Kitchen Garden Forum

Can anyone tell me, is it OK to add potato haulms to the compost heap? They are showing no signs of blight and it seems a shame to put them in the bin. The heap does get to a very high temperature as there is horse manure added so any spores would get well and truly cooked. What do you all think?

No problem - I always do anyway.

This may be totally wrong but I read that even haulms with blight can be composted as the spores only live on living plant material. I'd love to know what other people think?

Hi Glallotments,
I for one never compost potato haulm. Potatoes carry a whole raft of other diseases other than blight. Blight is unlikely to be passed on through the compost but many of the other diseases can be. To me for what you actually get compost-wise is it really worth running the risk?
To me the answer to that question is a resounding no!
JB.

I compost my own haulms if they are disease free which hardly ever happens, but never ever peelings from a bought potato.

Victoria - what do you consider wrong with potato peelings that you wont compost them? Surely the heat of a good heap will kill off all the nasties?

They will be fine in the compost if they look healthy. I've also read that even ones with blight are ok to compost. We've never had blight, so I can't say either way, but I think I might put obviously diseased ones in the dustbin to be on the safe side.

I burn the blighted haulms - first time last year,a nd wouldn't add them to the heap just in case. Otherwise healthy ones go on, as do all potato peelings, and don't think I've ever had a problem. Wondering about potato haulm wine?

Thanks for all the replies - healthy looking haulms are headed for the heap!

I compost them when I have not had blight, but I only grow a first early (International Kidney) and maincrop Sarpo Mira which are blight resistant. But if I did get blight I would burn the haulms, after leaving them to dry out under a poly sheet first.

CoMpO

As long as your compost heap gets up to temperature there wont be a problem.

Suggest you add some manure and most importantly plenty of ventilation so that its aerobic etc

I don't know if it is ok to compost potato haulm or not, I have always burnt the haulm because that is what I've always done, based I suppose on how I was taught.

However it may be that burning is not required, I suppose it depends on how good your composting methods are. I have not made compost for decades now but when I did I really enjoyed the process. I am considering scaling back now and may just work a couple of allotments and would then start making the black gold again but still would not be brave enough to compost potato haulm.

Barney

I feed potato peelings to the worms.