[biguns]

Hi, i have a quantity of activated charoal, can anyone tell me if this  would be of use on the plot. I was thinking it may be of use to brighten the skins of Potatoes, any other suggestions would be welome. Thank you.

[m1ckz]

Natural Fertilizer - Soil Sweetener

“While charcoal helps to clean the soil of pollutants, it also acts as a soil conditioner. It is used as a top dressing for gardens, bowling greens and lawns. Charcoal also acts as a substitute for lime in soil additives because of the potash content, and it can be a little cheaper than lime. It is used for potting and bedding compounds as a soil and mulch sweetener, and as a fertilizer and insecticide for roses. Some orchids seem to love it. One study showed that adding charcoal to the rooting medium of peas produced a marked increase in the weight of the pea plants and in nitrogen fixation by the plants as compared to controls. It is suggested that the benefits derived from charcoal are due to its adsorption of toxic metabolites that are often released by plant tissues, especially when the tissues are damaged. Charcoal is indispensable in rye grass seed production.
Here are some planting tips using charcoal chips. Start with a plastic liner in a tray. Add half an inch to an inch of gravel in the bottom for drainage. Next, sprinkle enough charcoal chips to cover the gravel layer. Charcoal will help keep bacteria at bay. Top this with potting soil and add your plants

http://www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com/natural_fertilizer
edited to clarify quote

[JayG]

m1ckz - for copyright reasons please post the actual source of the quote you have just posted (or preferably the link to it assuming it was found on a website.)

[m1ckz]

ok  ty

[Kieronl]

I did see two beds one using Charcoal at Ryton Gardens (http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk) and I did not see much difference in growth, but it was only a quick look once. Maybe some one else had a chance to have a better look

[biguns]

Thanks for the info, i wll look forward to trying the charoal on the peas in partiular, also around the allotment in general,                                                                                                                                                  Dave           

[mobilekat]

I have never gone and bought activated charcoal, but I have always thrown the used charcoal and ash from barbecues onto the garden (but only from lumpwood charcoal, not from 'reformed briquettes')

The plants that have had this at their roots are all doing well!

The only downside I had was a friends visiting dog found some 'fresh' charcoal that had meat juices on and ate it- very odd black 'sculptures' appeared in the garden the next day!