A short guide on how to use potash

Carbonate of potash or potassium – these are the names for a single substance: potassium salt and you can buy it. It is a white powder. But can you use it in your garden? Well, it is important source of potassium (K), one of the most important nutrients plants need for proper growth (other two very important nutrients include nitrogen – N and phosphorus P).

The important function of potassium

Potassium helps plants to form flowers and fruits and enhances overall growth. Thanks to potassium plants are more resistant to various pests and diseases. Potassium also helps plants to cope with various stresses, such as changes in the surrounding environment, droughts or sudden cold temperatures. Light and sandy soils suffer from potassium deficiency – due to increased permeability. You can tell that your plants do not have enough potassium if you see brown burns on leaves or the tips of leaves are curly.

Photo: Pixabay

Potassium for plants

If you want to use potash in your garden you need to consider which plants benefit the most from it. These are usually plants that bear flowers or fruits. Potassium helps plants to produce rich flowers and therefore more fruit. Fertilizers made for various roses and tomatoes, are rich in potassium but they also include other necessary minerals. So, if you use these types of fertilizers, you may not need to supplement with additional potash.

Use of potash

Plants are able to receive potassium during active growth. So, after the plant finished producing fruits you do not need to use potash anymore. If you use potash you need to keep the soil moist because moist soil increases the absorption of potash through the roots or leaves (if used as a foliar feed). So, the ideal time to use potash is early in the spring until the end of the summer.

Homemade potassium fertilizer

You can make a fertilizer with high potassium content at home. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a plant that is rich in potassium and you can use it to make our own fertilizer. Grow comfrey because that way you will be able to make the cheapest fertilizer. Remove leaves from comfrey put them in a large container for several weeks. After while the process will produce a liquid that you can use as a fertilizer for flowering and fruiting plants.

Source: https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/potash/

Preview photo: Pixabay