[fatbelly]

Hi,
We have a Coal fire and in winter it produces a lot of ash.
Can this ash be used on the allotment over winter for next season?
Next year I intend to grow, Spuds, Onions, Carrots, Parsnips, Sweetcorn, Brassicas, Runner and French Beans.
Is Coal fire Ash good for any of theses crops?
And if so in what proportions
Thanks Fatbelly

[Sally A]

Surely the ash is mostly from the wood/logs you put on after the initial lighting, so should be fine. My dad always used to keep it in a metal bucket for slippery paths, then dig in what was left in spring.

[WG.]

Ashes from a coal fire are not good for a garden.

[fatbelly]

Ashes from a coal fire are not good for a garden.

Thanks WG.

[WG.]

See https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1204/wood_ash.asp : "Coal ash is best avoided because it has a negligible nutrient content and its fine particle size means it is of little benefit to soil structure.
"

[Sally A]

Well I never WG, the bit of garden we used to empty our parkray ashes onto had the most managable soil (after I'd picked out the clinker), perhas the coal/coke particles helped to break up the clay, despite adding no benefit.

[WG.]

Surely the ash is mostly from the wood/logs you put on after the initial lighting, so should be fine. My dad always used to keep it in a metal bucket for slippery paths, then dig in what was left in spring.

?? But fatbelly isn't burning any wood

[Sally A]

aah, but with a coal fire, you start off with the scrunched up newspaper, then criss crossed kindling and big lumps of coal, when thats burnt down you put the small coal on, and then to get the heat throuhgout the evening you put logs on.

[WG.]

We seem to be at cross-purposes here, Sally.  Fatbelly makes no mention of wood in his original question.

We have a Coal fire and in winter it produces a lot of ash. ... Is Coal fire Ash good for any of theses crops?

 

[Sally A]

I agree...........FATBELLYYYYYY!!!!! - How do you lay your fire?

[richyrich7]

Ashes from a coal fire are not good for a garden.

My Old mum swears by it. I can see where the RHS are coming from tho' but I'd still chuck it on.