Should You Compost Those Old Tomato Vines
Audio Brief
Show transcript
Can your winter frost zone actually lie to you about how warm your summers will be? Farmer Jesse raises this question in this episode of Growers Daily, where he answers listener questions about gardening challenges. By the end of this episode, you will know how to decode winter temperatures, safely recycle diseased tomato plants, and stop destructive groundhogs from ruining your harvest.
Winter maps do not measure summer warmth.
United States Department of Agriculture hardiness zones represent extreme minimum winter temperatures rather than average warmth, but these numbers only track how freezing cold it gets. Farmer Jesse points out that these zones are calculated solely using the average extreme minimum temperature of the winter. Think of it as a survival test for plants rather than a measure of summer heat, designed mainly to tell you if a perennial plant can make it through the coldest night of the year. Check your local zone rating specifically to decide which multiyear plants can survive the winter in your soil.
Your compost pile can double as a plant sanitizer.
Throwing diseased tomato vines into a cold compost pile is a recipe for spreading pathogens into your next season. Many plant diseases can easily survive the winter on crop residue, but a properly managed hot compost pile acts as a highly effective sanitizer. By keeping the pile between 135 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit, the heat actively kills the lingering pathogens. To protect your next harvest, monitor your compost temperature to ensure it stays in this hot range, and keep the finished compost away from future tomato plantings just in case.
A dog might be your best defense against garden pests.
Groundhogs can easily devastate a garden, but they are incredibly stubborn about traveling far from their homes. Because these large, burrowing rodents prefer to stay very close to their underground dens, locating their home is the first step to controlling them. Farmer Jesse notes that these pests are generally unwilling to live anywhere near canines, making a guard dog an excellent natural deterrent. Try locating their den to trap and relocate them according to your local laws, or let a guard dog patrol the area to naturally scare them away.
Underground barriers stop underground thieves.
To stop them, you have to block their path underground where they are trying to dig. Install fencing that goes 12 to 18 inches deep into the soil, bending the bottom outward in an L-shape to prevent burrowing underneath.
Keep your garden safe by remembering that hot compost kills pathogens and deep barriers stop digging pests. If you face burrowing groundhogs, bury your fence 12 to 18 inches deep and bend it outward in an L-shape to block them completely.
Episode Overview
- Farmer Jesse is back with Growers Daily to answer Patreon mailbag questions about hardiness zones, composting tomato vines, and groundhog control.
- Jesse explains that hardiness zones represent extreme minimum winter temperatures rather than average warmth, making them primarily useful for determining plant perenniality.
- The episode addresses the risks of composting tomato plants due to overwintering pathogens, suggesting hot composting and crop rotation as preventative measures.
- Jesse discusses groundhog behavior and offers practical solutions for keeping them out of gardens, emphasizing physical barriers and the potential of a guard dog.
Key Concepts
- Hardiness Zones: Hardiness zones, such as USDA Zone 6a, are based on average annual extreme minimum winter temperatures. The higher the zone number, the warmer the winter climate. Knowing your zone helps determine which perennial plants can survive the winter.
- Tomato Pathogens: Many tomato diseases can overwinter on plant residue, increasing disease pressure the following year. Composting tomato vines is possible but requires a hot compost pile (135 to 170°F) to kill pathogens.
- Groundhog Behavior: Groundhogs are large, herbivorous rodents that burrow and can cause significant damage to gardens. They do not travel far from their dens, making den location crucial for control.
- Guard Dogs: A guard dog can be a highly effective deterrent for groundhogs and other pests, as these animals are generally unwilling to live near canines.
Quotes
- At 1:49 - "These zones are not based on climate or average warmth; they're actually based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature." - Explaining the fundamental metric behind hardiness zones.
- At 7:07 - "Proper compost, despite being loaded with microorganisms, is, quite fascinatingly, an excellent sanitizer." - Highlighting the sanitizing power of hot composting in eliminating plant pathogens.
- At 15:21 - "A dog can do a lot of work for you... groundhogs are none too interested in living next to canines." - Offering a natural, behavior-based solution for pest control.
Takeaways
- To safely compost tomato plants, ensure your compost pile reaches temperatures between 135 and 170°F, and avoid using the resulting compost around future tomato crops.
- If you have a groundhog problem, locate their den and consider trapping and relocating them (checking local regulations first) or utilizing a guard dog to deter them.
- To physically block groundhogs, install fencing that is buried 12 to 18 inches underground and bent outward in an L-shape to prevent burrowing underneath.
