To build a bonfire
 

My pepper crop this year was destroyed by earwigs. Instead of composting
the plants I left them in a pile at the end of the season. My intention is
to burn them all but the only place I have to use is my vegetable plot.
Would it be safe to have a small fire here or would it in some way destroy
the quality of the top soil?

Gordon

In article ,
"Gordon" writes:
| My pepper crop this year was destroyed by earwigs. Instead of composting
| the plants I left them in a pile at the end of the season. My intention is
| to burn them all but the only place I have to use is my vegetable plot.
| Would it be safe to have a small fire here or would it in some way destroy
| the quality of the top soil?

It won't do any harm, but won't do any good, either. They will
arrive again, and breed rapidly. More importantly, it is vanishingly
unlikely that your crop WAS destroyed by them, as they are primarily
scavengers. It is far more likely that it was destroyed by (say)
nocturnal slugs, the earwigs moved into the damaged peppers, and
you found them there.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In article , Gordon
writes
My pepper crop this year was destroyed by earwigs. Instead of composting
the plants I left them in a pile at the end of the season. My intention is
to burn them all but the only place I have to use is my vegetable plot.

Why do you want to burn them rather than compost them?

Would it be safe to have a small fire here or would it in some way destroy
the quality of the top soil?

No, it won't do any harm. And may do a microscopic amount of good by
adding potash to the soil.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

The message
from "Gordon" contains these words:

My pepper crop this year was destroyed by earwigs. Instead of composting
the plants I left them in a pile at the end of the season. My intention is
to burn them all but the only place I have to use is my vegetable plot.
Would it be safe to have a small fire here or would it in some way destroy
the quality of the top soil?

Very unlikely that the earwigs had anything to do with it, they aren't
noshers of fresh vegetable matter.

If there were holes in your peppers, they will have been made by slugs,
more than likely, and the earwigs just taken up residence.

And I'm not saying that just because I like earwigs - a fact known by at
least some urglers.

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

"Gordon" wrote in message
...
My pepper crop this year was destroyed by earwigs. Instead of composting
the plants I left them in a pile at the end of the season. My intention is
to burn them all but the only place I have to use is my vegetable plot.
Would it be safe to have a small fire here or would it in some way destroy
the quality of the top soil?

Gordon

A bonfire will sterilise the local soil in the very short term, but it will
recover quickly especially if you dig it over soon afterwards. Do not be
tempted to start it with oil or petrol though as unburned residues can
damage the soil and leech elsewhere. Also, don't be tempted to burn
non-organic rubbish there, especially plastic, as this can also cause
poisoning.
The most significant risk is burning yourself, so don't lean too far over
it!