If soil smells sour will it make garden vegetables inedible? the pot my peppers were growing in didn't drain well. I fixed it, but every time I water them it still smells sour. Are the peppers going to be safe to eat?
Asked
Active
Viewed 406 times
1 Answers
6
Yes, your peppers will be safe to eat. the only chance of contamination is if soil from your planter splashes onto the fruit, but they can be washed, and soured soil isn't much higher in human pathogens than healthy soil is.
Checking for good drainage is always a key component to container gardening, (any gardening, actually, but most problems cropping up are from containers) because almost all plants need plenty of oxygen in the soil, in order to thrive. I'd also look into soilless potting mixes in the future, as they drain well and do not sour easily.
If the soil pulled in from the edges when it dried, and is hard or compacted, you can take a pencil and push it into the soil throughout the pot, to loosen the soil and allow it to breathe.
J. Musser
- 52,241
- 23
- 122
- 333