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Root Vegetables and Septic
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Posted by benjohnson 5 (My Page) on Thu, Feb 4, 10 at 9:01
| My wife and I are purchasing a house on private well and septic. Yesterday, a representative from the County Health Department told me that I shouldn't ever grow root vegetables because of possible E Coli contamination. I asked her if she just meant over the septic field, but she said not to grow them anywhere. Really?! She said that a raised bed ((without a barrier) would be okay, though. I don't understand why, if it's a problem everywhere, it wouldn't leach into the raised beds... I'd love to your thoughts about this. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Root Vegetables and Septic
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| I would call foul. Properly washed root crops are just as fine as any other veggies. I wouldn't want to be growing vegetables over the septic field, but that seems more like common sense. Sounds like an over zealous health worker with no growing experience to me. |
RE: Root Vegetables and Septic
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| Agree with not buying in to it. This comes up for discussion here a couple of times each year and while planting directly over the leach field isn't recommended for several reasons, planting away from the field itself poses no risks or problems. Millions of gardeners in rural areas garden with wells and septic tanks - myself included ;) - and while well water testing and septic tank maintenance is required now and then, gardening and raising root crops works just fine. Dave |
RE: Root Vegetables and Septic
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| We are also in the process of purchasing a home with a septic. The bit of research I've done suggests that it's a bad idea to grow root vegetables, or veggies with edible parts near the ground (lettuce, etc.) directly over the septic field, but probably fine to grow things like tomatoes or okra that have the edible parts well off the ground. Our lot slopes down in the back, and I plan to grow any root vegetables at a higher elevation part of the lot where the septic won't leach in. Basically, it is a low risk, but use some common sense and know where your drain field is. |
RE: Root Vegetables and Septic
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| You might want to think about slope in relation to your leech field, but considering the whole property off limits doesn't make sense to me. I doubt most traditional farms are on city septic. Some septic fields leach up to the allow the plants to clean the water and some drain down through a load of sand(I think that's the older design). As you continue your research, understanding which you have might help determine a safe distance. Do be very careful with fruit trees and such anywhere near the leach field. The roots will seek out that water and tear up the pipes. Health issues aside, that's a very costly fix. Otherwise enjoy gardening with well water. Your plants will do much better without the chlorine. |
RE: Root Vegetables and Septic
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| seems to be some fear hype about ben? don't know why all over you property sounds like an official in overdrive. there are plenty of above ground vege's can be grown over the leech fields, but with the root ones like carrots and potatos ones that are going to be washed and cooked, so long as good hygene care is practised they should pass the safety test. and yes raised beds are the best way to go well for us that is the case. len |
Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page
RE: Root Vegetables and Septic
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| Agree with gardenlen. I don't mind grow vegetables, any vegetables, on top of the septic tanks myself. |
RE: Root Vegetables and Septic
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| I don't know about the safety of growing vegetables over the leach field, why take chances? I don't grow anything on mine except grass. In fact, I researched a lot on maintenance of a leach field, and the overall consensus is that you want to have only shallow rooted plants which will help absorb surface moisture but not clog or disturb the pipes. Grass fits that perfectly. The previous owner did not maintain the field, letting it go wild with weeds. The field got clogged and failed inspection when he was selling to us. He had to put in a whole new field (big $$$). If you want to protect your leach field, don't grow deep rooted plants and don't drive on it. That said, I think growing vegetables near (but not on) the leach field should be safe as long as you are upslope from it. My property is on a hillside and the garden is uphill from the leach field and tanks. |
RE: Root Vegetables and Septic
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| I plant flowers, they love and are pretty for the eyes. Well fertilized also. I don't eat the flowers or any part of the flower plant. |
RE: Root Vegetables and Septic
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Ummm
It is usually not recommended to grow vegetables on top of a septic field because the soil may be contaminated with viruses and bacteria from the effluent.
Some soils filter these out better than others but why take a chance?
Anything you plant on your septic field should be shallow-rooted, salt-tolerant and easy-care, so think ground covers, turf grass, annuals and perennials such as yarrow and columbines. Don’t try to dig too deeply and always wear gloves when working in this area. |
RE: Root Vegetables and Septic
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Things that I would be concered about:
Was the official concerned about the age or type of the septic system? Is the land fairly level without much drainage for a part of the year? Is the plot fairly small? Best of luck. |
RE: Root Vegetables and Septic
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| Maybe I can give a little insight about root crops, any corps and the septic system. I have been a environmental specialist, with the county Health Dept going on 13yrs. I specialize in OSTDS( on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems - septic systems)and enjoy year round gardening in Clay county, FL. Most parts of Florida have very high water tables, not the best for septic systems. To try to lay it in laymen terms, your soil treats the effluent, the liquid coming out of your septic tank. If it is not properly treated, the virus, pathogens, bacteria, and other infective stuff are not destroyed. I think that the veggie plants would not be able to absorb the pathogens and stuff and concentrate diseases into the edible portions of the plant, but you have to think about the everyday chemicals that the plants would absorb - heavy metals, chlorine, phosphates, etc. For example, you get gasoline, paints, oils on your hands and you wash it right down the sink to your septic tank and drain field(leach field)and the plants absorb it. You can cook it all you want but the temps do not get high enough to render the chemicals safe. Hepatitis C can live in the soil for 31 days and probable longer in moist conditions. The setback to a potable(drinking well),in Florida, to any portion of the septic system is 75ft, 50ft prior to 1972.If you have a septic system on your property, a vegetable garden can be grown. I have a septic system and a 3500sqft veggie garden on my property, about 50ft away. I have seen small gardens on top of drain field but would highly discourage it. I do not have proven facts, but I would try to get 25ft away from the septic system to the garden. Prior to 1972, the setback to surface water was 25ft and I am sure they had a reason for that. Anyways, it is risky and could be costly. Grass is the only recommended vegetation on top of the drain field, and you do not need roots clogging the pipes. |
RE: Root Vegetables and Septic
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| Thanks David! Best response yet! |
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