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Posted: May/27/2006 1:02 PM PST
Just starting my new veggie garden and preparing the dirt (yup it's got coffee grounds in it lol). My question is, all the ashes from our bonfires in the firepit from burning the tree branches (many enjoyable nights thanks to a few good storms!), would they make a good mix into the soil? And if they would, should I be careful the amount of ash I add if it's "addable" (new word). Ty. |
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Posted: May/27/2006 1:13 PM PST
[COLOR="Green"]  :banana-wa Welcome to the forum. Ashes are good if they come from wood not charcoal. A little goes a long ways tho. Do ye have a compost pile? You can put some in it. I'm not sure about amounts, but someone will come along and tell you more!!AGAIN WELCOME!! :animorang [/COLOR]
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Posted: May/27/2006 2:06 PM PST
I am not sure about amounts either... I empty ash bucket from the fireplace in the winter all around gardens and veggie garden... I don't just put it in one place... Sprinkle it throughout gardens.. Peggy |
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Posted: May/27/2006 5:41 PM PST
Thanks for the welcome....prayers for this first timer wouldn't hurt either. I was reading that ashes may affect the acid ph balance so I will be sparse with them. The tomatos will already be hyper on their coffee grounds so we don't want them going haywire. We went from frost here in the burbs of Chicago to high 80's so if you don;t hear from me again, I'm IN the garden buried lol. No compost pile yet. We only plan to live here another 1 1/2 yrs then move to farm country! So this learning experience will come in very handy for my future. Any other tips to make this veggie garden soil good to grow tastys I appreciate. |
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Posted: May/28/2006 6:09 AM PST
Just spread the wood ashes in a thin layer onto the garden soil. I've even added it to the lawn. The ashes supply potash to the soil, a necessary nutrient for plants. |
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Posted: May/29/2006 7:28 PM PST
Not entirely sure about ashes on your garden. Depends a great deal on ph already in place, and organic matter. Ashes tend to "tighten" the soil, thereby reducing water filtration, etc. just my 2 cents! |
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Posted: May/29/2006 8:47 PM PST
Quote: Originally posted by Melissa Mayor ... Any other tips to make this veggie garden soil good to grow tastys I appreciate.Well, since you asked ... my mother always buried any roadkill in the garden. She had amazing gardens. I have flower, not vegetable, gardens. |
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Posted: May/29/2006 9:50 PM PST
I have found that it really makes the soil hard if just sprinkled on top of soil...We do mix in the compost pile and have always had great compost.. |
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Posted: May/30/2006 12:45 PM PST
My DH just puts it out here & there. It hardens to a big clump. I had not put it in the gardens very much. Started to have DH throw it in the manure pile instead. I can get some from there when needed... I surely don't need anything to make the soil harder here... After reading about adding it here , I will sparingly use it.. |
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Posted: May/30/2006 6:17 PM PST
Ashes are pretty worthless in the garden if they have been left out in the rain. Be careful where you pile ashes. Years ago ashes were used to make lye for soap making. Rain water run through the ashes formed lye. |
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