I had a bonfire last week and bagged up the ash. It was a mainly wood bonfire. I am fairly new to gardening so I rely on books for information but i am getting conflicting views about whether to put it on my new veg patch. Please help!

Wood ash from a bonfire or wood burning stove is a useful soil improver.

The type of wood burned can have different results; e.g.

Ash from untreated wood has a slight liming action and can be used to raise soil pH.

Ash produced from young sappy growth contains potassium and traces of other nutrients.

On the other hand; older mature wood tends to contain lower concentra¬tions of nutrients.

The actual nutrient content of ash varies so precise application is difficult, listed below are a few suggestions;

Where ash contains large particles, it is probably best to dig this in to improve the structure of the soil.

Adding finer ash to the compost heap / bin in thin layers will allow it to blend with other materials.

Alternatively; rake the fine ash into the surface of the soil if you are sure of its content.(see note below)

n.b. In the event that some unknown product with toxic properties may have been burned along with the wood, it is probably safer to allow ash to ‘weather’ in a heap for a few weeks, before spreading it around growing plants.

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, plus, it may contain toxic by-products.

K wrote:
Debi writes

I had a bonfire last week and bagged up the ash. It was a mainly wood
bonfire. I am fairly new to gardening so I rely on books for
information but i am getting conflicting views about whether to put
it on my new veg patch. Please help!


This topic has been covered more than once here, including very
recently - within the last few days. Does gardenbanter offer you a
'search' option? - if not, try a Google 'groups' search, and you will
uncover all the advice that has been posted here.

So it's been covered recently. The OP obviously doesn't know that. Your
reply is patronising and less than useful. Unlike that of Scotia.
--
London meet 2006
http://www.blackberrymoon.co.uk/meet2006/meet2006
ßôyþëtë

"BoyPete" wrote
K wrote:
This topic has been covered more than once here, including very
recently - within the last few days. Does gardenbanter offer you a
'search' option? - if not, try a Google 'groups' search, and you will
uncover all the advice that has been posted here.

So it's been covered recently. The OP obviously doesn't know that.
Your reply is patronising and less than useful. Unlike that of Scotia.

Seemed to me more like a helpful signpost that could be useful to lots
of enquirers. It's not patronising to be politely shown how to find what
you need.

--
Sue

"BoyPete" wrote in message
...
K wrote:
Debi writes

I had a bonfire last week and bagged up the ash. It was a mainly wood
bonfire. I am fairly new to gardening so I rely on books for
information but i am getting conflicting views about whether to put
it on my new veg patch. Please help!


This topic has been covered more than once here, including very
recently - within the last few days. Does gardenbanter offer you a
'search' option? - if not, try a Google 'groups' search, and you will
uncover all the advice that has been posted here.

So it's been covered recently. The OP obviously doesn't know that. Your
reply is patronising and less than useful. Unlike that of Scotia.

And who exactly was it, who appointed you as an arbiter of what is
and what isn't acceptable on this Newsgroup ?

Or on UseNet in general?

The fact is, that much useful concerning bonfire ash can indeed
be found by searching for the topic in Google Groups,
as can information on any number of other gardening topics.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^


- so that Kay's advice is much more generally useful
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^
than you're clearly able to comprehend.



What's more I can assure you that that's probabaly of far more
interest to readers of the NewsGroup than is the fact that you
quite clearly have a rather too high opinion of yourself.

So much so in fact that you feel yourself entitled to try and
tell other mature adults how to behave. Even more so when any
such crticisms have no possible foundation in fact.
And are so are deserving of an aplogy at the very least.

Rest assured that your injunctions have about as much authority as
noises emanating from a speak-your-weight machine. So that if you feel
the need to try and impress people, and order them about, I can only
suggest you first try some practice the trees in the park. As they
alone are likely to afford you the sort of recognition which you
undoubtedly crave.


michael adams



--
London meet 2006
http://www.blackberrymoon.co.uk/meet2006/meet2006
ßôyþëtë

Coal ash

That reminds me of the days when soot used to be available. everybody
used to be glad to get rid of it.

I suppose nowadays it would be prohibited as possibly being
carcogenic.

"Sue" wrote in message
reenews.net...

"BoyPete" wrote
K wrote:
This topic has been covered more than once here, including very
recently - within the last few days. Does gardenbanter offer you a
'search' option? - if not, try a Google 'groups' search, and you will
uncover all the advice that has been posted here.

So it's been covered recently. The OP obviously doesn't know that.
Your reply is patronising and less than useful. Unlike that of Scotia.

Seemed to me more like a helpful signpost that could be useful to lots
of enquirers. It's not patronising to be politely shown how to find what
you need.

Which you can do by scutinising this newsgroup, no need to use this
gardenbanter, whatever that is.


--
Sue