Question
Hi there,

Last week, I planted cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, and sweet peppers in a small section of my backyard. For the last 2 years, I've let my dogs go to the bathroom in the backyard, and some of it has been in the area where I planted my veggies. I haven't let them near my garden since I planted everything and it's all been disintegrated by now, but I'm still worried that the soil might be contaminated. The garden is on a slight slope with the cherry tomatoes downhill, and the recent tomato/salmonella outbreak is making me nervous.  

I could dig up my veggies and plant them in another area about 20 feet away where the dogs haven't pooped or peed, but there's less sunlight.  And of course, if I have to, I'll throw them all out and start from scratch.

What should I do?  

Answer
Hi Jessica, I'd leave the garden where it is and not worry about it. You might check your pH to make sure it's not to acidic if the dogs have been urinating there for years, but microbes and insects reduce waste very quickly as they feed on it. You should have an excellent garden.  I'd be more worried about store bought tomatoes than yours. Jim