Is it worth adding fresh seaweed before planting runner / French beans

[WillieBee]

Tomorrow I am going to be planting out my runner beans as well as the French climbing beans.

I would have liked to wait until the end of May, but they are starting to twist now, so need to get them in asap

I live near the coast and was wondering whether it would be worthwhile adding some fresh seaweed to the soil before planting. This is my first year on my allotment, so need to (well, would like to) make a good impression .. with wife and /or neighbouring plot holders

[nickdub]

well it certainly won't hurt to add sea weed - just make sure its be put somewhere and any salt washed off before using it on the allotment. As for whether it will make the plants grow better than they other wise would, that entirely depends on how the soil is now - if it has been run down and nutrients depleted by people previously, then the seaweed will make max impact, if on the other hand the soil is in really good condition already, then the seaweed will just keep things ticking over.

[WillieBee]

any salt washed off before using it on the allotment

Thanks for your reply

I'm sure I read somewhere that there is no need to wash the seaweed, but maybe that's if you add it to the soil, say in winter long before any planting takes place

[nickdub]

Thanks for your reply

I'm sure I read somewhere that there is no need to wash the seaweed, but maybe that's if you add it to the soil, say in winter long before any planting takes place

You're probably right - obviously if its outside on the plot for a bit rain is going to wash any salt off - too far from the coast to use it myself, so may be someone with some practical experience will comment :-)

[Florence Fennel]

Rary uses lots of seaweed, don't think he washes it.

[ameno]

I often collect a few big sacks of seaweed whenever I visit relatives who live by the sea. I don't dig it directly into the ground, though, but rather compost it. I always soak it in water to rinse the salt off, but I don't know if that's strictly necessary. It's usually been sitting on the strand line for some time by the time you collect it, so if it has rained much recently then the rain probably already rinsed it for you.

Just one tip: don't, whatever you do, leave it lying around in sacks for month. Some I brought back last year I forgot to put in the compost bin, and it just got left in sacks for ages. It stank something awful: like the worst rotten eggs.