Strange substance in a bed

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

well, we've all had some of those!

More seriously or interestingly - was digging in a bed today and encountered a seam of white stuff.  A bed I dug over last autumn and laid over some council 'black' compost and have left since.  The only thing going on in that bed was my wife planting some tulips last autumn.  So the substance - fairly thick and very white.  Was a little startled so had a sniff - smelled a little soapy to me.

Any ideas - sorry I didnt take a snap.

Bizarre!

[Bugloss2009]

.  So the substance - fairly thick and very white. 

Wayne Rooney?

[manicscousers]

water retaining gel?

[Robert_Brenchley]

Some sort of fungus?

[dtw]

an old bag of lime?

[pigeonseed]

Quote from: Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!) on Today at 20:16:25
.  So the substance - fairly thick and very white.  

Wayne Rooney?

Ha!!!  

I've seen some white stuff in beds before, a bit powdery. I assumed it was fungus. I ignore it. It might mean bad things, but I'm always in a rush to get stuff done so I've never found out.

I'll be watching this thread with interest in the hope someone knows more than me!

[tonybloke]

sounds like thread fungus, it's the stuff that makes soil smell like soil (if that makes sense)

[Pesky Wabbit]

Microrhizomes ?

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

interesting. This bed has not been limed.  I did think of some sort of fungus but the soil seems pretty gooo....

maybe i'll try get some pics tomorrow

[lincsyokel2]

needs pics to identify.

[chriscross1966]

THere's a fungus you get in heaps of overly dry fibrous plant waste called fire-something (sorry, can't remember the second bit).... could it be that?

chrisc

[Jeannine]

Onions smell soapy to me when they start to go off...would tulips be the same.

XX Jeannine

[PurpleHeather]

I've noticed it before, seems like it is washed down like calcium or even salt.

Not only in soil but other things which have had water in and left to dry out.

I thought maybe it is in the water. You never know what the rain picks up or washes down with it.

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

hi all

had another inspection yesterday and am convinced i is a bar of soap in the council 'black' compost - definitely a soapy smell. bizarre!

[1066]

I couldn't help wonder at the title of this thread! I was expecting something totally daft 


I'll get me coat...................

[PurpleHeather]

I do confess I have never felt the urge to sniff it.

But being white powder, you never know your luck. May be something some official confiscated and disposed of.

[Tee Gee]

You don't mention how successful your wifes tulip growing was!

Could they have contracted a disease and this is rotting tulip bulb you are seeing?

Tulip fire was the first thing that came in my mind, but I always thought that started above ground perhaps I was mistaken.

Have a read of this this;

http://ipm.illinois.edu/diseases/series600/rpd609/index.html#top

[lincsyokel2]

post some pics, cant identify with seeing...............

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

I couldn't help wonder at the title of this thread! I was expecting something totally daft 


I'll get me coat...................

come again?
 

[cornykev]

I think the mods might make this a sticky post.