As a gardener, you probably have too many tomato plants at the end of each growing season. Some people throw them away, but composting them is a great way to reuse nutrients and make your soil healthier. But there are a few things you should think about before you throw away your old tomato plants. We’ll talk about the pros and cons of composting tomatoes and give you tips on how to do it right in this in-depth guide.
Why Compost Tomato Plants?
Composting tomato plants has several benefits
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It reduces waste sent to landfills by recycling the plant material.
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It returns nutrients from the plants back into the soil, acting as a natural fertilizer Main nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace minerals.
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Compost improves soil structure, aeration, and moisture retention. The organic matter binds particles into a better growing medium.
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It attracts helpful organisms like earthworms and beneficial bacteria. These further enrich the soil.
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Specifically for tomatoes, their vines and leaves are rich in nitrogen and minerals that garden beds need.
As long as the plants are disease-free, most gardeners agree composting tomato plants is an eco-friendly way to reuse waste.
Risks of Composting Tomatoes
However, there are some potential risks to be aware of:
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Composting can spread disease if the plant is infected. Fungal diseases like early blight, Septoria leaf spot, fusarium and verticillium wilt can persist. Bacterial spot and canker are also problematic.
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The thick vines may not break down completely. This leaves chunks of material in the finished compost. Chopping the plants helps speed decomposition.
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Some seeds can survive and sprout the following season. These volunteers can become weeds in garden beds. Hot composting kills seeds.
To avoid issues, inspect plants closely and exclude any with disease symptoms. Maintain proper conditions in the compost pile to destroy pathogens and break down material.
Tips for Composting Tomato Plants
Follow these tips for safely composting tomato plants:
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Wait for a dry day, then allow plants to further dry before composting. This prevents mold.
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Chop or shred plants into smaller pieces to help them break down faster.
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Consider composting just the leaves/stems and disposing of thick vines.
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Layer plants with high-nitrogen “green” materials like grass clippings to balance the carbon-nitrogen ratio.
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Turn and mix the pile frequently to aerate.
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Monitor temperature and moisture in the pile. Water as needed to keep it moist but not soaked.
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Hot compost infected plants or all tomato plants as a precaution. Maintain 130-170°F to kill pathogens.
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Allow finished compost to cure for 2-4 weeks before using in beds to further reduce risks.
Composting Diseased Tomato Plants
It’s risky to compost diseased tomato plants as fungal and bacterial diseases can persist. However, viral diseases like tobacco mosaic virus are safer if the pile heats up sufficiently.
Ideally, identify and remove any diseased plants as soon as issues appear. Discard these in the trash rather than the compost pile. Hot composting is an option but preventing disease in the first place is key.
Crop rotation, staking, mulching, and drip irrigation all help keep tomato plants healthy and disease-free for composting.
Alternative Uses for Tomato Plants
If composting seems risky, here are other options:
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Add chopped plants to a worm composting bin for vermicompost.
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Use as a mulch by chopping and placing around plants.
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Bury vines/stems in empty garden beds to enrich the soil as they decompose.
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Place in yard waste collection if your city offers this service.
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Dry and burn as kindling in bonfires or fireplaces.
Composting tomato plants allows you to recycle nutrients, improve soil health, and reduce waste. Take care to prevent disease spread and volunteer sprouts when composting. Inspect plants, chop material, maintain proper conditions, and consider hot composting as a safeguard. With some diligence, reusing tomato waste through composting can benefit your garden without risks.