Seaweed

[harveymt]

I regularly walk on a coastal path where lots of seaweed gets washed up onto the upper beach. There's loads of it and it seems to mostly just sit and rot till a full tide washes it away. Is there anything stopping you from lifting it?

If you get some is there anything you need to do to prepare it? I presume it could be quite salty? Should you soak it a while or rinse it then spread it on the ground?

Or should you just let it rot down in a barrel of water and spread this water over the ground? Again is there anything that should be down to combat salt?

[Sanjo]

As long as the seaweed is loose and not attached I pretty sure you can take it (I do anyway!)
I don't bother to take the salt off if it's going in the compost bin.
Some members make seaweed liquid from it and it is very beneficial but it does STINK!!!!
There are various posts on it somewhere. Just try the search facility and you are bound to get something coming up.
Failing that I'm sure one of the regular seaweeders will be around soon to answer you.

[alldigging]

Wash with a hose maybe. It's supposed to be good as a mulch on asparagus beds.

[rustylady]

Wash with a hose maybe. It's supposed to be good as a mulch on asparagus beds.

Why a hose? Wouldn't a large bucket of water do as well and use less water?

[Two_Sheds]

If it's washed up above the shoreline, it's dead and can be gathered. Wash it in several batches of water to get the salt off (unless you're growing samphire).

I'm making it into a feed (stuff pop bottle with seaweed, top up with water) and it doesn't stink at all, it just smells of the sea

[super trowel]

Same as above really, I give the stuff a quick rinse in a bucket of water.
To mainly get rid of the sand.
Then put it in a bucket filled with water for 4 weeks.
I use the fluid 1 part sea weed to 10 parts water, and any weed left I use as a mulch.

[di]

I've only ever added it to my compost, rightly or wrongly, I've never rinsed it.

Quick question. Our first lottie plot used to be had by one of the Old Boys, he told Andi once that when he worked on the roads, he'd often bring back the salt they use on roads to add to/improve the soil. If this is the case, why the need to rinse seaweed.....or was he wrong to be adding the salt?

[Two_Sheds]

The grit is made of sand and rock salt/halite: I can't see how it would improve soil?

Halite is sodium chloride

Sodium chloride is a non-selective weedkiller isn't it?
I remember hearing in the news that the thousands of tons of gritting salt washed onto the verges over the previous 2 winters had killed, or could kill, trees and vegetation next to roads

[di]

He's the same chap that grows carrots between mares/horsetail.

I guess I'll start rinsing my seaweed before using it.

[rustylady]

The grit is made of sand and rock salt/halite: I can't see how it would improve soil?

Halite is sodium chloride

Sodium chloride is a non-selective weedkiller isn't it?
I remember hearing in the news that the thousands of tons of gritting salt washed onto the verges over the previous 2 winters had killed, or could kill, trees and vegetation next to roads

Sodium Chloride is salt. Sodium Chlorate is the weedkiller. Having said that, too much salt will also kill plants.

[Two_Sheds]

^ did you click on my link Rusty? It def. says chloride

[rustylady]

They've got it wrong I'm afraid. Sodium chlorate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sodium chlorate is now banned for use as a weedkiller, and if you click on your link you will find that the product advertised is an alternative chemical(s). Sodium chloride is salt (I passed my Chemistry O Level many moons ago). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_chloride

[Two_Sheds]

^ I did wonder if it was wrong, because elsewhere I'd found the chlorate mentioned, as you say. I bow to your superior chemistry education (I spent the whole time at the back of the class reading Smash Hits)

[di]

So.....do I need to rinse the salt off or not?

[Two_Sheds]

Well I would, just because I wouldn't water my plants with salty water ...