I'm new to gardening and have been trying to grow some tomatoes in my NYC backyard. The issue is that the soil has plastic fragments, some really old, and I've been gradually removing them. I planted my tomatoes in raised beds, using some fresh soil mixed with the existing soil, but I'm worried about the plastic content. Now that the tomatoes are ripening, I'm curious about how safe it is to eat them. Should I have chosen pots instead? Any advice from experienced gardeners would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Go ahead and eat those tomatoes! It sounds like you've been doing a great job managing the plastic. Just keep removing what you can while gardening, but homegrown produce is definitely worth it, even if there's a little plastic mixed in.
I wouldn't freak out about it. Most of our food nowadays has some amount of microplastics in it, even the stuff from the grocery store. What's more concerning is how dense microplastics can be in animal products, so vegetables might actually be the safer choice. Your tomatoes are still likely way better than anything you can buy!
Honestly, it's pretty common to find plastic in soil nowadays. Many fertilizers and even the soil itself can contain microplastics. I wouldn't stress too much about it this year. Just make sure to clear out your beds before planting next season. It's better to start fresh because having that plastic in your garden could be frustrating in the long run. Also, avoid using plastic for anything in gardening if you can!
Totally agree! It can drive you crazy seeing plastic bits everywhere. Better to fix it now for next year.
Exactly! Homegrown veggies are packed with nutrients. Just keep pulling out the plastic as you go along.