Ash from burning our weeds etc

[Mushy Pea]

Hi,

We have just managed to take on a second small plot and have pulled out and burnt all the weeds/grass etc. Can we use this as a feed on anything?





I heard that we could put it around our fruit trees. Do you use it like a mulch or just sprinkle a small amount on?

Some one mentioned it as a feed for tomatoes.  :-\

MP

[Mushy Pea]

[Bjerreby]

All ashes are basic (high pH), and if you put them on plants they can scorch them, even though the ashes are cold   8)

I never put ash on the veggie beds. I spread it out well in the compost heap.

It doesn't matter too much what plants the ash is made of.

[Eristic]

I on the other hand always put the bonfire ash on my veg plot. Personally, I find it best to just rake the fire residue away and spread out before digging in.

Incidentally, the fire is also a tool to help with breaking clay soil. When the fire is dieing down, case the embers with your claggy soil and leave it to cook for a few days. The residual heat from the fire will burst the clay into sand and nodules that will forever keep the soil from turning into a sticky lump.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I go round and chuck bonfire ash all over anything that's likely to profit. I've never seen a burnt leaf yet.

[davyw1]

I riddle mine and it goes toward my mix for carrots

[Mushy Pea]

Hi Davyw1,

What sort of mix do you use in your carrots?

50:50 ash/soil?

I think our ash is a mix of baked soil/ weed ash as I was putting clods of grass etc on top to burn down.

Bjerreby.... if the ash is basic (alkaline) then can it be used in the brassica beds like lime?

Many thanks for your advice.

MP

[SPUDLY]

Ash is especially good for onions and rhubarb.

[tim]

I'm for ash - but never let it get wet, & only use when near blossom time - it's very short lived K.

[davyw1]

Hi Davyw1,

What sort of mix do you use in your carrots?

50:50 ash/soil?

I think our ash is a mix of baked soil/ weed ash as I was putting clods of grass etc on top to burn down.

Bjerreby.... if the ash is basic (alkaline) then can it be used in the brassica beds like lime?

What i do is.. when i have got enough grass sods weed and soil piled up i get well under way and pile them on and make a kiln with the soil, this burns away for days. When it has cooled i dig out the middle where all the potash is and riddle it and bag it. the next fire i have the all the outside soil then goes on.
When i have enough i make my mix of one part soil, one part compost and one part sharp sand all riddled somr time to make it go further i will use two parts soil.

Many thanks for your advice.

MP

[STHLMgreen]

The general concensus here is that you use about a liter of ash for a meter of raspberries.
I tried it on a few plants I replanted a bit late. We'll see.

[Mushy Pea]

Hi Folks,

I thought I'd update you on a recent piccy of the new plot.



We found the concrete foundations of an old greenhouse so we are thinking of building a fruit cage around it. I've scattered some ash on it as you can see.

Half of the soil here has been under a shed for quite a few years so no worm life. I'm planning on digging in lots of manure to give it some organic matter.

MP

[coznbob]

Looking good! ;D

[PJW_Letchworth]

I use ash as a way of controlling wire worm on my potato beds but be careful you don't use too much as it can help scabs form on the spuds  :o.  (Sounds painful  ;D)

[nittynora]

Scabs on your spuds?

I'd see a doctor if I were you!

;)

[cacran]

I have just had a fire in my incinerator with bits of twigs, small wood offcuts and soil intermingled with bind weed and couch grass roots. It stayed burning from id afternoon, right into the night. The soil was damp but very hot. Would that actually kill all the roots so that I can put the remains of the fire onto my next years compost heap? All my this years compost is contaminated with these horrible roots, which have creaped in from the plot next door. I was hoping to sieve them out, do you think that would do the trick or is all the compost wasted? ???

[thifasmom]

I have just had a fire in my incinerator with bits of twigs, small wood offcuts and soil intermingled with bind weed and couch grass roots. It stayed burning from id afternoon, right into the night. The soil was damp but very hot. Would that actually kill all the roots so that I can put the remains of the fire onto my next years compost heap? All my this years compost is contaminated with these horrible roots, which have creaped in from the plot next door. I was hoping to sieve them out, do you think that would do the trick or is all the compost wasted? ???

my compost is always contaminated from the bindweed which grows behind my fence line and channels its way under and into my bin. i just sift the contents, its a little time consuming but works. I'm meticulous at this stage as i don't need to re introduce bind weed into the growing beds :-X, so far so good two years running.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I occasionally have to sift leafmould for ground elder roots, and I've had bindweed survivinbg in compost before now, when I was still dealing with giant roots that were present when I took the plot on. I've never had a problem as a result.

[cacran]

My OH is making me a sieve so that I can wheel my wheelbarrow under it. I got the idea from anothr member. Can't wait!!!! :)

[Mushy Pea]

Hi just a final update on this link to show the new plot planted.

The raised box next to the patio set was planted with carrots. It was filled with the seived soil from the excavations when we found the "patio".  ;D


MP