Pieces of Coal in Garden Beds, Toxic?

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mdaustin AMELIA COURT HOUSE, VA Nov 04, 2011

I just dug up a few new beds for my vegetable garden. Some of the beds are full of pieces of coal (not coal ash) in them. I recently found out that the area I dug in is where they used to sell coal which explains my findings.

Does anyone know if coal is toxic or unsafe in vegetable beds? Should I avoid planting in this area?

Please help!

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altagardener Calgary, AB(Zone 3b) Nov 05, 2011

I can't think of any reason why coal in your soil should have any negative effect on your plants... it's just carbon, oxygen, etc.. I see natural exposures of coal strata in the mountains with healthy plant growth on them.

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Nov 05, 2011

I agree with altagardener, remember the coal came out the ground before it could be sold or used, I have coal fires in my home and believe me where the coal dust from around the storage is full of seedlings, bulbs that have grown from seeds either dropped by birds or wind carried, BUT, I never use the ash from the coal fire as there could have been tar released from the heat, I could be over worrying as usual where my garden is concerned but you should be OK if you r digging up small quantities of coal and not mining it so to speak. hope this helps or maybe other will come in with better knowledge than myself. Good luck. Weenel.

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Nov 05, 2011

Pure charcoal is actually used to remove toxins in the human body. They can be purchased as tablets and you drink them with plenty of water. So charcoal pieces in your soil should not release toxins into your soil, but actually bind some. Don't know what kind of coal you have, but if it's regular coal from wood, you should be fine.

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Nov 05, 2011

Sorry, are we talking about coal that was mined out of coal mines and then sold where you live and now your digging this waste coal up in it's natural state ORRRR, are we talking about Charcoal that you get for the BBQ, where the trees are thinned down in the Forrest and the waist is sold as charcoal which is burnt wood and therefore a different thing altogether, whatever it is, both of these are harmless as far as I am concerned in the Garden. WeeNel.

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