Coal ashes

[Columbus]

Hi all,

I have been offered a quantity of "coal ashes"  for my allotment. The donor seems to think they would be good for spuds in some way.

I thought they might be a slug repellent or maybe as a floor for my potting shed but having read posts about wood ash and coal soot I doubt wether it would be worth my efforts to transport them on my bike trailer.

Does anyone have any Thoughts?

Thanks, Col

[Columbus]

[derbex]

OK as a floor or a path -see paths thread. Personally I wouldn't put them on anything I'm going to eat though.

Don't like the idea of soot either.

Jeremy

[growmore]

Hi Col, If its coal ashes as in with the clinker and coke etc in it I personally wouldnt bother .But if its from smokeless fuel it tends to be a lot finer and no clinker or cokes in it .Then this is ok if left a bit to weather .It will help break your soil down if it is clay etc. Also good for carrots and root crops ... But let it stand a while out side before You use it...cheers ..Jim

[Columbus]

Thanks for the replies  :D

It seems, as I first thought, that its not really worth the effort of moving the stuff around.

Col

[Robert_Brenchley]

It's good for paths but not much else.

[MikeB]

Hi Columbus,

Sorry about replying so late but I have only just found an old veg growing book, coal ashes are used at a rate of 6 to 10lbs per rod and is a winter rather than a spring fertiliser and is very slow in action, so tends to benifit next seasons crops.

MikeB

[froglets]

Wood ash seems to work well as a slug repellant & is useful for some nutrients, but I've always been advised not to use coal ash on the soil.  I don't even use the ash when I've been burning the past it sleepers as they still have tar and such like in them ( and smell bad when burning) which is likely to still be present in the ash.