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Question

sophie53

Can I compost diseased and pest-infested plant matter?

Topics:

Composting and soil fertility

Answer

Awaiting answers

Question details

I had tomatoes that had blight and cutworms this year. Can I compost them in a cold pile?

david e kelley

Mon, 10/04/2010 - 05:28

Do not compost blighted plants. Burn the blighted plants if legal snd safe in your area, or dispose of them in the trash. Cutworms will not be a problem in the compost. See Groups for more information about composting and plant diseases. Stay natural, David

sophie53

Tue, 10/05/2010 - 08:48

Thanks David. I thought the cutworms went from year to year...last year I thought they were centipedes...some might have been....!

sophie53

Sat, 05/28/2011 - 13:58

Hi All, My compost pile had lots of cutworms in it. Or what I assume to be cutworms. (Roley-poly bugs that are white and in various sizes, but normally smallish. I also have some that are brownish.) Things look fine except that. I sure don't want to put cutworms in with my new plants. I am on dial up and it takes too long to send a picture!) The compost pile never heated up. It froze at one point this winter. They look like the white bug in the big picture in this link: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=cutworms&view=detail&id=C604CDFD36A354D3F460D81D5F05F7DF3EEEF1CB&first=0&FORM=IDFRIR Suggestions? Do you know if they are? Thank you! Sophie

david e kelley

Sat, 05/28/2011 - 16:03

Sound like grubworms, which are usually white with a brown head and a clear segment at the tail where you can often see the digested matter. They are not a problem in a compost pile, but I would not knowingly put them in my garden or containers. Go to Group Garden Pests and see the post on Grubworms. Stay natural, David