Ash from the Log Burner

[PyreneesPlot]

We have a small log burner to provide heating and so far I have tended to just sprinkle the ash on the veg garden and around the soft fruit but thought it might be too intense to keep doing this year after year? Sometimes it just goes on the compost as the bucket is by the back door (dark, wet days!). The ash box gets emptied about every three days and produces about a shovel full.
My soil is poor clay with boulders, mostly subsoil only when we started in early 2010 but is getting better.
This year we 'll be burning mostly beech with a bit of ash, birch and oak.
So really the question is sprinkle or compost?

[Nicos]

We do both PP- like you, we have loads of wood ash.

[veggiechicken]

I do both with preference to sprinkling around the fruit bushes, but its usually only once a year for each bush. Don't know why - just another of my funny little habits

[Nicos]

Here- have a look at this....

At Least 10 Uses for Wood Ash | Permaculture Magazine

We've used it as a paint stripper- works a treat on French paint!
Bit of elbow grease...but none of those toxic chemicals

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Nicos. Interesting! I'm going to start sprinkling some around my tomatoes too but not at the same time as the liquid gold in case there's a chemical reaction

[Mikey]

Wasn't it on gardeners world the other day, the tomato grower used three of his own liquid feeds Comfrey, nettle and wood ash. All dependant on what the plant needed. He fed them every day.

[veggiechicken]

That's the sort of thing I've been thinking about Mikey - substitutes for NPK. The N is easy but I need the P & K.

[Mikey]

I've got some P's and Q's if they help?

[veggiechicken]

I've got some P's and Q's if they help?

Would you like me to mind them for you?

[Mikey]

Would you like me to mind them for you?

Can you do it telepathically from there.

[PyreneesPlot]

Thanks - looks like I'm doing the right thing. I'll stick some in a bucket to make a feed, too.

I'm prepared to test out the liquid gold and ash combo - if someone could send the gold I'll keep you posted.

Nicos - paint stripping will be someone elses problem. As a new self-build there are still 2 rooms yet to see paint. One is still untaped, bare plasterboard But as its Mr PP's office he can do it at his own pace.

Temp hit 27 this afternoon so not sure what reminded me of the log burner

[Mikey]

Temp hit 27 this afternoon so not sure what reminded me of the log burner

You can go right off people you know.

[Jardiniere]

It was really warm here today too...and we went for a swim but I've got the wood burner on for the evening/overnight/morning cos its gets cold once the sun goes down .....really clear at the moment ...millions of stars but it will mist up by morning and be cold and grey until about 9.30 ish.
Mine's a big burner for cooking too...been baking this evening.Loads and loads of ash ..too much to use we have to lose it in the hedgerow/embankment.

[planetologist]

Wood ash is alkaline, so you might consider measuring soil pH if you're worried you're putting on too much.