Search
Latest topics
» Ohio Gardener's Greenhouseby OhioGardener Yesterday at 3:36 pm
» N & C Midwest—May 2024
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 3:16 pm
» Greetings from Southport NC
by sanderson Yesterday at 4:36 am
» In the news: Biosolids in Texas.
by sanderson Yesterday at 4:19 am
» Rhubarb Rhubarb
by Scorpio Rising 5/5/2024, 7:57 pm
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by Scorpio Rising 5/5/2024, 7:55 pm
» Complicated mixed up bunny poop!
by jemm 5/5/2024, 7:24 pm
» Mark's first SFG
by markqz 5/4/2024, 12:08 am
» question about the digital tools from the sfg site.
by OhioGardener 5/2/2024, 4:50 pm
» Assistance Needed: Sugar Snap Peas Yellowing and Wilting
by Scorpio Rising 5/1/2024, 8:24 pm
» OMG, GMO from an unexpected place.
by sanderson 5/1/2024, 1:57 am
» N & C Midwest: March and April 2024
by Scorpio Rising 4/29/2024, 1:30 pm
» Lovage, has anyone grown, or used
by OhioGardener 4/29/2024, 12:27 pm
» New to SFG in Arlington, Tx
by sanderson 4/26/2024, 3:13 pm
» Soil Blocks: Tutorial In Photos
by OhioGardener 4/25/2024, 5:20 pm
» Manure tea overwintered outside - is it safe to use?
by Mhpoole 4/24/2024, 7:08 pm
» Advice on my blend
by donnainzone5 4/24/2024, 12:13 pm
» Senseless Banter...
by OhioGardener 4/24/2024, 8:16 am
» What do I do with tomato plants?
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 4/23/2024, 1:36 am
» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by sanderson 4/22/2024, 2:07 pm
» Sacrificial Tomatoes
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 4/22/2024, 10:36 am
» From the Admin - 4th EDITION of All New Square Foot Gardening is in Progress
by sanderson 4/21/2024, 5:02 pm
» Seedling Identification
by AuntieBeth 4/21/2024, 8:00 am
» Happy Birthday!!
by AtlantaMarie 4/21/2024, 6:56 am
» Three Sisters Thursday
by sanderson 4/20/2024, 5:25 pm
» Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
by sanderson 4/20/2024, 3:08 pm
» Compost not hot
by Guinevere 4/19/2024, 11:19 am
» Maybe a silly question but...
by sanderson 4/18/2024, 11:22 pm
» Hi from zone 10B--southern orange county, ca
by sanderson 4/18/2024, 12:25 am
» Asparagus
by OhioGardener 4/17/2024, 6:17 pm
Google
Black walnut in compost?
4 posters
Page 1 of 1
Black walnut in compost?
I am getting started on my first garden, slowly getting everything ready for spring. I started a compost pile and so far I mostly have leaves and pine needles. Ive been gradually adding fruit peelings, vegetable parts and I have coffee grounds on the way. As I read up on things...It's slowly occured to me that every single leaf that has been put in my pile is from a black walnut tree . So is my initial compost try a disaster in need of restarting or is it useable? Some things I read say black walnut is an absolute no no and elsewhere I think I read that once composted it was safe?
Also, any tips on how far a raised bed needs to be from the tree itself in order to suffer no ill effects?
Also, any tips on how far a raised bed needs to be from the tree itself in order to suffer no ill effects?
JK- Posts : 123
Join date : 2011-12-06
Age : 37
Location : Macon, Georgia
Re: Black walnut in compost?
Greetings!
I would say this is the most thorough discussion about Black Walnut, that I recall on the forum. Hope it helps.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t6655-black-walnut-toxicity
I would say this is the most thorough discussion about Black Walnut, that I recall on the forum. Hope it helps.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t6655-black-walnut-toxicity
Re: Black walnut in compost?
Welcome to the Forum JK! This is a great question!!! I do not have any personal experience with Black Walnut trees but I have some with Butternuts.
Here is a thread from another forum. A lot of the links suggest that the active toxic ingredient juglone depletes during composting of the leaves. If the walnut trees are in your yard, you may need to be strategic in placing the garden. It is my understanding that the juglone is particularly high in the roots of the trees. Good luck and let us know what else you find out.
Here is a thread from another forum. A lot of the links suggest that the active toxic ingredient juglone depletes during composting of the leaves. If the walnut trees are in your yard, you may need to be strategic in placing the garden. It is my understanding that the juglone is particularly high in the roots of the trees. Good luck and let us know what else you find out.
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: Black walnut in compost?
Doh...
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/soil/msg1016222815119.html <~~~~ Click
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/soil/msg1016222815119.html <~~~~ Click
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: Black walnut in compost?
Hi!
I'm only slowly getting into SFG so I'm a rookie, but I've done quite a bit of reading on black walnut since as my monniker suggests, I'm gardening in close proximity to one. It is no lie that it's nasty to tomato plants.
Someone suggested to plant a tomato seedling in the compost and see if it thrives. That's going to tell you a lot about the juglone in the compost since tomatoes are one of the most julgone INtolerant plants. If it does, then you are obviously fine. If it starts to look "wilted" or yellow, then I'd use it only on more juglone tolerant plants and either purchase compost or start a separate compost pile for your tomatoes/peppers/etc. that does not contain the black walnut material. If you don't want to wait on your seedling (or try it indoors), then I'd probably NOT use it 100% on sensitive plants. I know several sources say not to use it for mulch, and that it would be okay composted, but as other posters have listed, the sources do contradict themselves. Maybe you could get some compost from another source and mix it for those beds with juglone sensitive plants. LOL Most people plan their beds by season, color, companion plants...but folks like us have to plan by juglone tolerance as well.
The previous links give lots of resources for lists of juglone tolerant and intolerant plants but here is a quick rundown of the vegetables:
TOLERANT - squash, melon, bean, carrot, corn, beet, onion, parsnip
SENSITIVE - tomato, pepper, eggplant, potato, cabbage, asparagus, rhubarb
If it's not listed above, then there probably isn't too much documented about it. I was able to grow sugar snap peas at the edge of the dripline successfully, and I had some luck with cucumbers but am going to try those again this year and hope for a little bit better results. My raspberry grows well and I'm trying blueberry in pots as far away as possible (since those are sensitive), so we'll see.
It's awesome that you are doing your own composting. I'd love to know how it goes. Please keep us posted.
I'm only slowly getting into SFG so I'm a rookie, but I've done quite a bit of reading on black walnut since as my monniker suggests, I'm gardening in close proximity to one. It is no lie that it's nasty to tomato plants.
Someone suggested to plant a tomato seedling in the compost and see if it thrives. That's going to tell you a lot about the juglone in the compost since tomatoes are one of the most julgone INtolerant plants. If it does, then you are obviously fine. If it starts to look "wilted" or yellow, then I'd use it only on more juglone tolerant plants and either purchase compost or start a separate compost pile for your tomatoes/peppers/etc. that does not contain the black walnut material. If you don't want to wait on your seedling (or try it indoors), then I'd probably NOT use it 100% on sensitive plants. I know several sources say not to use it for mulch, and that it would be okay composted, but as other posters have listed, the sources do contradict themselves. Maybe you could get some compost from another source and mix it for those beds with juglone sensitive plants. LOL Most people plan their beds by season, color, companion plants...but folks like us have to plan by juglone tolerance as well.
The previous links give lots of resources for lists of juglone tolerant and intolerant plants but here is a quick rundown of the vegetables:
TOLERANT - squash, melon, bean, carrot, corn, beet, onion, parsnip
SENSITIVE - tomato, pepper, eggplant, potato, cabbage, asparagus, rhubarb
If it's not listed above, then there probably isn't too much documented about it. I was able to grow sugar snap peas at the edge of the dripline successfully, and I had some luck with cucumbers but am going to try those again this year and hope for a little bit better results. My raspberry grows well and I'm trying blueberry in pots as far away as possible (since those are sensitive), so we'll see.
It's awesome that you are doing your own composting. I'd love to know how it goes. Please keep us posted.
UnderTheBlackWalnut- Posts : 559
Join date : 2011-04-18
Age : 57
Location : Springfield (central), IL, on the line between 5b and 6a
Re: Black walnut in compost?
Thanks for replies everyone . Those links tell me pretty much everything I needed to know. Now if I can just get the compost to start composting... lol
JK- Posts : 123
Join date : 2011-12-06
Age : 37
Location : Macon, Georgia
Similar topics
» Black Forest compost
» flies in black hen compost
» Pike Nursery Peachtree City - Suddenly removed EB Chicken Compost for safety reasons - Going to star to carry Black Hen
» Can you put worms in your compost bin?
» UnderTheBlack Walnut is having a Birthday 08/17
» flies in black hen compost
» Pike Nursery Peachtree City - Suddenly removed EB Chicken Compost for safety reasons - Going to star to carry Black Hen
» Can you put worms in your compost bin?
» UnderTheBlack Walnut is having a Birthday 08/17
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|