The Facts

• Like grass clippings, as well as other fruits and vegetables, potatoes serve as a prime nitrogen source in traditional composting operations. Bacteria that break down the compost waste use potatoes and other moist, nitrogen-heavy materials to promote growth and reproduction. Without regular access to these nitrogen-based organic materials during the composting process, activity from the composting microbes slows down drastically, which lengthens the decomposition process.
  
  

Considerations

• Although it may be tempting, avoid tossing whole potatoes in your compost bin or compost pile. Depending upon the condition of the potatoes, doing so may actually lead to sprout growth and runner development in your compost pile. Instead, chop and cut the potatoes into thin slices that measure no more than 1/2-inch thick. This prevents the formation of sprouts and helps make the nitrogen-rich spuds more readily available for the composting microorganisms in the compost heap.
  
  

Maintenance

• Once you've sliced up compost-destined potatoes, add them in an even, thin layer to the top of your compost bin or pile. Spread over the potatoes a layer of carbon-based organic waste -- dry, biodegradable material like sawdust, torn newspaper or straw. Blend the waste together once every seven to 10 days to improve oxygen flow and minimize possible odor problems, either by rotating your compost bin or mixing the materials with a garden rake or pitchfork. Speed up the composting process further by keeping the compost waste about as moist as a wrung-out kitchen sponge.
  
  

Worm Composting

• If you maintain a worm compost bin, you can still compost potatoes, but you'll need to observe a slightly different protocol. Once you've sliced up the potatoes, create a small hole in the worm bedding. Place the potatoes in the hole, adding up to 6 lbs. of potato waste for each lb. of compost worms in your bin. Cover up the potato waste with 3 to 4 inches of bedding to minimize potential odors that might attract pests, such as insects and rodents. Leave the worms alone for up to one week before feeding them again in the same manner. As a rule, the worms should be able to convert food scraps and bedding into compost within about 10 weeks or until most of the bin's contents have changed into a dirtlike substance.