[ConfusedGardener]

The last couple of days I've been burning 3 apple trees that I cut down over winter since they had fungal infections. So far I've collected a bucket full of ash (and there should be at least a couple more when I burn the rest), but not sure where to use it.

The options are: on my first early potatoes (manured with plenty of well rotted stable manure a few days ago, just before planting), on my onions (the bed had celery in it last year, but I was late, so it did not fully mature. I raked in a light dose of BFB just before planting a few days back), or the bed I'm about start digging for second earlies.

There is also a pile of soil sitting on a tarpaulin from last years toms that I've added some seaweed meal, bone meal, and chicken manure to, that will be used for this years container toms.

Or I could save it for the other beds I'm planning: carrots, peas, sorrel, celery, and in the poly: cucumbers, cucamelons, and passion fruit.

There are also 3 gooseberry bushes that are just getting going.

So what would you use it on now or save it for?

[gavinjconway]

Potatoes, broad beans, strawberries and any fruiting plants..


These dont need it...
Or I could save it for the other beds I'm planning: carrots, peas, sorrel, celery, and in the poly: cucumbers, cucamelons, and passion fruit.

There are also 3 gooseberry bushes that are just getting going.

[3 allotments]

Hi cg i also aquired a builders plastic trug full of woodash,i have spread it around my onions and garlic apparently onions love it i have also put a bit round rasps and some in pt ready for when i put tomatoes in

[Snoop]

There are other threads where people suggest that you should never put ash on your potatoes as it encourages scab.

[JayG]

Wood ash is known mainly for its potassium content, which makes it a good supplement for most plants, especially flowering and fruiting types.

It's less well known for having a calcium content much higher than the potassium - both of them are mainly present as oxides and carbonates, which makes it quite alkaline.

As Snoop has mentioned, although spuds need potassium, overall it's not a good addition for spuds, especially if the soil already has a pH of 7 or higher.

Has to be kept dry before use as the potassium in particular is highly soluble and easily leached away.

[ConfusedGardener]

Thanks for the replies.

So a bit on the onions now, and save the rest for when things are coming into flower/fruit?

I didn't know about the calcium content. Appreciate the info Jay!

[JayG]

The lighter your soil and the more it rains the quicker it will leach out, but I'd still suggest applying it before flowering/fruiting for the most benefit.

(Not suitable for ericaceous plants like blueberries of course, although you haven't mentioned having any of those.)

[Snoop]

I used to have a problem with blossom end rot affecting toms and peppers, which I understand is to do with irregular watering and calcium deficiency. Last year I added ash to the soil and had the best crop ever of both and not a one lost to blossom end rot. The watering was just as erratic as ever (hard to keep the soil moist in our summer conditions), so I put the success down to the ash. It also made a huge difference to the French beans I grew.

[ConfusedGardener]

Thanks for the tips Jay and Snoop. I'll definitely save some for the toms and sweet peppers (which I forgot to mention).

[Kleftiwallah]

Not wishing to hijack, but what about charcoal nugget dust from the B.B.Q.?  Cheers,   Tony.

[JayG]

Charcoal briquettes are made mainly from powdered charcoal, bonded together with some form of starch, and other additives to improve the burning performance.

It's the 'other additives' which would concern me, as it's hard to be entirely sure what they are, and whether the residues are toxic or not. 

I certainly wouldn't use the ashes from the 'instant lighting' version.

[NewSteve]

So suppose we're organic gardeners who want to give our spuds a good potassium feed. What would you recommend if not ash?

Steve

[JayG]

I believe there are a few 'organic' speciality potato fertilisers on the market, but I can't vouch for their effectiveness - fish, blood and bone or other fairly balanced general fertilisers does the job for most people.

[NewSteve]

FBB I can manage! Although our soil is fairly acid so I might risk a bit of ash , especially for the tomatoes.

[snowdrops]

I note that you say you have a pile of soil from last years toms that you have added seaweed meal,BFB & chicken pellets to ready for this years toms. May I suggest that you use fresh compost or enriched soil for these as you risk introducing disease to your indoor toms by using last years. Add it to the garden but not where your potatoes are going as they are the same family.