Is it safe ?

[snohare]

No, this is nothing to do with "The Marathon Man."
So there I was, fair chuffed because my pile of weeds had rapidly broken down into a slimy and most important of all dead mess, which I then threw into the compost bin without fear of dreaded rhizome resuscitation. Mentioned this to an acquaintance, who said, "Ah but....isn't ragwort poisonous even when composted ?"
I know that it is more poisonous to cattle when dead, should they eat it...but am I safe to compost it and use it in large quantities on my garden veggies ? My new garden is full of the stuff, literally wall to wall until it was ploughed, and I am picking remnants out of the soil by the bucketful, and will be forever I fear. Must I break my stingy Aberdonian heart and not exact revenge upon this weed by composting ?
Most of my compost will be a Guardian/ragwort mix I think..if it's safe. Any help or info gratefully received !

[NOG]

I think it should be ok cos you are not going to eat the compost.

[Two_Sheds]

Like Nog said.
People always say the same about rhubarb leaves on the compost too. When something rots, it just becomes chemicals and minerals, mixed up and diluted with lots of other chemicals and minerals.

[jacob marley]

As i understand it Ragwort is most dangerous when dead and dry not when growing so you should have no problem..jacob

[gojiberry]

Have never thought to much about composting poisonous plants to much, although I did know that rhubarb leaves are poisonous. In the past I have also composted suck stuff as foxgloves and euphorbia's without any ill effects. I was never much good at chemistry at school but I am of the opinion that any plant has been produced from the soil and that when composted is only being returned to the soil. May not be a very solid argument but it is how I look on it.

Ian

[shirlthegirl43]

I can only say that all the advice I have ever seen says to dry and burn ragwort. Our local 'amenity site' takes all greenery but no knotweed or ragwort for composting.

[sarraceniac]

I can only say that all the advice I have ever seen says to dry and burn ragwort. Our local 'amenity site' takes all greenery but no knotweed or ragwort for composting.

Depends on the temperature of their compost heaps. I don't compost perrenial weeds in my own bin because it is not hot enough to destroy any seeds. A local authority used site should be OK though. Mind you the 'public servants' who make these rules often have some strange (or even stupid) ideas. My own local authority told people not to put empty cardboard loo rolls in the recycling bin because they may have 'dangerous bathroom germs' on them. .

[IgglePiggle]

Depends on the temperature of their compost heaps. I don't compost perrenial weeds in my own bin because it is not hot enough to destroy any seeds. A local authority used site should be OK though. Mind you the 'public servants' who make these rules often have some strange (or even stupid) ideas. My own local authority told people not to put empty cardboard loo rolls in the recycling bin because they may have 'dangerous bathroom germs' on them. .

They do have funny way don't they! Our's compost the knotweed which is in the hedges around here! TBH I don't even think the workers know what it is

[Florence Fennel]

My own local authority told people not to put empty cardboard loo rolls in the recycling bin because they may have 'dangerous bathroom germs' on them. . [/QUOTE]

My granddaughters are not allowed to take loo rolls to school any more for craft lessons for the same reason, "Infection Control". Barmy, but at least I've benefited as I can have them now for seeds.

[sarraceniac]

My granddaughters are not allowed to take loo rolls to school any more for craft lessons for the same reason, "Infection Control". Barmy, but at least I've benefited as I can have them now for seeds.

Unfortunately the people who actually know that all strains of both Coli and Difficile are more likely to be found in kitchens than in bathrooms/toilets are never consulted. The bureaucrats have taken over completely and now make up rules just so that people think that they are doing something.

[IgglePiggle]

My own local authority told people not to put empty cardboard loo rolls in the recycling bin because they may have 'dangerous bathroom germs' on them. .

My granddaughters are not allowed to take loo rolls to school any more for craft lessons for the same reason, "Infection Control". Barmy, but at least I've benefited as I can have them now for seeds.

Maybe you could wipe them first with alcohol rub, so its safe for them to take them to school

[Two_Sheds]

My granddaughters are not allowed to take loo rolls to school any more for craft lessons for the same reason, "Infection Control". Barmy

Especially when you realise that the kids go to the loo ten times a day, play out in the mud and dirt 3 times a day, pick each other's bogeys and nits, and never wash their hands

[Botanist]

No, this is nothing to do with "The Marathon Man."
So there I was, fair chuffed because my pile of weeds had rapidly broken down into a slimy and most important of all dead mess, which I then threw into the compost bin without fear of dreaded rhizome resuscitation. Mentioned this to an acquaintance, who said, "Ah but....isn't ragwort poisonous even when composted ?"
I know that it is more poisonous to cattle when dead, should they eat it...but am I safe to compost it and use it in large quantities on my garden veggies ? My new garden is full of the stuff, literally wall to wall until it was ploughed, and I am picking remnants out of the soil by the bucketful, and will be forever I fear. Must I break my stingy Aberdonian heart and not exact revenge upon this weed by composting ?
Most of my compost will be a Guardian/ragwort mix I think..if it's safe. Any help or info gratefully received !

There is a lot of misinformation around about ragwort. It actually poses a lot lower risk to livestock than is claimed, particularly by those selling dubious "cures".

We know from the internationally published research that livestock poisoning is rare.

There is also the urban myth which says that you can be poisoned by handling it. This may be the background to the story you were given.
The toxins have to be activated in the gut before they become dangerous.

Like most organic toxins the alkaloids in ragwort are broken down by composing and pose no risk.

For further information debunking the nonsense about ragwort see these sites.
Ragwort Facts
Ragwort Yellow peril or precious flower
Ragwort Myths and Facts
Ragwort Hoaxes and Myths

[snohare]

Cheers guys, I'll take that as pretty much a universal, "Worry about seeds but don't worry about toxins". Pretty much as I'd hoped and suspected.
Having read up on ragwort, and knowing how it is in different ecosystems, I would consider it more of an indicator of good insect life but dire grazing regimes, the only problem for me in the garden is the damn ticks it harbours. I might be green but I'm not willing to get Lyme's Disease !