"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...

In article , "Cat"
writes:
| I recently bought a composter (fancy name for four sides and a lid, all
made
| of hard wearing plastic) and saw on the instructions that weeds could
be
| composted in it...
| I always thought this was a big nono, but then thought that young
weeds,
| before they set seed, might be ok, as the heat within the composter
should
| theoretically kill them, and reduce them into the same organic mush as
the
| rest..

Well, I compost all mine, including ripe seeds, in a traditional
cold heap. However, I do avoid putting serious weeds with durable
ripe seeds in there (nettles, goosefoot etc.) Who cares about
groundsel and sow thistles?

Young weeds are never a problem in a 'hot' composter. Some people
have trouble with bindweed and ground elder surviving, but I don't,
and I compost lots of them.



Oh, I'm so glad you said that!

I got my hands on an allotment late last year, and at that point I hadn't
learned to recognise the menace that bindweed is (or to identify it's
roots..). So it all went into the compost bins, along with everything else.

I've not noticed _any_ bindweed growing out of the composters, so crossed
fingers it's not going to be compounding the problem when I use the stuff.

However, I will be keeping a lookout for any telltale roots when I start to
remove the compost.

--
Richard Sampson

mail me at
richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk