seaweed quantity

[nemo]

hello all i am putting seaweed around the rhubarb can i cover the crowns with seaweed or must i put seaweed around the crowns without covering them. Could i put a thick layer or will this cause the crowns to rot
regards
nemo

[Snadger]

I've never used seaweed as a mulch but I have used FYM. I just plonk it on (4" thick)over the top and the shoots soon find there way through it!

[nemo]

thanks snadger i must be on my own using seaweed
regards
nemo

[Nicos]

Hello there nemo!
Lucky you having access to seaweed!!
whereabouts in the UK are you? Are you able to go and help yourself whenever you want??

I've only used fresh seaweed once and I'd collected off a National Trust beach not realizing that you're not allowed to!!!

Just make sure you wash off the salt thoroughly first!

I do use the powdered stuff which is VERY expensive but I'd love a pile of fresh seaweed!

I'd plonk a pile on top of the plant and stand back and watch it grow like mad!!

[nemo]

hello nicos
i live in the south west of Ireland. i am about 5 minutes walk from the strand
after a storm the tide washes the seaweed above the high water line . i would never cut fresh seaweed from the rocks when the tide is out as it takes seven years for the seaweed to recover
i put seaweed on and around everything the slugs hate seaweed due to the salt it makes a great mulch as it cuts out the light an it lasts a long time
regards nemo

[Nicos]

Bliss!!!!!
And lucky you !

We 'did' the ring of Kerry a few years ago and the area is more than superb ( esp the coastline)!

It's got me wondering why we chose our second home to be in France now!

We bought the 'wild fuscia' on our return and every day I'm reminded of that holiday!

Do put on your profile roughly where you are nemo- cos it'll make answering any questions easier in the future.

Please tell us more about the uses of fresh seaweed- sounds very interesting!

Also ...you must be able to grow some interesting stuff cos don't you get the Gulf Stream influence where you are??

[NSB]

I wash mine and then just wrap it round the plants without making contact.

[nemo]

thanks nsc i will do this for my rhubarb
and nicos another bit of useless information
where do i begin
1) get a half wheel barrow of fresh seaweed wash it four or five times to remove salt put seaweed in a hessian sack tie the top place this into a barrel of water let it steep for a few weeks then remove sack and use the resultant tea as o feed for most plants

2) get a wheel barrow of fresh seaweed again wash it thoroughly place this into a plastic bag an old fertiliser bag (e non organic farmers use them) tie the top an hang this from a branch so the corner of the bag is about two inches off the ground nip the corner of the bag and place a suitable container to collect the resultant liquid that will start to drip out of the bag .you must dilute the liquid maybe 10 parts water to 1 part seaweed juice

this should keep your plants in tip top shape
regards
nemo
wishing everybody a happy Christmas and a sprouting new year