Soot

[Sue]

Hi,
I've been an avid reader of all your wonderful advice for ages - having lost my password twice now, am determined to be more organised and hang on to it and take part, have lots of questions as am only a one year old allotmenteer!

So soot, just inside our allotment gate there is a towering pile of soot. (one of our allotment holders is a chimney sweep) Can I use it on my allotment and if so what for and how much?
I'm gardening on heavy Weald of Kent clay, concrete in summer, deep, deep mud in winter - I'm obviously working on this adding tons of compost but I keep looking at that pile of soot...
Sue

[pete10]

Hi Sue .

I'm lead to believe that soot is very good for onions .Not sure about other
crops mind ,I'm sure somebody knows.

[ChrisB]

Hope somebody can answer Sues question because I'm having my chimney swept next week and might ask for the soot if I can use it

[NOG]

Its not recommended see here: http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/faqs.php?id=1

[Shortie]

Hi Sue, it'd be fab to see you on here more

Sorry... not sure about the soot, but just wanted to say quickly that you can get the vine to log you in automatically as you from your compuiter if you tick 'Remember Me' check box next time you log on, and you'll have no need to worry about remembering it.

[Sue]

Nog, thanks for the link, doesn't look like a good idea, so will reluctantly leave the pile where it is, if only it was manure...
and thanks Shortie for the message and the info about logging in, if only I'd known about saving the password, so many numbers and passwords to remember now, my poor brain gets overloaded.
Sue

[PAULW]

Soot and pests.

Many soil pests on the veggie plot or allotment can be deterred by raking soot into the soil surface at sowing time. This seems to work particularly well against carrot fly. Make sure it is not really fresh stuff this can burn the plants, I spread it on the ground now and let it overwinter before digging it in.

[NOG]

I think the problem is the type of soot...if it is wood ash it is ok but soot from Coal has nasties in it.

A good rule is if it is dumped and everyone is fill their wheel barrows it is ok. If it is left and no-one owwns it it s not worth looking at.

[Skipper]

Hi Sue

In reply to your question about "soot" Im no expert on it but I was told the same as "nog" that its ok if its wood ash, and then has to stand for at least 18 months otherwise it will burn. I have clay soil and I used it as a soil conditioner along with compost, horse manure, lime, and sharp sand and the crops I grew on it were excellent. My soil has improved no end since I used all these different things and so I can say its worked for me (the lime was for lowering the acidity in the soil). good luck.