I just thought of a silly question and was wandering if I trow pepper or squash seeds in my compost will they start growing. May be not in the tumbler but also when I put the compost in the ground and they dry out? I only ask because I had 4 green bean seeds that did not take last year and a few days ago they were in my garden growing.
newgrow, i think it's totally possible, especially in a compost pile on the ground. i've had lots of 'volunteer' plants from squash and cucumbers, etrc... come up in our compost. speaking of composting... Marvelous Composte Bin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBzriA2U ... r_embedded
Newgrow, i have thrown seens on my compost pile while in the arctic and got all kinds of plants from it. Not the bin kind of compost, but the outdoor open kind. So anyting is possiable i would think. But i think if it would be put in the bin or tumbler kind of composter, would they not burn or get to hot and break down,,or the worms eat them? I don't know how that would work.
Well I guess I'll leave them out.Its just I used 4 bell peppers and just about all that was left were the stem, ribs, bottom, and seeds so I just threw them out. It was not worth the risk I suppose. I don't need 300 bell plants to pop up. Thanks.
I have 3 kinds of composters.. An open wire mesh enclosed cube, a commercial "tumbler" and a large commercial model with double walls, special air giving cones..etc..the bees knees, they said. Well, the tumbler (rotate it once a week , is all) churns our really good compost after 6 months.. The open one takes a year (I grow spuds in it for summer..no free lunches in MY garden..) and the big one also a year.. but maybe less as I learn to "program" it. All seem to have earthworms.. how they get into the tumbler (suspended well above worm leaping height).?? To your question.. the only seeds that survive all this are cucurbits.. pumpkins and melon.. Cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, corn, beans etc.. digested! But come next summer after I have spread the compost.. lots of pumpkins and melons.. Still..hardly a seriuos problem.. Just hoe them in.. green manure, so to speak.
Great wisdom I have a small garden only about 4 foot wide by 60 foot long. Only about 30 foot has already been grown on and worked with the other 30 is new this year, do to my on going never ending expiation. I have not noticed any worms although I did find and pulled out a salamander.
I have two composts. One is a black plastic "tub" thing with an open bottom that I have to churn myself. The other is a tumbler. NewGrow, I've never been careful with seeds and such, I just throw in leftover or rotting fruits and veggies of all kinds. Haven't had any problems with things sprouting up in the composters or in the ground (at least so far...). That said, I throw big grass clumps with roots in a separate area, not in the composter. And, when I dig out vines that I can't stand, I put them in a black plastic garbage bag until they are good and dead so there is no chance of having them start up in my compost. Muddy Knees -- how cool that the worms can find their way into the tumbler, that's good to know. When I find worms, I throw them in the tumbler. This is my first year with the tumbler -- just started it in the Fall. It smells wonderful!!! So far, I like that tumbler and churning it might even give me arms like Michelle Obama!
Yes, seeds will grow in compost. And, it seems that sometimes they almost "hide" in the compost and then germinate in the garden when the compost is spread. Last year I had dozens of little tomato plant volunteers in my flower gardens where I had added what appeared to be well done compost; no problem, they were easy to remove by hand. My guess is that the more your turn your compost, the fewer problems you'll have with seed germination. moderator's note: removed website link, see point 1.1 of usage rules
