cocoa compost

[Helen Johnson]

Anyone used cocoa compost? Its the husks of cocoa beans,with small bits of the bean, from our local chocolate factory. Full of vitamins and trace elements. Just wanted to know if anyone has experience of it, any do's & donts?
thanks

[scarey55]

Be careful if you have dogs.

I have never used it but I have heard that it is bad for dogs - just something to be aware of if you have dogs.

There is quite a lot about it on the internet - THIS is just one of the reports I found with a Google search.

[HayleyB]

Not just dogs....... pretty much all animals cannot take the theobromine including birds. And chocolate is one of the few things that animals will eat that is poisonous - ask any dog most animals avoid what is bad for them. Luckily for humans it would take pounds of chocolate in one sitting to have an effect - although Jo Brand made a comment on QI that it wouldn't be difficult

[selfraising]

Hi I use cocoa shells as a mulch. I do have a dog and watched him closely when I first got it, but he doesn't seem interested. It does seem to work well as a mulch and the soil condition seems to have improved. It also looks quite decorative.

[Helen Johnson]

Do you think it would be a danger to birds then? Is it any good for plants? What about insects & worms?

[selfraising]

Hi I have done a search on the internet but cannot find any link to it being dangerous to wildlife. One person contacted their vet who said that animals (mainly domestic) would have to consume a vast amount for it to become toxic. The birds in my garden are not bothered by it and there are large amounts of worms and other insects living in my soil, so I take it from that, that it has not done them any harm. The mulch does provide nutrients to plants. Found this link which might provide you with some extra info

Cocoa Shells (Sunshine of Africa) 75 Litres - £14.95 : The Garden Direct Store, Make the Most Of Your Garden

[Helen Johnson]

Thanks selfraising, that link answered some of my questions. my new allotment was a field a month ago, so a good mulch of cocoa is going on, all in exchange for a few veg later in the year! thanks for your help

[selfraising]

Glad to help