I'm being adventurous and planting some winter-starting seeds for the kitchen garden beds. The first batch, mesclun, arugula, radish blend, lettuce blend. I used up old radish seeds by mixing them with the newer ones. If the old ones don't grow, then the plants will be further apart which is good. I usually overplant seeds. If they do grow, that's fine, I'll just thin to the appropriate distance.
These seeds went into cement-block
raised beds that are warmer than surrounding ground-level soil. A week ago, I scattered wood ashes on the soil and mixed thoroughly. There have been some rains since then to dissolve the minerals. A longer time would be better but this is what I have.
Last year I planted Fava beans and snow peas about now, and they were very healthy and vigorous and productive. This time I'm planting them in a standard raised bed that had tomato plants last year. That bed was given a dose of lime about 2 months ago.
I've scatter wood ashes on my soil too. It seems to be very nourishing to the soil, there's a significant growth on the weeds on the wood ashes part.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your experience. I'm never sure it makes a difference, but I have the ashes and my soil is acidic, so I don't feel like it's hurting, either.
DeleteI've seen a product out there called "biochar" which I think its just tree and other green material burned to ash. I've never try that but why buy it if we have it for free already.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I thought biochar was mainly a way to dispose of partially burned wood and stuff.
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