[sonic]

I've got an incinerator on my plot where I burn clippings, leafs. branches etc.  There's a deep layer of ash at the bottom.  I've never burnt anything but organic matter so no nails, no plastic residue etc just pure ash.  Where can I use this for best effect on my plot?

[davethespread]

i do believe you can spread the ashes where potatoes are going to be planted

[Rangerkris]

I just spread and dug mine into the area after removing all the metal bits.

[mumofstig]

tomatoes love wood ash

[Pompey Spud]

Toms love ash as stated before as well as Garlic which i was surprised to read.

I sprinkled some Potassium sulphate round my plants and they've romped on.

Silvio Trozzo, an experianced gardner who has an allotment in Slough recommends it with lots of other stuff in back issues of KG.

So ash on Garlic if you're growing them would help.

[Trikidiki]

i do believe you can spread the ashes where potatoes are going to be planted

Don't us ash on potatoes as it is very alkaline and may provide conditions to promote potato scab.

I enquired from the RHS where to use it some years ago and they suggested it was best for long growing crops especially those over-wintering such as autumn sown garlic as it releases nutrients slowly over a long period.

[SarahB]

It's good for brassicas (always assuming your soil isn't already alkaline) - it works like lime to help minimise the effects of clubroot, if you're unfortunate enough to have it on the plot. 

[sonic]

Thanks for the responses folks

So far I get the impression that my toms are going to benefit the most in the near future and I always do loads of all varieties in my greenhouse

I won't be doing garlic again until the autumn

Any more suggestions for the ash?

[davethespread]

i do believe you can spread the ashes where potatoes are going to be planted

Don't us ash on potatoes as it is very alkaline and may provide conditions to promote potato scab.

I enquired from the RHS where to use it some years ago and they suggested it was best for long growing crops especially those over-wintering such as autumn sown garlic as it releases nutrients slowly over a long period.

i do apologise i thought as tomatoes are in the same family as potatoes it would be the same

[whistler]

Thanks for asking the question Sonic, I had a bonfire today and was wondering what to do with all the ash.

[Trikidiki]

Just in case anyone is thinking of doing it.

Don't use coal ash on the veg plot at all.

[solway cropper]

Don't use coal ash on the veg plot at all.

I use it for paths

[cooperman]

It's good for brassicas (always assuming your soil isn't already alkaline) - it works like lime to help minimise the effects of clubroot, if you're unfortunate enough to have it on the plot. 

I am not sure this is correct as what I seem to remember from my feeble researches in times gone by is that wood ash nutrients wash through the soil quickly....

[mumofstig]

Just in case anyone is thinking of doing it.

Don't use coal ash on the veg plot at all.

My garden soil is really dark and free draining from gardeners of the past using soot on it for many years 

[Jeff Glanrhyd]

My garlic is planted next to my onions.

Will wood ash harm the onions?