Seaweed As A Fertilizer???

geoffpompey

Hi
I have recently been allocated an allotment plot (after an 18 month wait) & was wondering if seaweed can be used as a soil improver/fertilizer? I vagily remember reading it was used in the past & would ideal as i live on the coast & could help myself all year round & not spend a penny...
thanks

Zazen999

Yes it can, it is one of the best. On the compost heap or just as a mulch. I believe jersey royals get their great taste from the seaweed used to fertilise the soil.

Lucky you.

Mojisola

And all the brassica family love having seaweed as a fertilizer.

geoffpompey

Wow how great is that!! thanks both of you,off down the beach tomorrow..

nodwah

I think you need to leave it in the rain for a good while to wash the salt off first!

geoffpompey

Thats a shame. I was hoping it would be a good slug/snail repelant.

valk_scot

See if you can get a couple of damaged plastic bread trays from your local baker, the type of tray with holes. Put the seaweed in this, stand the tray up on bricks and leave it out in the rain for a couple of weeks. then add it to the compost heap or use sparingly as a mulch.

Incidentally if I recall correctly you can only gather seaweed that is no longer growing ie not in rock pools or directly from the sea bed or rocks. The big piles of it left by the spring high tides are ideal if you want a lot of weed at once.

mower5

In the past i have used concentrated liquid seaweed fertiliser on customers gardens. Great eco friendly stuff. U are lucky to have a free suply!

angelavdavis

Best get down to the beach early morning after a storm - that way you can collect the washed up seaweed off the beach.