[dno71]

ok this is probably a stupid question!
how do i use potash for my potatoes etc do i just put it in the bed before planting? please help!

[Yorkie]

I thought potash was for tomatoes and other flower / fruiting plants rather than root crops.

I'd apply a potato fertiliser at the time of planting, or fish blood and bone rather than a high potash feed. 

[Trillium]

potash is important for potato tuber growth and overall plant health, but it must be balanced with nitrogen to avoid unwanted effects. Fresh ash is not recommended as it acidifies the soil too much and throws off the balance.

Some can be mixed into the soil before planting time, then as small sidedressings later.

[dno71]

many thanks for the advice!

[JayG]

I'd go with Trillium's advice about balancing the nutrients you add but feel I should point out that the salts found in wood ash are mostly carbonates, so it tends to be alkaline rather than acidic.

[BostonInbred]

Wood ash is alkaline.

If you run water through it you get a highly alkaline liquid called Lye that is mainly sodium and pottasium hydroxides, and can be used to make soap from animal fat scraps.

[Yorkie]

Most people know more about fertilisers than me, so definitely go with what Trillium said!

[Trillium]

Good catch. I meant to say alkaline and for whatever reason typed in acidify.

[boosh]

get yourself a comfry plant.
Drop one leaf in the bottom of the hole then your spud on top.
you can also put the leafs round the plants as you earth up.
comfry has a high potash content,
I was given this advice last year, and i belive i had a better crop for it. 

[swampyphill]

Should be spread and dug in with your winter digging regeime, no new fertilizer should be incorporated upon planting as this will lead to 'scab', apply general fertiliser ie Growmore in the growwing season
Good luck. hope you have the tubers 'sprutting'

[DavidT]

If you want good potato crops, you DON`T use potash you use phosphates. Especially Superphosphate. And these fertilizers CAN be used during the growing season.

[Trillium]

David, have you read the findings of this experiment?

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/112604302/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Phosphates must be added in high numbers and quantity (and price) to get good yields, whereas potash, balanced with nitrogen, will give higher yields, better tuber quality and better storage capability. 

[DavidT]

Couldn`t open it Trillium. As far as I know, potash is used to encourage fruiting and flowering, whereas phosphates are used to encourage rooting and the developement of root crops. This is  known fact, not some experiment. As for price, superphosphate and sulphate of potash are about the same price for the same quantity.

[Salmo]

dno71 - please oh please tell us what sort of potash fertilizer you are planning to apply and what sort of soil you have and someone can give you a good answer.

Several of the answers you have given conflict and some are wrong!!!

[JayG]

dno71 - please oh please tell us what sort of potash fertilizer you are planning to apply and what sort of soil you have and someone can give you a good answer.

Several of the answers you have given conflict and some are wrong!!!

I agree!

An excess of any one nutrient is bad news (expensive, potentially polluting, can upset the soil chemistry and may have the opposite effect to what you are after).

I you're a beginner you won't go far wrong using a balanced fertiliser like Growmore or pelleted chicken manure in the recommended dosages. You do eventually need to get to know your soil and your crops but plants are actually quite good at obtaining what they need from the soil given half a chance.