sprouted spuds on compost

[sarah]

i have just found a large bag of potatoes left from the last seasons crop (dont ask me how i forget about them!).  they are all a mass of sprouts. if i put them on the compost will they compost properly or will i spend the next twelve months picking out spud seedlings? 

[sarah]

[Robert_Brenchley]

As long as the compost is covered they'll die and rot quite quickly. I'm always chucking volunteer spuds into my bins and none of them ever survive.

[tim_n]

pick 'em out and bin 'em.  Reduces risk of disease.

I have loads in my bin :- (

[dtw]

I left some to grow in my compost bin last year and had a massive 2.25lb potato.
I've got even more this year, not intentionally, but there were so many shoots I didn't have the heart to put the lid back on.

[sarah]

i'm in two minds really. its a big bag of spuds (cant think how i missed them).  i think i will probably put them in as i have recently emptied it so they will be on the bottom and being that deep should do the trick. thanks guys.

[tim_n]

I have potatoes that have grown up through 2.5 meters of compost.

I really wouldn't risk it.  If you do dare, I'd recommend putting them through a fine chipper.

[misfit]

2.5 metres !!! thats one big compost heap  :o :D

[tim_n]

You're quite right, it's only 1.8m  I've got a half plot and the compost heap is pretty high because it can't go left/right.  I do tend to add clumps of soil to it when I dig off the couch grass infected top...

It'll be much higher when my pumpkin gets underway.