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Auburn Maine, USA

I dont live that far from the coast, so it is kind of pointless of me to buy dry seaweed, but when I've seen it, it is always kelp meal. When ever I go on a seaweed run, most of what I see is rock weed with the occasional strand of kelp, so I grab bags upon bags of that. I was wondering if anyone knows if there is much of a difference between the 2 when it comes to its fertilization Characteristics?

1/4/2007 8:48:50 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Ascophyllum nodosum is a brown rockweed & is often harvested in large leaves in the cold north Atlantic. The stuff you see on the beach in Maine is probably the same plant. They might only look different because of the beating the parts take as they're driven into shore.

Companies that harvest the stuff when the fishing is slow have an agenda so they'll print ads that says only the coldest grown kelp contains the highest micronutrient levels. Given the nutrients that wash off the land every year I'd suggest that the opposite is probably truer.

I'd say that if you flush the salts out before use you'll have a fine organic fertilizer/amendment.

1/4/2007 10:28:14 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Most of the kelp products we use on the West Coast is made from Giant Pacific Kelp and is scientifically known as macrocystis integrifolia which is then processed in various methods for commercial use. This giant kelp is apparently the fastest growing plant known, growing up to 3 feet per day and is harvested from the fastest growing tips.

There are some great details and facts at;

http://www.kelpman.com/index_files/kelp%20fertilizer.htm

1/5/2007 1:39:47 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

I send the kids out with bags when i'm on vacation at Old Orchard Beach, i put the seaweed out on screens and wash the salts out of it throughly then i allow to dry, i then crush it up into almost a powder and use as needed, as stated already get the salt out.
Glenn

1/5/2007 10:17:11 AM

Montoursville, PA

Yes but Glenn you live where the good stuff grows. My beaches are South of the Delaware Waterways and NYC. Our beach scrapings come up with little or no kelp and lots of unmentionable floating stuff that water will not wash out.

I have yet to find a way to make that floating crap bio-degradable. On a positive note if Ron and Pap get washed out to sea I could be the benefactor. Hummmmmmmmmmmm :)

1/5/2007 12:19:03 PM

Vermont

Isn't the brown rockweed seaweed what Craig Weir uses or used in his patch? With great results!!!!!

1/5/2007 3:45:12 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

yes brown rock-weed is correct.

1/5/2007 4:33:53 PM

Maine

I've been putting it in my compost for years. Pics are in my diary.

1/5/2007 4:49:40 PM

Auburn Maine, USA

Ive been laying out what weve gathered at the edge of the lawn, let the sprinkler run water through it for about 45 minutes, then let it set through acouple rain storms. after spreading it, Ive been leaving it for a month or so in the patch. By the time I till it, the color has faded quite a bit and it has become much easier to till in. Lets see if its all its cracked up to be

1/7/2007 12:37:39 AM

Montoursville, PA

Hey guys and girls.........nothing wrong with other organic washups that are desalted by you. It's all going to go through the breakdown and conversion within your soil or compost piles. The very finest seawead is literally farmed and processed. That would be as found availabe through a firm like North American Kelp. Beating the farming cost and shipping has always been fun and beneficial,to whatever extent you can do it.

1/7/2007 10:03:30 AM

Auburn Maine, USA

Farmed costs money. I was quite surprised how much bagged/dried kelp costs. For poor folk like myself, free is best because I will get it. This hobby is quite difficult to justify to my wife who has expressed numerous times new hatred for pumpkins. If you compare cost between what you can get at the ocean or store (gas money vs. 5lb. bag) I can get 10 lbs. dried vs. the bed of a truck full wet. Quality vs. quantity

1/7/2007 10:55:43 AM

Montoursville, PA

Yep.........even I might have a situation to work with if I had to post all my insanities in the family ledger. However if I could keep only one expense item I would choose kelp meal hands down.

1/7/2007 7:14:53 PM