no apparent ill effects.
>
>If composting is complete, every original organic compound will have been eaten, digested, broken down and excreted by the multitude of micro-organisms living in the soil. Otherwise, it ain't compost as I percieve it.
>
>Composting is a critical subject with which all Master Gardeners should be intimate; both in performing it and teaching it. 
>
>If any of you have additional, clarifying or correctional information  on the subject of compost above, you have an obligation under your Master Gardener "pledge" to share it in this forum. 
>
>Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
>University of Arizona Maricopa County
>Cooperative Extension.
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Suzanne Vilardi 
>  To: arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu 
>  Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 7:12 AM
>  Subject: [Arid_gardener] Sunflower Stalks in the Compost?
>
>
>  I have heard not to put Oleander into the compost pile, but what about sunflower stalks?  I have read something about sunflowers producing a chemical in their roots that is toxic to some other plants, and I have observed in my own garden that beans don't grow well near sunflowers.  Can anyone tell me if it is ok to put the chopped up stalks into my compost pile?  Thanks, Suzanne Vilardi
>
>
>  
>
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