Using seaweed

[Hardy]

Hi

I live on the coast and have ready access to loads of seaweed, which I add to my compost heaps (does a great job) and also add neat to the garden.

I've read contradictory advice about using neat seaweed. One view is that you should collect it dry or let it dry before spreading it. The reason being that there is too much salt in fresh wet seaweed. The opposite view is that you should collect it wet and use it as fresh as possible - the reason being that on dry seaweed the salt will have crystallised and will therefore be more concentrated! Does anybody know the definitive answer with authority?

And are there any veg, fruit or shrubs that would not like fresh seaweed?

Thanks
Hardy

[Geordie]

Hardy,

I use lots of seaweed....all placed fresh on the beds. In the winter it just goes straight on....the weather will wash away the salt before planting time. In the summer I just place it in a heap and hose it down for 10 mins to remove most of the salt before it goes on to the beds.

Not sure if any plants hate it but I know tomatoes love it.

[Hardy]

Seaweed foliar spray

Hi Geordie, thanks for that.

I know asparagus loves seaweed too and as we speak I have it piled up on all my raised beds (when I think about it, mainly under black polythene - oops, I guess this will nullify the weather washing the salt away?) in preparation for the new season.

I'm not too worried about using it where there are currently no plants above ground level. But I also use it neat on my flowerbeds and around growing veg and wondered if that was okay - but wasn't sure where to post the question to apply to both! Maybe I'll try rinsing the water off fresh wet seaweed. Usually I'm too keen and have gathered too much to be able to find a space big enough to lay it out and hose it down, other than the beds themselves! Oh well.

Do you (or anyone) know how to make a foliar spray out of seaweed (ie what concentration, how long to soak it etc)

Thanks again for any advice
Hardy

[Lesley Jay]

Seaweed is used on Jersey Royal Potatoes. That and the fact that they are grown on the sea facing cliffs is what gives them their unique flavour. I am sure that I heard on the news last year that the EC were going to ban the use of seaweed on Jersey Royals. You could grow Internation Kidney potatoes using the seaweed and you might get something like the Jersey Royals.

[Hardy]

Ban seaweed

Hi Lesley

Can you shed any light on why they were talking about banning the use of seaweed on Jersey Royals??

Thanks
Hardy

[Nicos]

Just had a delivery of seaweed extract. I wonder if it's worthwhile sprinkling some in with a few of the early spuds?? - aswell as manure or instead of? Too expensive to waste it but not tried it out before and would appreciate ideas on where best to use it. Have already put salt on the asparagus as a trial - I wonder if it's the salt on the seaweed they like or the combination of salt and nutrients?

[Lesley Jay]

Hardy I definately heard it on the news (was in the kitchen at the time with my back to the TV) and I said to my husband that the seaweed is what gives the Jerseys their flavour. EC gone mad again. I will have a look and see if I can find any archive news about it.

[Nicos]

Just come back from a day on the beach with a big bag of seaweed. Never used it before! I intend to hose the salt off and then .....what??? Should I chop it and dig it into the soil where the tomatoes are going , or wait until they are growing and use it dried ,spreading it between the plants. I'd prefer to do the former so it's out of the way.

[Jaxom]

Joy Larkcom recommends using seaweed fresh but chopping it up first. The one thing she does not mention is whether to wash it or not? I would take it as a given though that a good wash would be best.

[Lesley Jay]

Nicos definately wash off the salt. Looking into the Jersey Royals it would seem that there are high levels of salt remaining in the ground after harvesting.

[Nicos]

Thankyou both. You know-it's just dawned on me that the potato and tomato are both of the same family (as I think aubergine and something else)and that they both like seaweed-and possibly salt.

[Pete]

I live by the sea as well, so this sounds like a great idea. Are there any restrictions/laws about removing it from the shoreline. I believe it is illegal to remove stones/pebbles from the (Scottish) shoreline.

[sewer rat]

Pete
As far as I am aware there are no restrictions on removing seaweed from the shore in Scotland, though you are quite right in your belief that the removal of stones / pebbles / cobbles etc is illegal, as is the removal of same from river beds.
Rat

[Geordie]

There are no restrictions on removing seaweed from the shoreline.

Nicos, as you tomato plants grow they really appreciate a top dressing with some fresh seaweed. (Think Viagra!).
I dress all my beds with seaweed in the autumn...just spread it on as it came from the beach. The winter weather will wash away salts etc. At other times of the year just place hosepipe in bag with seaweed, cut a hole in the corner and leave for 5 mins....this will wash most of the stuff off.

[Geordie]

Tenious link!

Assuming I can broden this thread into soil improvement.....if you cant get seaweed then try bracken, gathered green next month. Collect it early before the leaves develop brown spores (which can be a carcegen).

Use like seaweed....but be aware the land you collect it from will belong to somebody so always ask. (I have never been refused yet!)