Ash is used by gardeners and gardeners as a mineral fertilizer. It is popular with lovers of natural gifts of nature, who perceive the negative impact on human health of various chemical growth accelerators and means to increase yields. Suffice it to say that ash contains trace elements in the form that is most acceptable for assimilation by plants. Potassium, manganese, phosphorus, calcium are found in optimal proportions in ash obtained from burning straw. But not only these raw materials are used for the production of natural fertilizers. If straw is not available, then firewood of coniferous or deciduous trees, birch is used.
Why feed garden crops with ash? What are its benefits for cultivated plants? What diseases are they fighting with ash and what pests are afraid of it? We have to deal with these and other questions.
Ash as a stimulant in preparing seeds for planting
By preparing an infusion from straw or wood ash, you can get a liquid with minerals dissolved in it. To do this, soak 2 tablespoons in a liter of water and leave to infuse for 2 days. After that, the solution is filtered and used to soak the seeds (they are left in the infusion for 3-6 hours, then they are removed and dried) and feeding the seedlings or indoor plants.
Ash as fertilizer
Ash is applied under all plants, except for carrots. Her plantings are very demanding on the soil, and such fertilization will be superfluous for them. An infusion is prepared from the ash, and then the earth is watered around the plants or sprayed on them. Ash can be added directly to the soil by burying it at a shallow depth.
Ash for onions. Ash is used to feed crops.
Ash for eggplant and pepper. Ash is added to the seedling soil mixture, it is assigned the role of organic feeding. In addition, in cool and rainy summers, peppers and eggplants become sensitive to a lack of potassium and require the introduction of fertilizers containing this trace element. Ash is scattered under the plants at the rate of 2 cups per 1 sq. m.
Ash for shrubs and fruit trees. Before planting a tree or berry bush, a kilogram of ash is poured onto the bottom of the planting pit. This is necessary in order for the plants to quickly settle in a new place and develop the root system better. It is also recommended to periodically apply fertilizer to the trunk circles, for this, every 4 years, a shallow groove is dug around the tree, a couple of kilograms of ash are poured into it and ground with soil from above.
Ash for cabbage. Ash is necessary for growing seedlings and when planting them in open ground.
Ash for turnips. Before planting seeds in the ground, the prepared grooves are sprinkled with wood ash. The same technique is used when seedlings appear, they are powdered from above. Since ash is the optimal fertilizer for this crop, you must remember to add it later by dissolving a glass in a bucket of water. Plants are watered with infusion 2 times a month.
Ash for tomatoes. Seedlings of tomatoes will develop faster if periodically watered with an ash solution. Planting plants in the ground is accompanied by the introduction of fertilizer (2 tablespoons) in each hole.
Ash for strawberries. Top dressing with ash infusion is done in early spring. You can also use dry fertilizer, it is embedded in the ground around the bushes. This procedure contributes to an increase in the number of flower stalks, and, as a consequence, an increase in yield. Ash is necessary for the formation of a new bed of berries, it is brought into the holes.
Ash for cucumbers. When planting cucumbers, a glass of ash is added to each hole. This fertilizer is included in many vegetable dressings.
Ash for radish. Potassium deficiency in the soil negatively affects the formation of root crops. Before sowing the radish, the grooves are sprinkled with dry ash.
Ash for potatoes. Dusting the seed potato tubers with ash promotes the growth of lashes and increases yields. In addition, potatoes from such a procedure become more starchy.
Ash as a component of compost and organic beds
It is not difficult to speed up the process of decomposition of organic waste: for this, you need to add ash to the compost heap, periodically pouring it over layers or pouring ash infusion onto the compost. Such fertilizer perfectly saturates humus with minerals and trace elements and serves to create warm beds.
Ash as a means of pest and disease control
Ash is an effective agent against harmful insects and microorganisms. With its help, gardeners save seedlings from the so-called black leg, prevent powdery mildew on cucumbers and gooseberries, eliminate slugs and caterpillars on cabbage. Ash has a detrimental effect on gray rot that affects strawberries, and keel, which is found on cabbage plantings.
Late blight on tomatoes is better to prevent than to cure. For this purpose, about a week after planting seedlings on an open bed, the soil around the plants is treated with ash. Do not miss the appearance of the first ovaries, the same procedure is done during this period.
Cabbage aphids are afraid of ash decoction. It differs from the infusion in that it needs to be boiled (300 g of ash is diluted in a liter of water and boiled for 20 minutes). After cooling and settling, the liquid is filtered, water is added to obtain a volume of 10 liters and used for spraying the plants.
Caterpillars on cabbage are poisoned with ash infusion; you need to do it the night before. For this, a glass of ash is mixed with a liter of water and left to infuse overnight. In the morning, the solution is shaken, filtered and used as directed. Cabbage leaves are processed on both sides and always in the early morning, when the caterpillars have not yet had time to hide.
The cruciferous flea will not annoy if the first shoots of plants are powdered with pure ash or mixed with tobacco dust. The disadvantage of this method is that it must be repeated after every rain or artificial watering.
Ash scattered around garden crops will save you from annoying slugs. To prevent gray rot, planting strawberries is treated with ash immediately after flowering.
Ash broth or infusion of ash prevents the appearance of powdery mildew that affects gooseberry bushes. To carry out prevention, the berry is sprayed 3 times, and water is added to the remaining sediment and the plants are watered at the root.
The use of ash when storing vegetables
Using the antifungal and antiseptic properties of ash, vegetables can be preserved until spring. Ash powder needs to be treated with root vegetables (beets, carrots, potatoes, celery, black radish) and placed in boxes that are placed in a cool room. Garlic is preserved in a similar way, only more ash is needed, the heads in the box are poured with it.
With increased acidity of the soil, lime is usually used. Using ash can also correct the situation and at the same time improve the structure of the soil, and in a safer way.For practicing organic farming, it is useful to prepare an infusion that contains ash. The component, rich in trace elements, provides excellent fertilization.
Ash infusion is used for forcing onions on a feather: the bulbs are kept in it for several hours before planting. Treating cuts and saw cuts in trees with ash powder will speed up their healing. Mixing it with sawdust, mulch is obtained, which is sprinkled on tree-trunk circles and beds.
Having a personal plot, it is difficult to do without ash. It replaces chemical fertilizers and acts only for the benefit of plants. Therefore, do not rush to take out the uprooted stumps and tree branches after pruning to the landfill, but adapt them to obtain irreplaceable fertilizer.
