SkipV,

If your compost pile gets Hot (140 degrees or higher), that would probably kill the seeds. If it doesn't get that hot, then you could have a problem using them.

I compost them, with a long slow "pile it and forget it" method. Typically some sprout in the heap, I pull the sprout and drop it back in the heap and that's the end of it.

I also compost mesquite beans and other desert seeds without problems.

The BIG problem is the $#@% tomato and tomatillo seeds. They NEVER DIE!

This post was edited by lazygardens on Tue, Sep 3, 13 at 19:20

The BIG problem is the $#@% tomato and tomatillo seeds. They NEVER DIE!

And spaghetti squash. I looked everywhere for spaghetti squash seeds last spring and could not find any. No worries - everywhere I had added compost had/has spaghetti squash growing in it!

Thanks everyone. I think I'll get a thermometer for my pile and see if i can put the next cleanup of pods into the compost.

Skip, A simple (and cheap) meat thermometer from the grocery store works just fine. Don't get sucked into one of those fancy "Compost temperature meters". I can get my compost up to 140ð with a combination of dried leaves and coffee grounds from Starbucks but it's difficult to maintain that temp for long. It requires constant monitoring.