Turning wood ash into liquid feed, is it possible?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Thats why you are not supposed to burn it but have it taken away for high temperature incineration.

Colin

[Peas'n'Kews]

Wood ash is a good potash (the "P" from N-P-K?) source. We either put ours in the compost or direct around the bottom of the fruit trees/bushes/canes.

[jacob]

The "K" in N-P-K !!

[Feral007]

I was complaining about the cherry slug on the pear trees to the man at the apple farm ( well you find advice anywhere you know!) and he said to throw some vacuum dust on the tree, or wood ash. I hate vac'ing so thought I'd try the wood ash myself

[di]

I was complaining about the cherry slug on the pear trees to the man at the apple farm ( well you find advice anywhere you know!) and he said to throw some vacuum dust on the tree, or wood ash. I hate vac'ing so thought I'd try the wood ash myself

Cool, my neighbour just dropped of a bag of vaccum dust, I shall pop it round my cherry tree...I noticed a weeds popping up around it yesterday.

[Peas'n'Kews]

The "K" in N-P-K !!

Still trying to get to grips with incredibly simple concept, so thank you! It would help if Potassium and Potash didn't both begin with "p" - hey ho - what DOES the "k" stand for??

[jacob]

I know this one (well, sort of)! K = potassium = potash is for kalium which means something like alkali and I think has its roots (!) in something plant related. N = nitrogen, P = phosphorus.

[Leeds_lad]

So apart from fruit trees and bushes, which plants will greatly benefit from a sprinkling on the stuff?

[Two_Sheds]

Well it's mainly because i have a massive amount of it

Keep it in old jars until you use it, keep it dry

I'd make charcoal.

artist's charcoal is made with willow, I don't know about other uses, eg BBQ charcoal

So apart from fruit trees and bushes, which plants will greatly benefit from a sprinkling on the stuff?

I used it as a mulch on my leeks & onions: it really kept the weeds down and the leeks have been awesome

[dod]

Wood ash is mostly composed of metal oxides and possibly also carbonates, although it must contain some other stuff, because the quantitiy of ash produced depends on the burning temperature (hotter fires produce less ash). Given that many of the metal oxides are rather insoluble a water extract will selectively extract the more water soluble components, which I believe would include the potassium (K). It should leave quite a bit of the other, less soluble, components. The solution would be somewhat alkaline. I expect that a water extract of wood ash would be good for soemthing that needs potassium and high pH, or it could be a good way to add potassium to other feeds to balance to major nutrient ratios.