[DanTheReggaeFan]

I've recently been getting more into organics and I've read great things about kelp meal. I live along the south coast of England so have pretty easy access to kelp that washes up along the shore. Does anyone know if I could use this to make my own kelp meal?

Is it even the right type of kelp? If it is how would I go about making it? Do I just try and wash of as much salts as I can, dry it then grind it up?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[Cvh]

[Bud Green]

Dan, as an organic gardener, I have no access to sea kelp as I live inland..

However, I would think that if you collect any of it, just soak it in a barrel of fresh water to remove the sea-water salt, and use it as mulch...

Or, after drying, chop it up then mix it into your garden soil..

Kelp contains all kinds of good micro-nutrients which will do your garden good.
Plus, as it decomposes, it will add organic plant material, like compost does, and make your soil composition better..

..

[Maple_Flail]

[trichrider]

i wouldn't even wash the salt off.

[Switcher56]

Originally Posted by Bud Green

Dan, as an organic gardener, I have no access to sea kelp as I live inland..

However, I would think that if you collect any of it, just soak it in a barrel of fresh water to remove the sea-water salt, and use it as mulch...

Or, after drying, chop it up then mix it into your garden soil..

Kelp contains all kinds of good micro-nutrients which will do your garden good.
Plus, as it decomposes, it will add organic plant material, like compost, and make your soil composition better..

..

... I would add, you will have to do several rinses.

[FletchF.Fletch]

Rinse, and use as Mulch fresh or dry it and work it into the soil. Lots of great micronutrients


Also, play some Dennis Brown and Richie Spice today just for good measure.

[Fitzera]

I've read to wash the salt off. My mother lives on the coast and she's collected kelp for her gardens and didn't wash. She's had no ill effect, but we're talking large gardens in the yard, not cannabis in pots or the like.

Personally I'd wash it just to be safe. I'm sure the plant matter itself is going to have sodium within it.

[Switcher56]

Originally Posted by Fitzera

I've read to wash the salt off. My mother lives on the coast and she's collected kelp for her gardens and didn't wash. She's had no ill effect, but we're talking large gardens in the yard, not cannabis in pots or the like.

Personally I'd wash it just to be safe. I'm sure the plant matter itself is going to have sodium within it.

... IMO yes it will, hence several rinses.

[40degsouth]

Hey everyone,
love the thread DanTheReggaeFan.
I’ve collected and used my own seaweeds for a very long time in all aspects of gardening. I have found that all seaweeds are not equal and the more “grassy” type takes a very long time to break down and sucks up a lot of nitrogen out of the soil if you mix it in; it’s fantastic as a mulch because it does take so long to break down.
One of the best ways I’ve found to use more kelpy gelatinous types is, as BudGreen said, to soak it in a barrel of water. The nutrients become available quickly and I’ll just keep filling it up with water as it becomes depleted.
I’ve used it in guerrilla spots, piled on top of itself, which works beautifully because it seems to adsorb moisture, perhaps atmospheric, and keep the surface and feeder roots wet with a sludgy, sticky paste.
I’ve dried it out, in the sun and ran it through a garden chipper and carried the chips into inland patches.
I’ve never washed the salt off, so l guess this is a personal thing. Tom Hill believes salt should be kept to an absolute minimum but Korean Natural Farming has a fermented seawater input, believing seawater and land are ying and yang.
Seawater and seaweed, containes 75 more elementals than is found on land.
From my readings, seaweed is a soil conditioner, so works very well in compost heaps and the like, feeding the micro herd and in cannabis applications some growers will only use it from transition onwards, in liquid feedings because they believe it stimulates flowering auxins.
Personally I’ve used it in my liquid feeds all the way through a plant’s life with excellent results; l also noticed Schrews saying he includes liquid seaweed with his feeds and l don’t think anyone here would argue with his methods.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
40.