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Fri, Jul 22, 11 at 0:02
| I made compost tea using unfinished compost. Now that I have used it on the base of my vegetable plants, I am worried because I read that e coli bacteria and other harmful bacteria are present in unfinished compost. Should I be worried and what steps can I take now to minimize the risks? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| What was you compost made of? Compost consisting of animal manures might have the disease pathogens that cause E-Coli, Listeria, Salmonella, and several others and if that undigested compost is used to make compost tea those disease pathogens can be present. All of the produce from your garden will need to be washed very well before using, especially if they are to be eaten raw. |
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| Thank you for your quick response. My compost is made from vegetable waste, leaves, coffee grounds,and garden plants, but no weeds or animal products. Do you think this mixture could harbor disease pathogens in an unfinished state? |
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- Posted by toxcrusadr (My Page) on Fri, Jul 22, 11 at 16:42
| No, it most likely is just fine. Just wash your vegetables well and don't worry about it. Soil itself has about 10 billion microbes per gram, and they're pretty much the same microbes that are in your compost pile. Avoid eating compost just like you avoid eating dirt and you'll be fine. |
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