It's about half of a jar of Pace Picante, lol. It's really not a whole lot, but I'd estimate there may be about 2 cups left.

Even for someone who likes spicy food, it was a little too hot for me (or maybe I was just wimpy that day), and so it's been rotting away in the fridge. Blech!

Sure you can compost salsa. You can compost ice cream, yogurt, orange juice, chocolate (although composting chocolate would be a crime), brownies, rotten eggs, etc. The only things a home gardender should not compost are things that are poisonous/toxic like the eucalyptus or coral tree/plant, oleander, any plant that has the word poison in it (poison ivy/oak) etc.; meat products like leftover hambergers that did not get eaten for dinner; bio sludge (human or animal waste); or anything that has a needle or thorn like cacti (cati are also toxic), roses, bougainvillea, etc. It takes a long time for the needles to decompose. I do not want to reach into my compost and get stabbed by half decomposed thorns. I heard of a guy who tried it and it was a disaster. Many types of thistles are both thorny and toxic so I stay totally clear of these as well.

When it comes to toxicity there are gredations - from 1 (major toxicity) to 5 (animal toxicity). If a plant is toxic to humans it should be assumed it is also toxic to animals even though not all plants that are toxic to animals are toxic to humans (chocolate is deadly to dogs, but a ambrosia to humans). Some plants like the oleander are very toxic (roots, stems, and leaves) while some are only mildly so (hollyhock). But just to be cautious I don't compost any of them. For most of the really toxic plants composting does not inactivate the poison.

As long as you have a pile that has a good mix of nitrogen to carbon with good air flow and the right amount of moisture you can compost anything. The bacteria and fungi don't care what it is - if it is organic they will break it down.

Tom

So the salt that's in the prepared salsa won't have an impact on the final compost and/or the veggie beds that will be receiving the finished compost? I would think most will run out, since it's a bucket with holes drilled on all sides and the bottom, but I just want to be sure.

I'm going to guess that the amount of salt in the salsa, over the area that the compost will be used will be insignificant. If you are planning to add two cups per pail every time, that might be a different issue.

Heck if you have left over salsa often, pick up a case of beer and a bag of nachos, I'll use up that salsa for ya. :)

Lloyd

Lol, Lloyd. At one point, I had about 30 jars of that Pace around here. The grocery store had a special. And I had coupons. And well, I cannot pass up a good grocery store/coupon pairing, especially when that yields free stuff, which the Pace was.

I would have been more than happy to send you a case of the stuff!

How many gallons of salsa are you planning on putting into the pile??? It would take an awful lot of salsa to make the salt content of the pile such that it would harm the plants.

Tom

No kinna gallons. :P Probably just under 2 cups, but again, it's a tiny little 5 gallon bucket. I wasn't sure how much salt was harmful, so I wanted to be sure. I was under the impression that even a bit of salt was bad, but then that can't be right, since people compost things like bread (oh no... I hope this doesn't bring out the bread composting police again 0_o ) and cereals and things that have been made with salt added, to no detriment.

I read an article the other day where scientists in Greece have experimented by diluting the irrigation water with 10% seawater. The results were spectacular. They reported that the antioxidant level in the ripe tomatoes was significantly higher. They also reported that the crop yeilds were significantly highter. I am trying to find the actual study so I can read exactly what the result were. But in essece, it was reported that the increased salt in the water stimulated the tomato plant's immune system into trying to overcome the salt content of the water. I thought this was interesing. My only concern is that if I diluted my normal irrigation water with 10% salt water, would I have harmful levels of salt buildup in say, five years, six years, etc. Or does the salt just wash away. I certaninly would not try this until significant research suggested that there isn't a problem with potential salt buildup in the soil. But it was interesting. Until I read the actual study I am not going to suggest anything. Since I only live about 30 min from the beach the article caught my eye.

Tom

P.S. even 30 jars of salsa are not going to do anything harmful to the soil. Like what was said by the other person, the proportion of salt to the garden area would not cause any harm to the plants.

Very interesting study, Tom. If you happen upon the article, or find out more about it, please keep me posted.

And also good to get confirmation of the non-harmfulness of the salsa. I will feel free to add it at will now. :D

Hmmm...30 jars of salsa...on second thought, you better get a couple cases of beer!

Lloyd

And some Charmin too? *snicker*