Q: Now that it’s late autumn, my dahlias are starting to die back. Can I leave the plants in the ground or do I need I lift the tubers and store them in my shed for the winter? I’d much prefer the first option if possible! MD, Kilkenny
01.10.2023 - 03:17 / gardeningknowhow.com / Mary Ellen Ellis
One of the most important things to know about making your own compost is what you can and cannot put in it. For example, meat and dairy shouldn’t go in because they get very stinky and attract pests. What about eggshells, though? When composting eggshells, salmonella might concern a conscientious gardener, but it’s really nothing to worry about.
You can add eggshells to your compost pile as part of your regular kitchen waste. And you should, because doing so reduces waste to the landfill and because they add nutrients to your soil. Eggshells are particularly rich in calcium, a micronutrient for your plants.
When putting eggshells in compost, salmonella might be a worry, but it shouldn’t be. It’s true that we need to take care when handling eggs in the kitchen due to the risk of salmonella on the shell. Chickens often host a type of salmonella that can transfer to the shell of the egg and make you sick.
To avoid contamination with salmonella, it’s important to wash your hands after handling raw eggs. We’re also advised to avoid eating foods with raw eggs, like cookie dough. These kinds of rules may lead you to believe you should also wash raw eggshells before adding them to compost.
Washing eggshells before composting is not necessary to eliminate salmonella. Compost piles get very hot in the center, around 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (60 to 71 degrees Celsius), which is enough to kill most pathogens. Even if salmonella survives the composting process, the amount present in the finished product is likely to be very low, similar to what is naturally in the soil anyway.
One reason you might consider washing shells with raw egg or bits of cooked hardboiled egg left in them is to avoid pests. Animals like skunks or raccoons are
Q: Now that it’s late autumn, my dahlias are starting to die back. Can I leave the plants in the ground or do I need I lift the tubers and store them in my shed for the winter? I’d much prefer the first option if possible! MD, Kilkenny
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