Wood ash is great for potato planting

Spring is here and a lot of work needs to be done in our gardens and orchards. The weather has been rather suitable for gardening so far and you should make use of it. Sowing and planting times vary depending on specific locations and varieties of course, but if you are thinking about planting potatoes in the near future you have come to the right place. In the following lines we shall tell you about an interesting trick – using an ordinary wood ash for potato planting.

Wood ash as a natural fertilizer

Fertilizer prices are skyrocketing and many of us are turning to natural fertilizers that our ancestors used and quite successfully. Ash is one of these natural fertilizers and it works great for potatoes. There are several reasons. Wood ash is very rich in minerals and organic substances. It contains a lot of calcium and potassium and potatoes need these in rather large quantities. But ash nourishes and protect your plants too.

Increase harvest by up to 15%

That is right. 15% increase is pretty good, right? Further, ash helps potatoes to retain larger amounts of starch, which improves the taste significantly. We shall tell you how to use ash properly during potato planting. It is not complicated at all.

The amount of ash

Before you start planting, you sprinkle potatoes with ash. You will need 1 kg of ash per 25 kg of potatoes. If you cut large tubers into smaller pieces, the ash will help with cut wound healing. However, cutting is a rather delicate operation and you should be very careful when you do that.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

Pay attention to soil pH

If you use ash, you should also pay attention to the pH of the soil. Ash is alkaline, so it is usually used in acidic soil. If you have neutral or alkaline soil should probably avoid using ash. The soil should not exceed 7 pH.

Using ash during planting

You should use approximately 100 to 150 g of ash per 1 m2. If you deal with a small area only, mix 30 g of ash with soil and pour the mixture into the pit. If you pour ash into rows you need to create a thin layer of soil on top. Use only high-quality wood ash and do not use it together with nitrogen fertilizers.

Source: odpovedi.cz, tojenapad.sk,

Preview photo: Radek Štěpán