Safe to compost powdery mildew leaves?

bnoles 8/5/2013, 4:52 pm

Trying to do some light duty work in the garden while I am waiting to recover by pulling up my spent plants and ready thing for Fall plantings. I notice that much of my squash and zukes have powdery mildew on the leaves now that I have stopped caring for them. Is it safe to compost these plants or should I avoid it in the pile?

mollyhespra 8/5/2013, 5:19 pm

IIRC, the PM's spores will survive in "regular" soil, but I don't know if they'll make it through a "HOT" composting process. If you have a "cold" pile, I wouldn't risk it.

bnoles 8/5/2013, 6:21 pm

Thanks so much Molly! I think I may put these in the burn pile just to be safe.

**camprn** 8/5/2013, 7:24 pm

I throw them in my compost bin because I do hot composting.
http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/powdery-mildew

I burn anything with blight or anthracnose.
http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/factsheets/Tomato_Anth.htm

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Safe to compost powdery mildew leaves?

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