Can compost harm plants?
In general, compost is good for plants — it helps build soil structure, retains moisture, increases soil organic matter, and provides a slow release of nutrients important for plant growth. If you use compost that has not adequately matured, however, it may cause chemical burns on plants or compete with them for use of soil nitrogen. Fresh compost should not be used for starting sensitive seedlings such as tomatoes and peppers because they may succumb to damping-off disease. These seedlings should be started using a sterilized potting mixture.
