Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: MervF on July 30, 2017, 15:07:17
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I have just cut down my Foxgloves and was wondering if they can be safely composted so that I could use the compost on the allotment. I know people have said they are poisonous but not sure if they are when rotted down.
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I've always composted foxgloves, I can't see a mechanism for their toxicity surviving rotting down, being spread and then entering any vegetables growing in the soil, though I haven't done the science. I tend to think that if compost is well made, then most dodgy stuff is rendered harmless.
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I don't have a definitive answer ... and this question has made me think. However - I have done this and suffered no ill effects. ... my understanding is that the toxins are concentrated in the flowers/seeds but I thought that by the time they've been composted then they will be harmless.
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i dont compost my foxgloves i just leave them where they are at the back of the border where they self seed for another year hope this helps
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I can't see that composted foxgloves will be any more risky than growing ones. Of course this is not a scientific research based comment! I just keep them out of the way of the rabbits.