Topic: Onion skins in compost

[Strawberrygirl]

Can i put the skins of the onion in my compost?  Someone told me years ago, probably my Mum, that they don't break down and not to put them in.  Is this correct, or an old wives tale (or Mother's tale?)

[Flighty]

Mine go on the compost heap, and always have done!   

[GRACELAND]

yep i do  ;D ;D

[Strawberrygirl]

Good stuff, then mine will too then !  Thanks guys  :)

[cornykev]

Mummys tail I'm afraid.  ;D ;D ;D

[Digeroo]

I find they sometimes do take quite a time to breakdown but once put into the soil I never see them again. 

[plainleaf]

I assume we are referring to the skins of onions that you eat, not the onion skin paper used with carbon paper. since the later should never be used in compost.

[saddad]

Might be sensible advice in an area with a lot of White Rot...  :-X

[pumkinlover]

Now this is for debate-I'm not sure what to think :-\
I always advised people not to compost alliums in any form because of "triggering" the white rot spores.
Then I was told by someone-but can't remember whom- that if alliums are put into the compost they trigger the spores to grow. But there is no plant for them to attack so they die! I was told that the onion waste from commercial sandwich making firms is used by farmers for this on the areas that they are NOT going to grow alliums on that year.  A bit like letting the weeds germinating then hoeing them off to get a sterile seed bed.
Any thoughts?

[pumkinlover]

bumpin as I'd hoped to see what other people think about this one :-[

[gp.girl]

Sounds plausible but can't think how you would test it  :)

[cornykev]

There was a thread on this before about using solutions of onion in the watering can and watering the infected area when the bed is empty as you said PL and the spores come up with nothing to feed on and die, I was going to try this this year.    :-\