Q.unused diaper use in vegetable garden
My landlord made a beautiful raised garden area but put unused diaper gel in it – sprinkled it all over the soil to keep things moist. I read some people consider this to be toxic material. Is this safe or toxic to a vegetable garden? Should I let it set or a month or so?
Like so many other questions in gardening, there doesn't seem to be a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer. Diapers can be composted, or used to make a 'gel;' many people have done this and recommend it. However, others are turned off by the amount of chemicals in diapers, many of which are considered to be toxic. For myself, I prefer to use as few chemicals as possible. Soil can be effectively amended with organics to improve water holding capability. Here are a couple of articles that discuss some aspects of your question:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/composting-diapers.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/improving-garden-soil.htm
For now, if you have concerns about the safety of the soil, you might give the beds a year to leach out. You could plant some flowers in them, or a nitrogen-fixing crop which you would till back into the soil. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/cover-crops-garden.htm
