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Wood ash is a universal fertilizer for all types of soil, and absolutely for all vegetable crops. It contains many valuable elements and important properties - it is not without reason that for a long time in Rus' they not only washed themselves with it, but also actively fertilized their beds. Take a closer look at this fertilizer that has been proven for thousands of years - you will be surprised! This article will tell you exactly how wood ash is used as fertilizer.

What is the value of ash?

Firstly, the soil deoxidizes thanks to the ash, which is especially favorable for peat soils, where there are few microelements, but the acidity is off the charts. Wood ash itself as a fertilizer has its own unique properties. So, herbaceous plants have more potassium than woody plants, but much less phosphorus, and the ash also contains magnesium, calcium, zinc, copper, sulfur, and no nitrogen.

Due to its significant potassium content, wood ash is considered a potassium fertilizer. Moreover, there is more potassium in the ash of deciduous trees - 12-14%, less - in coniferous trees - 4-6%. And most of all, the ash from young trees is rich in nutrients, not from old ones. Thanks to potassium, plant stems become strong and resistant to lodging, they are filled with vitality, winter hardiness and distinctive resistance to disease. In addition, potassium slightly restrains the rapid growth of plants, which often occurs from excess nitrogen, and prevents premature ripening of fruits, which, in this case, contain too much phosphoric acid. Potassium also participates in photosynthesis, converting nutrients into starch, and in the formation of chlorophyll - greenery in stems and leaves.

And the most valuable advantage of ash is that it does not contain chlorine at all, and therefore is ideal for those plants that are sensitive to its excess - raspberries, currants, grapes, strawberries and blackberries. Ash is also a wonderful fertilizer for seedlings - you just need to add it to the substrate and mix well.

When do plants need this fertilizer?

If there is not enough potassium in the soil, you will immediately notice it by the plants themselves - the edges of the lower leaves turn yellow, then the leaves turn brown and look burnt. Additionally, mottling and yellow spots may appear on the lower ones. Have you noticed this? Urgently dilute the ash with water and feed the future harvest. But there is absolutely no nitrogen in the ash, although in total it contains up to 30 different microelements. It has practically no analogues among mineral fertilizers, and just one kilogram of wood ash can replace 240 g of potassium chloride, 220 g of granulated superphosphate and 500 g of lime. Just don’t fertilize your potatoes with ash every year - they may get scab due to the neutral soil!

Many gardeners also successfully soak seeds in an ash solution before sowing: dissolve 2 tablespoons in a liter of water, leave for 24 hours, strain and soak the seeds for 6 hours.

What type and composition should the ash be?

Not all ash from a furnace is suitable for fertilizing a garden or greenhouse - only wood ash. If you burned additional rubber, roofing felt, foam plastic or polyethylene in the furnace, such ash can no longer be used. Ash from coal is also not suitable - it also contains unnecessary elements. That is why experienced summer residents have long ago built themselves a special barrel stove for the site, where they throw dry branches, grass and peat, and nothing else in all this will ever burn. Just make such an iron barrel with air exhaust - so that the material burns well and the air around it does not smoke.

Wood ash can and should be used not only in powder form. So, coal ash as a fertilizer is wonderful for flowers. It should be added to the substrate for cacti, orchids, aroids and succulents - in pieces up to 1 cm in diameter. The substrate will immediately become loose and permeable to water. Coal is also a wonderful antiseptic that protects roots from rotting and heals plant wounds. But you shouldn’t take charcoal to the garden or greenhouse - it is neutral as a fertilizer for vegetables. It is better to make a fire out of it, and only carry the ashes to the site. And for sifting, make a sieve box with 0.5 cm cells - such as in the photo. After all, coal ash contains too many iron compounds, while there is very little calcium, phosphorus and potassium. There is simply no point in it as a fertilizer.

The ash from deciduous trees has the most calcium (30%), and the most phosphorus (7%) comes from coniferous trees. Another interesting point: ash from hardwood trees contains more potassium than ash from softwood trees.

What is absolutely forbidden to do?

But what you absolutely cannot do is mix ash with nitrogen mineral fertilizers, as well as with manure, bird droppings and superphosphate. The chemical reaction of such compounds is unfavorable, so add all these substances separately.

Also, wood ash should not be used to fertilize carbonate soil, or any other soil that may have an alkaline reaction. Most of all, there is a need for such fertilizer on heavy and podzolic soils, since thanks to the lime it contains, it always reduces the acidity of the area.

Ash from trees that grew near highways, chemical plants and in disadvantaged areas is also not suitable as a fertilizer. Such ash contains many microelements that can saturate growing fruits with little good: lead, zinc, cadmium, cesium and strontium.

What can you mix ash with?

Wood ash can be mixed with urea (also called urea). Take 1 glass of ash and 1 tbsp. spoon of urea per 10 liters of water and beat until dissolved. After this, such fertilizer can be poured under the roots of the plants, while simultaneously mixing the solution. Try not to let the drops fall on the leaves - this is important. This is a “complete” feeding, which contains the three most important components - phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, plus calcium in the form of lime.

It is especially useful to alternate feeding with ash with infusions of mullein and bird droppings - for garlic and onions. But for eggplants and peppers during the period of fruiting and flowering, use an infusion of ash at 0.5 liters per meter with the obligatory placement in moist soil.

Wood ash is also added to the compost, because it has valuable alkaline properties and mineral composition. All this together creates a favorable environment for flora, while neutralizing harmful chemical compounds from rainwater. The fact is that organic materials always contain a lot of acids, and acidic material decomposes more slowly. Ash allows you to neutralize compost, and this is good for the site. After all, acidic compost releases a lot of ammonia, which, in turn, then harms earthworms and other beneficial soil organisms. But you shouldn’t neutralize ash compost if your soil is alkaline - then let there be a balance.

A mixture of ash infusion with a decoction of herbs is also good - it is indispensable in the fight against powdery mildew, black leg, cabbage clubroot and leaf spot. This medicine will also help against fleas, aphids, cutworms and wireworms. Simply treat the plants morning and evening.

Once upon a time, gardeners washed wood ash before use, and evaporated the resulting solution - only potassium and some salts remained. But ordinary, unwashed ash contains absolutely all the mineral elements that were in the tree during its life. Choose what is more convenient for you.

It is better to apply ash as fertilizer in the spring, when planting, because in autumn it is washed out of the topsoil. It cannot be mixed with ammonium nitrate, as some are trying to do - otherwise the nitrogen will come out of it in the form of ammonia and there will be none left for plants. If you still need to add both ash and saltpeter to the soil, then do it in turn. In the fall, you can also fertilize with ash, but it will be washed out, especially on sandy soils.

Here are the norms for applying ash as fertilizer: in the spring, about 500 g per square meter is added to the beds for tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, carrots, zucchini and cucumbers (but still be guided by the acidity of the soil), plus 2 tbsp. spoons into the holes for seedlings. But under the bushes, place the ash already mixed with soil, 1 kg per plant.

Here's how to properly apply ash to your plot: if your soil is loamy or clayey, then use ash in the fall, if the soil is peaty, sandy or sandy loam, then in the spring. According to the rules, this fertilizer must be applied before digging, or directly into the holes right before planting. In total, per 100 square meters of land you should need from 12 to 15 kg of ash. By the way, in one tablespoon there are 6 g of ash, in a glass - 100 g, in a half-liter jar - 250 g, and in a liter jar - 500 g.

To feed already growing vegetables, use wood ash in the following proportions:

For zucchini, squash and cucumbers - a glass for each square meter before watering.
For peppers, tomatoes, cabbage and eggplants - a handful of ash per hole.
For strawberries and currants in the spring - a glass per square meter with embedding in the soil.
For carrots, radishes, parsley and beets - a glass for the same meter.
When planting potatoes, use two matchboxes per tuber, mixing the ash with the soil.

You can also prepare a universal fertilizer for any crops: dilute 1 glass of wood ash in 10 liters of water. If you scatter dry ash on the site, then water it later - otherwise the wind will carry it away.

It is good to store ash in plastic bags, in a dark, dry place, because... due to moisture, it immediately leads to potassium loss. In addition, almost all the elements in wood ash are easily soluble - so never store it in the open air. Just add it directly to the beds, or to the compost heap, or hide it indoors.

Since ancient times, ash has been known as a fertilizer that increases soil fertility and improves crop yields. It is obtained by burning wood or other plant residues. For example, straw or grass. The composition of ash, depending on the type of wood burned or plant residues, includes many minerals and trace elements that are necessary for the normal growth and development of garden and vegetable crops. How safe and useful is wood ash as a fertilizer? What crops can be fed with it? We will try to answer these and many other questions in this article.

Ash composition

Ash is produced by burning wood or plant parts and is a non-combustible mineral residue. The composition of the ash includes:

magnesium;
potassium;
copper;
calcium;
zinc;
sulfur;
phosphorus.

The quantitative composition of useful substances in ash depends on the raw materials from which it was obtained. Formed by burning grape vines, sunflower stems and potato tops, it contains about 40% potassium. The residue after combustion of deciduous wood contains up to 30% calcium, but the ash from coniferous trees and shrubs is rich in phosphorus.

What is its value?

Ash as a fertilizer is remarkable because the potassium, calcium and phosphorus it contains are easily accessible and quickly absorbed by plants. The absence of chlorine in its composition allows it to be used for feeding sensitive crops that do not tolerate this element well. Such as currants, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, citrus fruits and others. The absence of nitrogen in the ash allows it to be actively used for the autumn preparation of plants for winter. However, it should be remembered that it cannot be applied as a fertilizer together with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, since as a result of their interaction, ammonia will be released.

For what soils is ash useful?

Wood ash can be used on a wide variety of soil types: neutral and acidic, gray forest and soddy-podzolic, and various marshy soils. Its application not only promotes faster rooting, growth and development of plants, but also improves the structure of the soil, enriches it with microelements and minerals, and reduces acidity. To fertilize heavy soils, ash is applied during autumn and spring digging, and for light soils, such as sandy loam and sandy soils, only in the spring, at the rate of 150-200 g per m 2.

Is it possible to apply ash to pumpkin crops?

Fertilizing cucumbers, squash and zucchini with ash, 1-2 tablespoons in each hole when transplanting seedlings to a permanent place, helps plants more quickly adapt to new conditions, and also well stimulates their growth and development. You can add it in a slightly different way - when digging up the beds in the spring, at the rate of 1 full glass for every 1 m2.

Some gardeners feed vegetable plants with an ash solution prepared as follows: pour 1 liter of hot boiled water into two glasses of sifted ash. This mixture is infused for 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally, after which it is filtered and brought to 10 liters. This solution can be used to water the beds before planting different types of cabbage and pumpkin crops.

Do nightshades like ash?

Wood ash as a fertilizer has long been used by gardeners when growing tomatoes belonging to the nightshade family, sweet and bitter peppers, and eggplants. Before planting seedlings of these crops in a permanent place, sifted grass or wood ash is added during digging, based on the calculation of 3 cups of 200 g per square meter.

To increase the yield and increase the starchiness of the tubers, ash as a fertilizer is applied to the soil when planting a member of the nightshade family, such as potatoes. Place 2 tablespoons in each hole and mix it with soil, after which the tuber itself is placed.

Fertilizing fruit trees and shrubs with ash

Ash is quite widely used as a fertilizer for feeding fruit crops such as plums and cherries. It is carried out infrequently - once every 3-4 years. To do this, dig a pit 12-15 centimeters deep along the perimeter of the tree trunk. A pre-prepared solution is poured into it. 2 cups of sifted ash are diluted in 10 liters of water, preferably warm, and left for 6-10 hours. As soon as the working solution has been poured, the dug pit is immediately filled with earth. About 2 kg of ash is added to each mature tree.

Currants, gooseberries and raspberries respond very well to such fertilizing. Under each currant or gooseberry bush, add 2-3 cups of ash into a pre-dug ditch. But for raspberry, which prefers slightly acidic soils, only 100-150 grams, about half a glass. After application, the ditch is filled with earth, compacted and watered.

Many gardeners who practice growing grapes are happy to use both root and foliar feeding of this crop with ash solutions and infusions.

Experienced owners fertilize grape ash in the fall. Why pour 4-5 buckets of water under the plants freed from fruits. About 1 cup of wood ash is added to the latter. In the spring, they practice adding it to the root circle and sprinkling it on the soil under the bush in order to prevent the development of fungal diseases.

Do ornamental shrubs and perennials need ash?

Most garden plants and ornamental shrubs, such as peonies, lilies, hyacinths, various types of perennial asters and chrysanthemums, roses, delphiniums, clematis and many others, prefer slightly acidic or alkaline soils. Wood ash as a fertilizer will saturate the soil with useful substances and make it less acidic, increasing the alkaline reaction. This creates favorable conditions for the growth and flowering of ornamental crops.

There is a fairly small group of plants called acidophiles (acid preferring) that can only thrive in acidic soils. These include all types of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, blueberries, heathers, cranberries and some others. Such plants cannot be fed with ash in any form.

How can ash protect a garden?

Ash can be used to protect the garden from various pests and diseases. How to use it for “defense” of plantings? First of all, you need to prepare a working solution: sift 300-400 g of ash, add boiling water and cook over medium heat for about half an hour. Then the resulting composition is allowed to cool, after which it is filtered and brought to a volume of 10 liters. Add 50 g of soap here. It can be planed or grated. If you have liquid soap, you can add it. Plants are treated in the evening, in dry and preferably calm weather.

You can also sprinkle and dust vegetable and flower crops that have been attacked by pests. Aphids, carrot flies and onion flies really dislike ash.

Many gardeners and gardeners use this substance for foliar fertilizer of plants. This feeding involves applying an aqueous solution of ash directly to the leaves and stem. This type of fertilizer promotes rapid adaptation and rooting of transplanted plants, active flowering and resistance to adverse weather conditions. The main advantage of foliar feeding is the high rate of nutrient absorption. This allows you to reanimate plants with damaged roots or reduced turgor.

Apply an aqueous solution of ash using a spray bottle so that both sides of the sheet plate are covered with the composition. Treatment is carried out in the evening or in cloudy but not rainy weather.

Farmers have used ash as fertilizer since ancient times. They probably intuitively knew about its benefits. It was only later that science proved that the products of combustion of plant waste are rich in microelements necessary for plants and the earth, such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, sulfur and phosphorus. But most of all there is potassium in the ash. All these microelements are necessary for the plant at all stages of growth. Therefore, timely fertilizing with ash strengthens the plant and helps resist pests. And, of course, the chemical and physical properties of the soil improve. It is the structure, composition and acidity that determine the fertility of the soil, and hence the good germination and yield of cultivated crops.

Application of ash

Being a good potassium and phosphorus fertilizer, ash is useful for vegetables and fruit trees during the period of their flowering and fruit formation. It does not contain chlorine compounds, so it is used in feeding berries: strawberries, raspberries, red and black currants. Potatoes and cabbage will be protected from fungal diseases. Before planting vegetable crops - peppers, tomatoes and eggplants - ash is added to the digging of the beds. It is also used to protect plants from pests in the form of spraying or sprinkling the plant. Ash is used to improve the germination of seeds by soaking them in a one-day ash solution (solutions will be discussed below).

What happens when you apply this environmentally friendly fertilizer to the soil? The alkaline properties of humus improve, the pH increases, and favorable conditions are created for the life of soil microflora. This, in turn, increases the yield and frost resistance of plants. But gardeners should not forget that ash is a caustic alkali, and it not only compensates for excess soil acidity, but when consumed in large quantities, it also destroys earthworms that cannot tolerate it. For them, ash in large quantities is destructive, and population recovery is slow.

When to apply fertilizer to the soil

Light sandy loam and sandy soils are fertilized with ash in the spring, in contrast to heavy soils, which are fertilized twice a year - in autumn and spring. Moreover, ash should be added to the soil either in late spring, when rains are already rare and not so abundant, or immediately before planting. The fact is that this combustion product is easily washed out of the soil by precipitation. In such soil, when transplanted, plants take root faster and do not get sick.

For greater efficiency, ash is mixed with humus or peat. You cannot apply nitrogenous fertilizers to the soil at the same time. Nitrogen is applied approximately a month or later after applying ash fertilizer. The “fed” land produces good harvests within three years. Many years of gardeners' practice have proven that a better product than ash simply does not exist.

Which ash is healthier

Ash with the highest content of potassium and phosphorus is considered beneficial. Burning dry grass, buckwheat and sunflower stalks produces up to 36% potassium oxide - K 2 O. The largest percentage of potassium content is found in the ash from burnt wood of deciduous trees. Useful ash can be prepared for your garden at home.

For this you need a special high metal box. When wood burns, the high walls of the box will prevent the ashes from flying away. Only wood and dry stems and grass should be burned in this box. There should be no impurities in the burned raw materials. Only these ashes will be considered useful. The resulting ash is best stored in an airtight wooden or ceramic container. Storage in plastic bags is not allowed, as they form a concentrate, which is not necessary for ash. There is also industrial production of ash. It is sold in special moisture-proof bags.

Root feeding of plants

Wood ash is used in both dry and liquid form. The dry one is most often embedded in the soil, the liquid version is infusions for feeding or simply diluting the ash in water to water the plant at the root. Usually, take a glass of ash in a ten-liter bucket and water the plant with a well-mixed solution. Such an ash solution may well replace industrial fertilizers.

The infusion is made for feeding the roots or spraying them. To do this, take 1/3 of a bucket of ash and fill it with hot water, let it sit for two days. The infused solution is filtered and used for root watering of plants.

Foliar feeding method

It is very good to spray plants with ash infusion. Spraying is usually carried out in the evening. Up to three such procedures can be done within a month. A decoction is also suitable for ash solution. How to prepare it: 300 g of ash is poured with boiling water, the mixture is cooked for another half hour, then diluted in 10 liters of water with the addition of 50 grams of laundry soap shavings. Thanks to the soap solution, the fertilizer adheres to the leaves of vegetable crops. This spraying is effective in the fight against aphids, wireworms, blackleg, clubroot and cruciferous flea beetles. Plant leaves sprayed with this solution are protected from nematodes and slugs with snails.

Feeding trees and flowers with ash

It is useful to feed the soil before planting trees or shrubs. To do this, 150 grams of ash is placed per square meter of hole to a depth of 10 cm. Such feeding will allow seedlings to better adapt to a new place and better develop the root system. Garden trees, like vegetable crops, need to be protected from pests and diseases. An infusion of ash saves the garden from numerous pests and diseases.

Feeding with ash is useful for roses, peonies, clematis and gladiolus. When planting these flowers, you can put 10 g of ash in each hole. Flowers are also threatened by pests. To protect leaves and buds from insects, plants are sprayed with ash infusion, having previously sprayed them with water. It is advisable to carry out this procedure in calm weather in the evening.

Application rates

No matter how you feed plants with ash, you need to remember that the principle “the more, the better” does not apply here. Ash is an organic fertilizer, and organic matter applied in excess can have a detrimental effect on the crops being grown. There are the following application rates: for 1 hectare of garden you need to add 1.5 kg of ash to the soil in the autumn digging. When planting vegetable crops, fertilizer usually goes into the holes at the rate of a handful per hole. You can also use aqueous solutions of ash by adding a glass of solution to each well. At the same time, the roots of the plant absorb nutrients better.

Individual approach

Feeding with ash is done both before planting and during plant growth. Each plant reacts differently to such feeding. That is, each vegetable has its own relationship to fertilizer. For example, in the holes with seedlings of squash, cucumbers, and zucchini, it is enough to add 1-2 tablespoons of ash, and in the holes for seedlings of tomatoes, eggplants and sweet peppers, add 3 tablespoons.

This suggests that these crops require more potassium and phosphorus. Many gardeners recommend soaking seeds before planting in a daily solution of ash at the rate of 20 g of substance per 1 liter of water. The ash “font” is loved by the seeds of tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplants.

Thus, feeding seedlings with ash will strengthen the young plant, ensure good germination of the seeds, and ultimately significantly increase the yield of these crops.

Fertilizing strawberries

The very first berry to ripen in the garden is strawberry. Every gardener wants to harvest a large harvest of this tasty and healthy berry. This perennial plant needs to be rejuvenated and replanted every four years. And, of course, the soil into which it will be transplanted must be fertile for further growth and fruiting. Very often, wood ash is used to feed strawberries as a natural complex mineral fertilizer, which contains potassium and phosphorus. Organic matter is added between the rows twice - in early spring when mulching the soil, in August-September, after fruiting and pruning the bushes. Many gardeners prefer to fertilize strawberries with an ash solution. The application rate is 1 liter per 1 square meter of bed. You can additionally fertilize strawberries with ash in the spring before flowering begins. This will be foliar feeding that protects the plant from diseases and pests. The composition of this therapeutic cocktail is boric acid (2 g), potassium permanganate (2 g), sifted ash (1 glass), iodine (1 tablespoon), a bucket of hot water (10 l). Stir, heat to 65°C, and spray the plants in the evening or early in the morning.

Feeding cucumbers

There is probably not a single summer gardener who does not grow cucumbers on his plot. This means that the topic of proper care for this vegetable is always relevant. To get a good harvest of smooth green cucumbers, they need to be fed both in the greenhouse and in the open area. The ideal fertilizer for cucumbers is wood ash. During the entire growing season, it is enough to apply from 2 to 4 organic matter, this is especially true before flowering and during the formation of ovaries. And a couple more feedings during the fruiting period.

There are several ways to feed cucumbers with ash. Each gardener himself, based on experience, selects the form of fertilizer application - root or foliar. It all depends on what summer it is. If the weather is warm and the cucumber has a well-developed root system, root feeding should be done after thoroughly watering the beds. And foliar feeding is best done in cool summers. Experience shows that the cold time of day does not contribute to the good development of the root system, which means that the roots will not absorb nutrition when applied to the roots.

Foliar application involves spraying the nutrient ash solution evenly over the leaves. This should be done in calm weather so that the drops of fertilizer remain on the plant for as long as possible.

Feeding peppers with ash

People say: “If the garden is hungry in the summer, the gardener will be hungry in the fall and winter.” So, in order not to starve, you need to “feed” the garden so that you can reap an excellent harvest from it. Continuing the conversation about ash fertilizers, it is worth talking about lettuce peppers. They like to grow it in dachas and gardens to eat raw and make twists for the winter. It should be noted right away that, unlike cucumbers, strawberries and berry bushes, foliar feeding is not used for salad peppers. Experienced gardeners feed seedlings with ash during the formation of the true leaf, and two weeks before planting in the ground. When seedlings are planted in holes, a handful of ash is thrown into each hole, which promotes rapid acclimatization of the plant. Sweet peppers are also fertilized during flowering and fruiting. An infusion of ash for fertilizing (0.5 liters per 1 square meter) is embedded in the soil. During the fruiting period, you can fertilize the pepper by scattering ½ tablespoon of dry ash around the bushes every 2 weeks. This will add sweetness to the fruit.

Do not mix humus (nitrogen fertilizer) and ash.
Ash does not mix with superphosphate.
Only wood ash is used to fertilize the garden.
Combustion products should not be applied to soils where the pH is 7 or more.
Camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, blueberries, and cranberries are not fertilized with ash - these plants love acidic soil.
Ash after burning branches of young trees contains more potassium and phosphorus than after burning old and large trees.

Ash is an indispensable assistant for all gardeners. This is an excellent means of controlling garden pests and an excellent mineral fertilizer. And most importantly - absolutely free.

Ash as fertilizer

Ash is a residue formed when various organic substances are burned. This can be: firewood, straw, dried tops of garden plants, pine needles, coal and other materials.

Plants infected with various diseases cannot be sent to compost, but the ashes after burning them are allowed!

The properties and chemical composition of the future mineral fertilizer will depend on the feedstock.

Ash is obtained from:

Deciduous wood and thick-stemmed crops (sunflower, buckwheat).

Such ash contains a lot of calcium and potassium. These minerals will serve as a good feed for garden crops and will ensure the restoration of the pH level of acidified soils.

Coniferous wood

This ash, in addition to its high calcium content, is rich in phosphorus, which is essential for plants.

Wood ash is considered one of the most valuable types of mineral fertilizers of natural origin.

Peat

Peat ash is not so common; it has virtually no nutritional value for garden crops. Therefore, such ashes are less in demand among gardeners. It is mainly used as an admixture to maintain optimal soil pH.

Coal

Ash based on it is of little use for fertilizer, since it contains a small amount of useful substances. It is used on alkaline soils to acidify them.

fallen leaves

It is convenient to store autumn biomaterial and then burn it in barrels. Leaf ash can be used both in the form of independent feeding and as a mineral additive for compost.

Separately, it should be said about the ash remaining after smoking cigarettes. It is used as fertilizer for indoor flowers. In addition, ash perfectly protects house plants from small midges and fungal diseases.

Ashes should be collected immediately after cooling. Wet ashes are not endowed with beneficial qualities. Therefore, it should be protected from moisture.

Composition and properties

Ash is famous for its beneficial properties and rich mineral composition. Thanks to this, it is able to improve the quality composition and structure of the soil, saturate it with essential elements, improve air exchange, and strengthen the immunity of plants.

The ash contains:

calcium (in different compounds: carbonate / silicate / chloride / sulfate);
potassium (in the form of orthophosphate);
phosphorus;
sodium (in the form of chloride);
magnesium (in compounds: silicate/carbonate/sulfate);
molybdenum;
sulfur;
manganese;
iron;

Ash properties:

Capable of improving the structure of the soil - making it looser.
Increases fruiting on heavy soils.
Improves the air permeability of the soil, thanks to which plants grow and develop better, and the simplest inhabitants are able to simply exist fully.
It accelerates the process of decomposition of organic matter, which is why it is always added to compost heaps as a separate layer.
The ability to maintain a positive effect on the soil for 2-3 years.

Can it be used?

Wood ash as a mineral fertilizer can be used on any type of soil. At the same time, it will try to correct the pH of slightly or highly acidified soil. Ashes will enrich neutral soils with a full range of mineral elements.

It is used to fertilize indoor plants and a large number of garden crops: zucchini, tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, eggplants and many others.

Ashes are applied mainly in the fall when preparing the land for winter.

You cannot use ash for fertilizer:

Berries that love acidified soil: lingonberries, blueberries, cranberries.

When ash is added, the soil becomes neutral, and therefore these berries simply stop growing.

Turnips, radishes and radishes.

These crops react to ash by rapidly releasing arrows, as well as stopping the growth of root crops.

Flowers: camellia/rhododendron/azaleas.

They immediately stop blooming and stop growing.

Cabbage and beans.

These plants grow well only in acidified soils.

Product preparation

The ashes must be adapted before use. It is commonly used in three ways:

By scattering on beds, in rows, holes, under bushes and trees.
By watering or spraying (pre-prepare an infusion based on ash).
As a component for compost. The optimal dose is 2.5 kg per cubic meter.

Gardeners mainly use straw, leaf and wood ash. Mixing it with other organic fertilizers will help increase its effectiveness. Together with humus or peat, ash acts as a powerful mineralizer. The average mixing ratio is 1:3. This fertilizer can be used immediately, evenly distributed over the area. It will not be difficult for plants to absorb all the nutrients from such a complex.

It is also good in composts. Moreover, no complete compost is possible without its addition. Ash has the ability to accelerate the process of decomposition of organic matter. Thus, peat ash composts will require 45 kg of wood ash per ton of main raw material. It perfectly neutralizes peat acidity.

Ash is not advisable for mixing with fresh manure or chicken droppings due to possible nitrogen losses. And its combination with superphosphate will reduce the access of garden crops to phosphorus. For a similar reason, you should not mix ash with lime.

Rules for adding pure ash:

Prepare small grooves (about 15 cm deep).
They pour ash into them. One adult plant consumes approximately 2 kg of this mineral fertilizer per season.
Prepare an aqueous solution based on ash (at least 2 glasses per bucket), which is then poured into the holes in the ground.
The grooves are buried.

How to use it correctly?

Methods of application for various crops and plants:

For the garden

When planting spring seedlings of vegetables, apply wood ash directly into the holes (9 g for each furrow), not forgetting to mix it with the soil.

Legumes and greens are very responsive to ash: they can absorb up to 200 grams per square meter per season. m.

Zucchini and pumpkins are fed with ash at least 3 times per season: during spring preparation of beds, before planting, approximately in the middle of the growing season along with watering. Each time 200 g per square meter is used. m.

Peppers and eggplants are fertilized twice: when digging in the spring (600 g per meter), when planting (100 g per hole).

Cabbage and rutabaga are fed with ash 2 times: during planting (a handful per hole) and in the form of a spray solution during active growth.

Under garlic in the fall, add 400 g of the substance per square meter. m.

For carrots, celery, and beets, one spring feeding will be enough - a glass of ash per meter.

Potatoes are fertilized with ashes 3 times: during spring digging (200 g per meter), directly into the holes when planting (3 large spoons in each), during secondary hilling in the form of a solution (400 ml per bush).

Cucumbers will require 2-3 feedings: in the spring - by spreading ash between the rows (50 g per meter), during growth and the appearance of ovaries - by watering with the addition of dry matter (1/2 liter per bush).

Tomatoes require 4 feedings: 2 dry and 2 wet. The first time ash is used when digging up soil under the beds (1/2 cup per meter), the second time when planting by scattering it between the plants. The next 2 wet feedings are carried out during the period of active growth and during fruiting (up to 1 liter per plant).

For garden

Currants respond well to the addition of ash. An adult bush requires up to 600 g of dry matter. During the growing season, you can also water the bush with an aqueous solution of ash. Thanks to this, currants bear fruit better and become more resistant to diseases and some pests.

Strawberries are fed in 2 ways: root and foliar. The first ones are done 2 times a year - before rapid flowering, after the end of fruiting. The ash is simply scattered between the rows (65 g per meter). Foliar feeding (by spraying) is carried out during the process of setting berries. Half a glass of dry matter per bucket of water is enough. Spraying is carried out at the rate of 1 liter per square meter. m.

Fruit trees are most often fed with a liquid ash solution approximately once every 2-3 years. 2 kg per bucket of water is enough. This is a portion for one adult tree. For seedlings, 1 kg is enough. Ash helps resist pest attacks and provides the necessary mineral nutrition for plants.

For flowers

Indoor flowers are fertilized periodically at the rate of 3 large spoons per 200 ml of water, garden flowers - twice per season. First, when preparing the beds in the spring (200 g per meter), then - a glass of dry mixture in the hole when planting.

Roses especially love ash. It stimulates the development of future inflorescences, protects against diseases, strengthens their immunity, making them more resistant to temperature changes.

Ash is good to use on clay soils and loams during autumn digging. On sandy soil, it is better to postpone fertilizing with ash until spring.
If the ash consumption is 300 g per meter, you can forget about additional mineralization of the soil in the next couple of years.
On acidic soils, ash is good in the fall - it will help plants better survive the winter.
Depriving compost of ash fertilizer is the same as leaving a chemical reaction without a powerful catalyst.
It is good to use an aqueous solution of ash to soak the seeds before sowing. Ash is a powerful growth stimulant.
It is better to store it in a closed container that does not allow moisture to pass through.
Ash cannot be added at the same time as nitrogen. These two substances neutralize each other. You must wait at least about 30 days.

If possible, it is best to distribute these 2 substances in different seasons: nitrogen in the spring, ash in the fall.

If, when burning biomaterial, household waste or plastic gets into the barrel, the ash becomes unusable due to its high toxicity.
Ash is not appropriate in fresh manure - it will reduce the nitrogen content and promote the formation of compounds that plants simply cannot absorb.
It is forbidden to fertilize seedlings with ash before the first leaves appear. At this moment, fertilizing with nitrogen is more important to stimulate growth.
When fertilizing tomatoes or pumpkin family crops, the ash is thoroughly mixed with the soil to avoid burns to their root system.
If the soil acidity level is 7, adding ash is unnecessary. Acidification and alkalization of the soil always leads to worse absorption of nutrients by plants.

Conclusion

Ash has been one of the favorite mineral products among gardeners for decades. It does not require capital investment, is easy to use, environmentally friendly and very effective. The minerals contained in the ash remain in the soil for up to 3 years.

Material prepared by: Nadezhda Zimina, gardener with 24 years of experience, industrial engineer

Wood ash has been used as fertilizer since ancient times. It is one of the most valuable sources calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium, as well as other substances necessary for the full growth and development of plants.

The exact chemical composition of this substance of natural origin cannot be determined, since it changes depending on the type and age of the plant that was burned. However, Mendeleev also derived a general formula that indicates the approximate percentage of elements in 100 grams of ash.

Ash formula

This organic fertilizer is rich in various microelements. Some of them catalyze growth and development, others help fight various diseases. The concentration may be higher or lower than stated. You can use the formula below to understand what substances are contained in this organic fertilizer in approximate proportions.

Wood ash composition:

CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) - 17%
CaSiO3 (calcium silicate) - 16.5%
CaSO4 (calcium sulfate) - 14%
CaCl2 (calcium chloride) - 12%
K3PO4 (potassium orthophosphate) - 13%
MgCO3 (magnesium carbonate) - 4%
MgSiO3 (magnesium silicate) – 4%
MgSO4 (magnesium sulfate) - 4%
NaPO4 (sodium orthophosphate) -15%
NaCl (sodium chloride) - 0.5%

From the presented formula it is clear that wood ash as a fertilizer contains one of the most important elements of plant nutrition - calcium. It is necessary for the normal growth of green mass at the initial stage of development, and provides balanced nutrition throughout the growing season. This is especially important for garden crops that form a large above-ground part, for example, tomatoes, pumpkins,.

Table: variations in ash composition, depending on type:

Calcium carbonate

When using ash as a fertilizer, active growth and more compact (in terms of timing) ripening of such representatives of the nightshade family as tomatoes are observed. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) affects the activity of metabolic processes. It enhances the speed of movement of substances through the cells of the plant body, and normalizes the flow of biochemical processes. This property allows the ash to be used as fertilizer. This element is especially useful for flowers, as it affects the size and splendor of the buds.

Fertilizing cucumbers with ash, which contains a large amount of calcium carbonate compounds, helps them develop fully. This plant is characterized by the continuous growth of vegetative tissues, and Ca serves as a link in the transport of nutrients into cells.

Calcium silicate

Calcium silicate (CaSiO3) is a substance that, when combined with pectin components, glues cells together, holding them together. Helps actively absorb vitamins. For example, it reacts very sharply to a lack of CaSiO3. The bulb dries out and separates. This situation can be corrected by watering the plant with an infusion of ash.

Calcium sulfate

Calcium sulfate (CaSO4) is a calcium salt of sulfuric acid. Included in one of the most popular mineral fertilizers. When used as part of ash, it has a less strong, but more long-term effect on plants than as part of mineral fertilizers.

Calcium is especially important for seedling growth, during the formation of green mass, for example, for flowers and herbs, onions and parsley. With age, this element accumulates in stems and leaves, and after its death returns to the soil.

Calcium chloride

Calcium chloride (CaCl2). Many sources claim that wood ash does not contain chlorine. But, in accordance with the formula, we see that it contains calcium chloride. Is it dangerous for plants? It's safe to say no. The two ionic elements that are included in this compound, on the contrary, are of great importance for the healthy nutrition of fruit and vegetable crops.

Almost all flora known to science uses chlorine to stimulate growth throughout the growing season. It is constantly contained in the green mass of fruit and vegetable crops in the amount of up to 1% of their total weight. In grapes and tomatoes its content is slightly higher.

Calcium chloride activates the formation of enzymes, as well as photosynthesis, and helps transfer nutrients. Rock salt helps to fully utilize the small supply of these substances if wood ash is used as fertilizer.

Another useful property of this chloride is that it increases the winter hardiness of fruit trees and grape vines, which makes it possible to grow this heat-loving crop even in rather cold regions (Pskov, Leningrad regions). It helps maintain soil uniformity, preventing it from swelling, which helps protect the roots from cold air penetrating them.

CaCl2 helps cope with the following plant diseases:

Rotting of apples stored for storage.
Blackening of fruits in tomatoes.
Cracking.
Blackening and rot, both during the growth period and during storage.
Premature drop of grape berries.
Mold during re-harvest.
The appearance of a “black leg” in roses.

Thanks to its “drying” property, CaCl2 helps to combat many crop diseases caused by horse and stem rot. It is very useful for roses. Thanks to this element, an infusion of ash can be used not only for garden plants, but also for indoor plants, to improve the health of the earth and prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms.

The presence of CaCl2 in the soil allows ammonium nitrate to be converted into a nitric acid salt, which is very useful for plant life. This is a very important aspect when fertilizing cucumbers with ash, as they are sensitive to nitrogen deficiency.

Rock salt

Rock salt, which is part of the ash, is a catalyst for growth for plants such as cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchini, as it allows cells to retain water, accumulating and using it in case of drought.

Potassium orthophosphate

Potassium orthophosphate (K3PO4). This substance helps regulate the water balance of the plant. With a lack of this substance, ammonia accumulates in the leaves and roots, which inhibits growth. Also, the potassium salt of orthophosphoric acid helps to increase the winter hardiness of heat-loving plants, such as grapes. Potassium also creates a favorable alkaline environment for garden flowers such as roses, lilies and chrysanthemums.

Magnesium

Ash refers to fertilizers that contain three magnesium compounds, which collectively act on various metabolic processes in fruit and vegetable crops, as well as in cereals. This element, in some way, is a “partner” of potassium; they work together participate in the production of energy by the plant organism.

Magnesium sulfate is involved in the formation of carbohydrates, which become the building material for starch and cellulose. For the taproot system (of a rose, for example), the presence of magnesium in the fertilizer is very important, since it consumes it in a larger volume compared to the ground part.

Sodium

The last item on the list, but not the least important. It activates a number of enzymes that do not react with other substances from the chemical composition of the ash. For example, tomatoes are natriphiles, plants that respond positively to sodium, especially when they are not sufficiently supplied with potassium. He improves their water balance.

When should ash be used?

Various chemical microelements that should be part of healthy plants are contained in this organic compound. Their deficiency negatively affects development and growth and leads to diseases.

As we found out above, The main element contained in ash in various compounds is calcium.

Signs lack of calcium:

Depigmentation of leaves in indoor plants (they turn white).
Deformation of leaves (tips bend down, edges curl up).
Flower stalks fall on nightshades.
Dark spots appear on tomato fruits.
The upper parts of the shoots die off, and the taste of the fruit deteriorates.
Patches of dead tissue form on the tubers and stems of potatoes and onions.

The second most important substance that must be used for the normal functioning of plants is potassium. It is contained in ash in a much smaller volume than calcium, but in sufficient quantity to normalize metabolic processes in the plant body. If it is missing, then this can be understood by certain changes in appearance.

Signs potassium deficiency:

On fruit trees, the leaves wither prematurely, but remain firmly attached to the branches.
Roses stop smelling.
On potatoes and nightshades, the edges of the leaf begin to dry, then it rolls up into a tube.

Another element from the composition is magnesium. It is a forming element that allows the production of carbons. With its deficiency, the plant is inhibited and its active development stops. With its deficiency, the same symptoms appear as with potassium deficiency. Sodium is a conditionally useful substance, so you can ignore its small amount in the fraction when using wood ash as a fertilizer.

Several examples when the use of ash is contraindicated

An excess of fertilizers, even organic ones, can lead to no less negative consequences than their lack. The use of wood ash as a fertilizer should be avoided on soils with high alkalinity. The following plant changes can indicate an increased pH:

Signs excess calcium:

Excessive growth of leaf rosettes in grapes and apple trees.
Dying of shoots along the entire length of the tomato vine.
Falling leaves of garden flowers.
Interveinal chlorosis with whitish spots on rose bushes.
Depigmentation of leaves (they become white).

Signs excess potassium:

Browning of the flesh of apples and pears.
Bitter pitting of fruits.
Premature falling of leaves of garden and indoor plants.

Video: a film for gardeners about wood ash

Ash in the garden - what, when and how to feed it?

Let us dwell on the plants for which the use of ash as a top dressing is most indicated.

cucumbers

This melon crop, successfully zoned in the middle zone, consumes many different nutrients throughout its growth and development. Calcium and potassium, which help to use ash as fertilizer, are responsible for the formation of lashes and ovaries. It is these substances that help retain water in cells. Fertilizing cucumbers with ash is necessary, since this is a plant that constantly needs a normal water balance.

How to fertilize cucumbers?

The first way to make fertilizer from ash is to sprinkle a thin layer of this substance on the garden bed before watering. All beneficial substances will subsequently be absorbed along with the water. The second method is more labor-intensive, but allows you to create a composition that will contain more useful substances. This is an infusion of ash, which is made like this: 3 tablespoons of powder are poured into a liter of water and infused for a week. After this, they are applied under the plant, followed by abundant watering. The solution consumption rate when fertilizing cucumbers with ash is 0.5 liters per bush.

Onion

This crop is prone to root rot. Ash refers specifically to those fertilizers that prevent the growth of putrefactive bacteria in the soil. Onions can be fertilized in the same way as cucumbers, pollinating the ground before watering, or use an infusion of ash (prepared in the same proportion as for feeding cucumbers).

Fertilizing should be applied no more than three times per season. You can also apply this fertilizer before digging the bed in the spring. This will protect the onion from diseases at the initial stage of growth, and will help it stock up on the microelements necessary for further development.

There is another way to apply this fertilizer. It is very convenient to use on onion beds. These are grooves that are made using a hoe along the rows of onions. An infusion of ash is poured into them and immediately covered with soil.

Tomatoes

If wood ash as a fertilizer is used to feed bushes, then within a week after application you can observe an increase in their growth. These plants love calcium and potassium. They need them to form moisture reserves in fleshy stems and form full-fledged juicy fruits.

How to fertilize tomatoes with ash?

Pre-landing method

This organic fertilizer is applied to the soil in the spring, a couple of weeks before planting tomatoes. Consumption rate – 1 glass per well. It is advisable to fertilize when the ground warms up to at least 15 degrees Celsius.

We feed tomatoes as they grow

Ash is a fertilizer that can be applied throughout the growing season. Therefore, tomatoes can be fed superficially. To do this, the soil in the hole is powdered before watering, followed by loosening.

The ash improves the taste of tomatoes, they become juicy and sweet. Potassium, which is part of its composition, enters into a series of chemical reactions, due to which fruit sugar, fructose, is formed.

Grape

Foliar feeding of grapes

It is held several times a season, in the evening. The liquid is directly sprayed onto the leaves using a grass broom, or through a specialized spray bottle with an enlarged nozzle size. If you don’t have such equipment, you can make it yourself.

How to make a device for spraying ash infusion?

To do this, take a standard sprayer and a medium-sized knitting needle. We heat the knitting needle over an open flame (a gas stove will do) and pierce new holes of a larger radius. Do not forget to shake the container before spraying, then the suspension will be evenly distributed over the grape leaves.

In autumn, a large number of old vines accumulate in the vineyard. They are ideal for burning. This ash is used to prepare specific fertilizer, which takes into account the seasonal need of grapes for various nutrients.

For complete dissolution of all beneficial substances in water, it takes about three days, this is the approximate time for the dissolution of magnesium. About 1 kg of ash is poured into 3 buckets of water, and this suspension is mixed several times daily. The resulting composition can be stored in a cool place for a month.

To use it, it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 part working solution to five parts water. For better adhesion to grape leaves, shavings of laundry soap can be added to the resulting suspension.

Roses

In the first year of her stay in a new place, the queen of the garden does not need feeding. But before planting, the soil can be prepared in advance by adding wood ash as fertilizer during autumn digging to normalize the acidity of the soil.

Starting from the second year, a successfully overwintered rose begins to be fed. This is mainly done by applying ready-made organic fertilizers. But you can also make fertilizer from ash.

For roses, both root and foliar feeding is used. For the first, the concentration of the substance in the aqueous solution is lower – 100 g. powder per 10 liters of water. For foliar feeding, when the liquid is sprayed over the leaves of the plant, a concentration of 200 g is used. for 10 liters of water.

It is better to feed roses in the evening; during the day you can burn the leaves and flowers under the rays of the scorching sun. A grass broom is used for spraying.

Ash infusion must be stirred constantly during use. The fact is that the phosphorus contained in this organic fertilizer tends to quickly settle at the bottom of the container. If this happens, the plants will not receive it, but this is an essential microelement.

Houseplants

Wood ash as a fertilizer is used for both garden and indoor plants. For example, it helps fight root rot in tuberous begonias.

Cyclamens, geraniums and fuchsias respond well to the substances included in its composition. It must be added when transplanting these plants, based on their proportion of 2 tbsp. spoons per 1 liter of finished soil.

You can also prepare fertilizer from ash for indoor plants using drunken tea. It activates growth in winter, helps preserve leaf color, and maintain flowering. Following this recipe, you need to mix 1 part of the ash with 1 part of the squeezed tea leaves.

The use of ash as a fertilizer is useful for most garden and vegetable crops. The set of microelements included in its composition ensures the growth and nutrition of the plant.

But this substance can be used not only as a top dressing. It helps fight a large number of insect pests. When dusting or spraying crops with ash, you can observe the rapid death of such garden antagonists as Colorado potato beetle larvae (2 days), slugs, and cruciferous flea beetles.

Another compelling argument for using ash is its availability. Every autumn in the garden there is something to burn from plant debris (tree branches, hay, straw, tops). Some amateur gardeners adapt old barrels for the stove, then production occurs without loss of the ash fraction.

This fertilizer is of organic origin, which is very important for many gardeners. By using it, you don’t have to worry about your health and the health of your loved ones. Perhaps this is one of the most important arguments when choosing wood ash as a fertilizer.