seaweed as a compost
I live near the sea and was wondering about the benefits of seaweed as a
compost in the very poor soil of my garden. If I wash it well to reduce the salt content, will it be OK to use straight on and in the soil? Vicky |
seaweed as a compost
Seaweed is one of the finest additions available. There is no need to wash
it or even to use as compost. Simply dig it directly into the ground. We used to be able to purchase it [subsidised] in large quantities and crops were excellent. Best Wishes. "Vicky" wrote in message ... I live near the sea and was wondering about the benefits of seaweed as a compost in the very poor soil of my garden. If I wash it well to reduce the salt content, will it be OK to use straight on and in the soil? Vicky |
seaweed as a compost
The message
from "Vicky" contains these words: I live near the sea and was wondering about the benefits of seaweed as a compost in the very poor soil of my garden. If I wash it well to reduce the salt content, will it be OK to use straight on and in the soil? Yes, but it is much better composted with other matter, and the results are quicker. -- Rusty Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
seaweed as a compost
I agree I had a friend who used a lot of it in his vegetable garden he
collected it straight from the sea and dug it in..not sure if he composted it first but I'm sure he didnt wash it. -- Tumbleweed Remove my socks for email address "Brian" wrote in message ... Seaweed is one of the finest additions available. There is no need to wash it or even to use as compost. Simply dig it directly into the ground. We used to be able to purchase it [subsidised] in large quantities and crops were excellent. Best Wishes. "Vicky" wrote in message ... I live near the sea and was wondering about the benefits of seaweed as a compost in the very poor soil of my garden. If I wash it well to reduce the salt content, will it be OK to use straight on and in the soil? Vicky |
seaweed as a compost
Vicky wrote:
: I live near the sea and was wondering about the benefits of seaweed : as a compost in the very poor soil of my garden. If I wash it well : to reduce the salt content, will it be OK to use straight on and in : the soil? : : Vicky Yes I used it like that and it has a bonus of stopping slugs for a while |
seaweed as a compost
Sacha wrote in message . co.uk...
Vicky14/4/04 10:47 I live near the sea and was wondering about the benefits of seaweed as a compost in the very poor soil of my garden. If I wash it well to reduce the salt content, will it be OK to use straight on and in the soil? Vicky Farmers in Jersey used it for centuries on their fields - until nitrates made their lives easier. ;-( Some do use it still and there is no need to rinse it. After autumnal storms, gather up whatever you need and dig it straight into your soil or just lay it on top. Worms and weathering will do the rest throughout the winter. It gives a wonderful flavour to potatoes, BTW! Is it true that seaweed also confers some disease-resistance on potatoes? Oh, and liquid seaweed extract sprayed on gives some frost-resistance, they say. Mike. |
seaweed as a compost
"Vicky" wrote in message ... I live near the sea and was wondering about the benefits of seaweed as a compost in the very poor soil of my garden. If I wash it well to reduce the salt content, will it be OK to use straight on and in the soil? Vicky Coor ........I wish I had access to unlimited seaweed .........just pile it into your compost heap and watch the benefits in your garden If you have a worm bin too they really do benefit from seaweed too You inly have to look at the outrageous price of a packet of calcined seaweed to see why you are so lucky |
seaweed as a compost
Mike Lyle15/4/04 6:01
Sacha wrote in message . co.uk... Vicky14/4/04 10:47 I live near the sea and was wondering about the benefits of seaweed as a compost in the very poor soil of my garden. If I wash it well to reduce the salt content, will it be OK to use straight on and in the soil? Vicky Farmers in Jersey used it for centuries on their fields - until nitrates made their lives easier. ;-( Some do use it still and there is no need to rinse it. After autumnal storms, gather up whatever you need and dig it straight into your soil or just lay it on top. Worms and weathering will do the rest throughout the winter. It gives a wonderful flavour to potatoes, BTW! Is it true that seaweed also confers some disease-resistance on potatoes? Oh, and liquid seaweed extract sprayed on gives some frost-resistance, they say. Mike. No idea - wouldn't surprise me. I'll ask a Jersey farmer........ ;-) Frost-resistance wouldn't be a *major* problem in Jersey but it will occur sometimes. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon (remove the weeds to email me) |
seaweed as a compost
Sacha15/4/04 10:15
net.co.uk Mike Lyle15/4/04 6:01 Sacha wrote in message . co.uk... Vicky14/4/04 10:47 I live near the sea and was wondering about the benefits of seaweed as a compost in the very poor soil of my garden. If I wash it well to reduce the salt content, will it be OK to use straight on and in the soil? Vicky Farmers in Jersey used it for centuries on their fields - until nitrates made their lives easier. ;-( Some do use it still and there is no need to rinse it. After autumnal storms, gather up whatever you need and dig it straight into your soil or just lay it on top. Worms and weathering will do the rest throughout the winter. It gives a wonderful flavour to potatoes, BTW! Is it true that seaweed also confers some disease-resistance on potatoes? Oh, and liquid seaweed extract sprayed on gives some frost-resistance, they say. Mike. No idea - wouldn't surprise me. I'll ask a Jersey farmer........ ;-) Frost-resistance wouldn't be a *major* problem in Jersey but it will occur sometimes. And finally - having skived off to France and returned - he's answered me. ;-) " Sea weed is used as a soil conditioner /manure. The iodine in the seaweed was supposed to be good for the cattle grazing . It used to be spread on the grass in the autumn and therefore dried through the winter. It is still used in some areas but is expensive to cart and spread." No mention of anti-freeze properties but, as I say, not a big problem in Jersey. However, any mulch would help re freezing. The farmer I wrote to was mainly into dairy farming; another who is a potato grower assures me via 'phone that they chucked it onto the bare fields in autumn/winter and simply let it rot down and be dragged down by worms. In open weather, they plant spuds in Jersey in February (depending a bit on which side of the island etc.) so it clearly doesn't do the soil or plants in it any harm! We had our first 'feed' of Jersey potatoes last night and they were wonderful - tasted just like the ones of my childhood, so I wish I knew whose farm those came from. I was pleasantly surprised because they must have been grown under polythene and somehow I never find they taste quite the same - maybe this farmer uses seaweed. ;-) Not being washed mechanically might have something to do with it, too. -- Sacha (remove the weeds to email me) |
seaweed as a compost
The message
from "Brian" contains these words: Seaweed is one of the finest additions available. There is no need to wash it or even to use as compost. Simply dig it directly into the ground. I agree. If you're digging a bed for some reason, it's an excellent idea to incorporate the largest possible volume of seaweed. But it's equally effective spread on top as a mulch; it decomposes into the soil so fast that a 6" layer put on now, will have disappeared by the end of summer. If you're planting potatoes, do both; lay it in the trenches under the potatoes, replace the soil, and cover the whole bed with a thick mulch. In one fell swoop you're fertilising, protecting young shoots against late frost, preventing weed germination, and discouraging slugs and diseases. ( It's also an excellent decomposition-booster in the compost heap). Janet. |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:07 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter