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Olympia, Wa

I have a 55gal. drum 1/3rd the way full of ashes. Am wondering when is a good time to add it....I have heard that ash is good for the ground. Should I add it to my patch before the vines take it completely over?...or wait....or....add it to the garden? I would like to add it to my patch, only cause I'm not totally confident in the soil. I have only added mushroom compost the the ground!

6/10/2004 12:05:09 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

1st what are the ashes from? If they are strickly wood ashes a light spreading should be OK. Remember they are alkaline and will raise your PH.

6/10/2004 4:26:09 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

If your plants are growing good..why mess with em...if they are not growing good...get a soil test and find out why...adding potash because you think it's a good idea probably not the best idea..bad decisions now may cost you years in the future..grow em big! chuck

6/10/2004 4:46:37 PM

southern MN

Here is some pretty good info on ashes as fertilizer

http://vric.ucdavis.edu/veginfo/topics/fertilizer/Woodashes.pdf

6/10/2004 5:08:42 PM

Murphy North Carolina

Here in the mountains of North Carolina, we use wood ashes for the garden. But, only if they are from oak or hickory wood. Which for us is great, as everyone only burns oak or hickory in the fireplace. oak ash was also used by the mountain people to make Lye, for soap and pickling. The ash works pretty quick, and also leaches out quick. Sounds like it would be good for the last part of the growing year. But am sure the others will set ya straight. Am sure Tremor or Southern will give ya the skinny.

6/10/2004 5:56:52 PM

Olympia, Wa

The ash's are from cardboard mainly!...few other things thrown in ...here and there...not hardly any wood!
So is why I thought that I would see what everyone else has to say bout this idea?...ty for the input!

6/10/2004 6:27:41 PM

Murphy North Carolina

hmmmm, I would say NO...You more or less have a toxic waste dump going on there.

6/11/2004 9:22:18 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Yea, I agree, don't use it. You have no idea what chemicals were used in making the cardboard and what are a "few other things thrown in"?

6/11/2004 5:38:18 PM