I'm curious about the safety of eating edible plants that I grow in the same container or area as toxic plants. For instance, if I plant some sunflower seeds alongside morning glories, will the morning glories contaminate the sunflowers when I harvest them at the end of the season? Are there specific plants that should definitely be kept apart due to their toxicity potentially affecting others? I hope I'm not being too paranoid about this! Thanks for your help!
3 Answers
No worries! Sunflowers and morning glories won’t cause any issues when grown together. Generally, the average gardener doesn’t have to fret about any poisonous plants affecting their neighbors. It’s pretty safe!
Exactly! Just like how a tomato plant won’t magically produce corn because it's near a cornfield, an edible plant doesn’t become toxic just because it shares space with a poisonous one. Plants are either toxic or not based on their genetics, and that doesn't change with proximity. The only real concern comes from contaminants in the soil, like lead, which can make any plants grown there toxic. But that’s a different issue!
You're totally fine! While toxins like those from poison ivy can spread through direct contact (thanks to oils), they won’t affect other plants in the way you’re thinking. You have to consume the toxic plant itself to be at risk.
What about poison ivy? It’s not so much harmful to other plants, but it's really annoying to deal with!