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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Ashes

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  • From: Lucy Goodman <goodows AT infinet.com>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Ashes
  • Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 07:55:29 -0500

Ashes can be a blessing and a curse. They have loads of minerals in them
-potash being the major one. But they can also raise the pH of your soil
if you use a lot over an extended period.

I ruined a radish crop from using wood ash in an attempt to pursuade
slugs not to eat the radishes. I put down ash every 2 or 3 days and
within 2 months the soil pH has risen enough that radishes would not
grow in that bed for 4 years. I now use DE for this purpose, more
expensive (we heat with wood so we have lots of wood ash) but it is pH
neutral and works.

We do broadcast ash on our beds usually in early winter and again in
late winter/early spring for the potash and other trace minerals with no
problems what so ever. We put down maybe 1/4" of ash at a time but only
2 to 3 times a year. Pine trees also love wood ash


> Tom Anslow wrote:
>
>
Lucy Goodman-Owsley
Boulder Belt Organics
New Paris, OH
http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/boulderbeltcsa

Looking for a CSA, Farmer's market or other venue for fresh local food?
Check out
http://www.localharvest.com

It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong

Voltaire (1694-1778)




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