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Fresh Manure.

holsdad1holsdad1 Posts: 41
in Fruit & veg
 If my compost did have herbicides in would it be safe to eat my potatoes that have it on? thanks.
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  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,129
    I imagine it would depend on which herbicides you think maybe in your compost.
    What do you think may be in there?

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • holsdad1holsdad1 Posts: 41
    I wouldn't know if there is any just if there was would it be safe, I will see if I can ask the guy when I'm passing, free manure outside someone's house.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,721
    you'd tell by the foliage , as it'd be distorted as it grows
    Devon.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,129
    Oh right
    It's probably fresh then - if so you'd need to mature it for several months so it's properly rotted.

    As Hosta says foliage would be distorted if there were herbicides.
    The best test is to sow a few peas to test. It's a well known method.
    They germinate quickly and react to any herbicides in the compost as Hosta describes above.
    Mix up some rotted manure and soil and sow the peas - see what they look like.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • holsdad1holsdad1 Posts: 41
    Great thank you, I dug my trench did 2 rows of spuds and added fresh manure mostly between the rows(in the middle) some may have covered them, placed some soil over then added another layer of manure, you can tell I'm new at gardening, I found out later what to do with the manure and now I was concerned about bacteria and chemicals in it.
  • holsdad1holsdad1 Posts: 41
    distorted in what way, thanks?
  • holsdad1holsdad1 Posts: 41
    I thought boiling my spuds would help with the bacteria problem but now the herbicide side of it.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,721
    holsdad1 said:
    distorted in what way, thanks?
    they'll be all "mangled". Trust me, you'll know if they're wrong. 
    Devon.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,129
    I wouldn't think there would be noticable herbicides present in the food given to horses, but not my area of knowledge.
    I doubt you have any need to worry.
    If there are herbicides present in the manure then the peas will grow in a weird and distorted manner to such an extent it's obvious there something wrong.
    Your spuds would also likely show distorted stems and foliage as they grow which you would notice.
    See how they come on

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • holsdad1holsdad1 Posts: 41
    Thanks very much guys, so if the stems look ok and with being fresh manure cook them good, should be ok.
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