I do not put diseased plants in the compost...just to be on the safe side. I'm not good at telling the difference in diseases. I either put them on the burn pile or throw them in the trash.

I never composted my old tomato plants, but I think many people do. I thought it was too much work for what you would get. I don't like composting my sweet potato or pea vines either because they are too long and stringy.

NO

I might add that I don't compost a lot of material. I can buy compost for $10.00 a yard, I get old hay and shredded leaves free. Most of my garden scrap is shredded with the lawn mower and left on the lawn.

I have an extra compost pile a long way from the garden and the house where I can put diseased plants. But, that compost pile is being used to fill in/heal an eroded gully and I never remove the compost from the pile and use it. In general, I do not put diseased plants of any kind in a compost pile that is being used to create compost that will be added to garden beds. If you let weeds go to seed, it it best not to put the seedheads (if still intact) on the compost pile either as the seeds often survive the cooler conditions in fall/winter compost piles and then sprout later if that compost is added to your gardening beds.

Thanks for all your feed back!!!

I for sure won't put them in the compost pile.

I like having a compost pile that actually works!! I could never get on going in Colo.

My allergies really get me when I start fooling with my compost/mulch piles. I have 4 piles that started as mulch piles, but are turning to compost now. I turned one a few days ago and I am still paying the price. The pile was steaming when I turned it and it seems as though they always have mold in them. I turn them with the tractor, so I can get the job done pretty quick, no way would I want to do that all day.