Onion ash is one of the best organic fertilizers. This effectiveness is due to its rich composition, which includes calcium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese and a number of other equally important chemical elements. Due to its great value, it is also used as a growth stimulant, fungicide and insecticide.
Compound
The greatest value is the ash from deciduous and coniferous trees. The powder obtained by burning such substances contains microelements necessary for plants: calcium, potassium, phosphorus.The amount of these microelements is so great that organic matter can completely replace industrial potassium-phosphorus mixtures.
In addition, the ash contains more than 30 chemical elements that vegetable crops, including onions, need. The only element that is not present in ash is nitrogen. Therefore, in the first stages of growth, ash fertilizers should be alternated with nitrogen-containing mixtures.
The powder obtained from trees and plants has a number of advantages over other fertilizers:
- Promotes rotting of organic residues, thereby improving the structure and composition of the soil.
- Unlike many complex fertilizers, the potassium and phosphorus contained in the ash are easily absorbed.
- Ideal for feeding plants on acidic and neutral soils. Use ash in alkaline areas with caution, as the substance reduces acidity.
- Makes onions more resistant to temperature fluctuations and other weather surprises.
- Increases shelf life of bulbs.
- Regular treatment of onions with ash and ash solutions repels pests.
- Does not contain chlorine, which is harmful to plants.
In view of such a large number of advantages, the available combustion product is widely used by gardeners for feeding all vegetable and berry crops, as well as for preparing pest control products.
Can ash be used after burning other materials? It is not recommended to use powder obtained by burning paper, plastic and other waste to feed plants, as the content of useful microelements in such a substance is minimal.
Recipes for preparing top dressing
Wood ash is used to feed plants both in its pure form and as an ingredient for preparing infusions.The substance is also used during pre-sowing treatment and for storing bulbs:
- Preparation of planting material. Onion seeds are kept for 4–6 hours in a solution prepared at the rate of 1 tsp. ash per 1 liter of water.
- To keep the bulbs as long as possible, vegetables are placed in boxes mixed with ash. Damaged areas on the bulb are dipped in dry powder before planting.
Due to the many beneficial properties of recipes for feeding and processing of onions there are many. The following products have rightfully won the greatest popularity among gardeners:
- 30 tbsp. l. powder is poured into 10 liters of water and left for 7 days. Onions are watered at the rate of 0.5 liters per onion. The product is also applied to the furrow made between the rows, after which it must be sprinkled with earth.
- 250 g of ash are poured into a bucket and the container is filled to the top with water. The mixture is left to steep for 48 hours and then poured over the onions.
- To ensure that the balance of nutrients is always at the desired level, it is recommended to scatter the ash over the garden bed in a thin layer before each watering. Substance consumption per 1 sq. m. - 1 glass.
- During the spring or autumn treatment of the area, the area is generously sprinkled with wood powder, after which digging is carried out. Consumption of dry powder per 1 sq. m of bed - 600 g. The substance is used as an independent fertilizer or in tandem with other mineral or organic fertilizers.
- To prepare a solution for spraying, pour 300 g of powder into a bucket of water. The mixture is infused for 24 hours, and then 50 g of grated or liquid soap is added for better adhesion.
How often are onions treated with wood ash? Fertilizing is applied 3 times per season.Ash also reduces the number of putrefactive bacteria, which prevents the development of root rot, to which the crop is sensitive.
In addition to monocomponent mixtures, bioinfusions are prepared from the combustion product. These mixtures fill the soil with macro- and microelements and make it looser. The best results are shown by the following:
- 5 tbsp. l. sugar, 15 g yeast, 1 tbsp. l. organic matter is poured into a 3-liter jar and filled with water. The mixture is infused for 3 days.
- A third of a 250 liter container is filled with freshly cut field grass, after which 2 buckets of compost and 5 kg of wood ash are added. Add the missing water and leave for 14 days. To prepare the solution, the concentrate is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.
- A 100 liter barrel is filled with half a shovelful of wood ash, compost and sand. Then add 2.5 kg of fresh and 5 kg of rotted manure. At the end, 0.5 fermented milk product and 1.5 liters of mash are poured into the container. The mixture is left to ferment for a week, and then the onions are processed, having previously reduced the concentration of the infusion by half.
In what cases should ash not be used?
Since this substance contains large amounts of calcium, potassium and phosphorus, it is impossible to use organic fertilizers based on powder obtained from burning wood to improve soil with an excess of these chemical elements. As a result of such feeding, the condition of the plants will only worsen.
Also, experts do not recommend using ash powder simultaneously with organics and organic solutions. Under the influence of the substance, nitrogen evaporates. They do not apply fertilizing with phosphorus mixtures, since the chemical element after such fertilizing is not absorbed by plants.
Since wood powder alkalizes the soil, it is not used to feed or treat onions that grow in beds with low acidity.
Making compost and reducing acidity
Since ash powder has the ability to accelerate the breakdown of organic matter, the substance is added as a component when laying a compost heap. Moreover, the substance fills the fertilizer with calcium, potassium and phosphorus, and also neutralizes the harmful effects of chemical elements. 10 kg of powder is poured into the compost heap.
With the help of organic matter, you can not only improve the composition of the soil, but also reduce its acidity. Owners of summer cottages where acidity is above average are forced to pay a lot of attention to soil preparation, since most garden crops prefer to grow in a neutral environment. Wood ash powder is embedded in the grooves made between the rows.
Disease and pest control
To repel weevils from the garden bed, the onions should be generously sprinkled with dry ash. For prevention and control onion moth and other pests, plants are sprayed with an ash solution. 300 g of powder is poured into 3 liters of water and left for 2 days. At the end of the period, add 40 g of liquid soap to the infusion.
You can also get rid of aphids using ash infusion. Add 100 g of powder to a bucket of water, and then leave the mixture for 48 hours. Treat onions with ash in cloudy weather or evening hours.
To protect plants from root rot and other equally dangerous diseases, plants are generously sprinkled with ash or sprayed with ash infusion.
Wood ash is a real find for fans of natural fertilizers.The powder perfectly restores the content of macro- and microelements, and also prevents the development of pathogenic microflora, repels insects, and reduces soil acidity. Regular use of the substance helps solve several problems at once.
