Marianne's Response

Sungron’s Question

Hi, Marianne-
A while back I took your advice to use of plenty of lime when growing tomatoes and it paid huge dividends. I spot compost using kitchen waste but since the waste includes a lot of citrus peels and coffee grounds I avoid the area where I plan to next grow tomatoes. Will the amount of acid in citrus peel and coffee grounds have an adversde effect on cucumbers and squash?

Posted by on December 21, 2013

Marianne's Response

First, congrats on your great tomatoes - I am always thrilled when my advise actually helps people! As for using citrus peels and coffee grounds, don't worry. Making great compost means adding other green material (grass clippings) and brown material (brown leaves, wood chips) so that the end product is less acid than just composting the peels and grounds alone. When you \"spot compost\" or bury these into the soil the soil on top helps to level out pH as they decompose. Just be sure you cover these with at least six inches of topsoil. I always add some wood ashes to my compost pile and veggie garden in the winter when I clean out the wood burning stove. Ashes work like lime to make your soil less acid. May your cukes and squash be as happy as your tomatoes this summer. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti