Content
- 1 Why do you need ash when planting potatoes?
- 2 Collection and storage of ash
- 3 When potatoes need ash feeding
- 4 When to add ash to potatoes
- 5 How to use wood ash when planting potatoes
- 6 How much ash to put in potatoes
- 7 How can you replace ash when planting potatoes?
- 8 Is ash harmful to potatoes?
- 9 Conclusion
Wood ash is an environmentally friendly fertilizer, rich in mineral components and organic substances. Its use makes it possible to increase the productivity of crops and improve the consumer properties of fruits. Ash is often used when planting potatoes, since many gardeners are confident that such fertilizing guarantees a high yield. But to what extent this corresponds to reality, we need to figure it out.
Wood ash increases the starchiness of potato tubers and improves their taste
Why do you need ash when planting potatoes?
Ash is a residual product of wood combustion. Its chemical composition is very diverse and includes 74 components, among which there are those vital for the full growth and development of the nightshade crop. This makes it an excellent organic alternative to artificial mineral mixtures.With proper use of ash as a fertilizer for potatoes, you can increase the yield of nightshade crops by 15%, and the concentration of starch in tubers by up to 2%.
The high content of potassium and calcium in an accessible form ensures the full development of the plant at the initial stage of growth and increases its resistance to adverse external factors. The advantage of this fertilizer is that it does not contain chloride compounds, to which potatoes are so sensitive.
Collection and storage of ash
For ash to really be beneficial when planting potatoes, it must be properly prepared and stored. To obtain fertilizer, it is necessary to use only natural raw materials, namely wood or plant residues.
It is unacceptable to burn chipboard, plywood, as these materials contain glue, as well as boards coated with paint. To obtain ashes that can be used when planting a nightshade crop, you need to eliminate the possibility of starting a fire in the place where household garbage was previously burned.
Particles of plastic, rubber, candy wrappers and bags contain dangerous chemicals that have carcinogenic properties. And such fertilizer will be not only useless, but also dangerous. After all, harmful particles entering the soil penetrate the potatoes and are able to accumulate in their tubers.
Organic fertilizer can be stored in plastic bags or metal containers
Recommendations on how to get healthy ashes:
- For burning, it is better to use the remains of birch and willow wood, as they have a rich chemical composition.
- You need to make a fire at a distance of 6-10 m from buildings in windless, dry weather.
- For ignition, use dry branches and leaves, not cardboard or paper.
- Old logs and branches that do not show signs of pest damage or disease should be placed in the fire.
- In addition to wood, it is recommended to burn dry tops of corn, nightshade crops, beets, and carrots, since these plant residues are rich in mineral components.
To obtain useful ash that can be sprinkled under the potatoes when planting, the fire should not be filled with water at the end of burning. Otherwise, all the useful components will be absorbed into the soil, and only ash will remain on its surface, which is of no value. Therefore, when the fire burns out, it is better to throw dense material over it, which will block the access of air and stop smoldering.
Organic fertilizer must be collected immediately so that the wind does not blow it around and the rain does not wet it. After this, sift the ashes through a metal sieve. It should be stored in a dry, dark place. The shelf life of wood ash is unlimited under appropriate conditions.
When potatoes need ash feeding
Wood ash helps increase potato yields and the quality of tubers, but its use does not always give a positive result. Since the need for nutritional components varies among different crop varieties. Early types of potatoes are characterized by early ripening; their harvest ripens 12 weeks after planting. And the growing season of late varieties lasts at least 5.5 months. Therefore, for the latter, wood ash will bring more benefits, unlike the former, since it provides a prolonged nutritional effect.
Per 100 sq. m area requires 12 kg of wood ash
It is also necessary to take into account that this organic fertilizer has the ability to deoxidize the soil. Before adding ash to the soil when planting potatoes, it is necessary to measure its acidity level. If it is elevated, then the fertilizer can be safely applied. If the soil is neutrally acidic, it is better to abandon it, as this will lead to alkalization of the soil, which will negatively affect the development of potatoes.
When to add ash to potatoes
Ash applied under potatoes gives a significantly greater effect than other potash fertilizers. When 1 kg of ash is added to the soil, the crop yield increases by 6-8 kg. However, for this it is necessary to apply fertilizer not only when planting potatoes, but throughout the entire season, namely at the stage of the first hilling and during budding. Each kilogram of ash corresponds to 220 g of granulated superphosphate and 240 g of potassium sulphide.
On clay and loamy soils, it is recommended to additionally apply this organic fertilizer to the area intended for planting potatoes in the fall. And on sandy, sandy loam and peaty soils - in the spring.
How to use wood ash when planting potatoes
It is recommended to add ash for potatoes directly into the furrows when planting. But at the same time, you cannot place the tuber on it, as this can lead to burns, which will negatively affect germination. After adding organic fertilizer to the holes, you need to sprinkle it with a layer of soil, and only place planting material on top.
If there is a small amount of ash, it is permissible to treat the potatoes before planting. To do this, you need to lay the tubers on film and sprinkle them with organic fertilizer on top.After this, land immediately.
How much ash to put in potatoes
When planting potatoes, you need to sprinkle ash at the rate of two matchboxes per hole. In the case of dusting tubers, it is necessary to use 1 kg per bag of root vegetables.
During the first hilling, you need to add 2 tbsp to each bush. l. organic fertilizer, and during budding - 50 g.
Wood ash can also be added to the compost heap, but not more than 3% of the total mass of greenery
How can you replace ash when planting potatoes?
If there is no ash, it can be replaced with other fertilizers when planting potatoes.
Possible options:
- to provide plants with a sufficient amount of potassium and phosphorus, add 1 tbsp to each well. l. superphosphate and potassium sulphide;
- if it is necessary to deoxidize the soil - 400-500 g of dolomite flour per 1 sq. m area.
Is ash harmful to potatoes?
Wood ash is not always useful for planting potatoes; in some cases it can be not only useless, but also harmful. The ability of this organic fertilizer to deoxidize the soil sometimes causes scab damage to vegetables. After all, this disease spreads quickly in alkaline soil. And this threatens harvest loss of up to 90%.
When planting potatoes, ash should not be used together with mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen. Otherwise, a chemical reaction begins, which contributes to the formation of ammonia gas. In this case, nitrogen evaporates and fertilizing becomes useless.
Not every ash can be added when planting potatoes. When glossy magazines, cardboard boxes and paper bags are burned, large amounts of toxic boron are concentrated in the ash.The use of such organic fertilizer has a negative impact on the development of nightshade crops.
Conclusion
Ash when planting potatoes is beneficial only if it is used correctly and dosages are observed. Therefore, there is no need to pour it thoughtlessly into the furrows in large quantities. Otherwise, it may lead to the opposite result. It is also worth considering that the use of wood ash does not replace the use of other fertilizers, since it does not contain all the nutritional components necessary for the full development of the nightshade crop.
