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Ray, North Dakota

I have a neighbor that heats his house with a corn furnace. He has a few hundred pounds of ash from the burnt grain, and I was wondering if it would be good added to compost, or just tilled into the garden. Any ideas?

4/4/2006 3:17:31 PM

Norton, MA

I'm not sure if it's a general ash thing, but wood ash can really raise your pH. If that's low though, I'd add some. AleX Noel.

4/4/2006 7:47:12 PM

Montoursville, PA

Herbie..........Corn is basically made up, of oil and ethanol. When burned, to complete ashes, it is a relatively good source, of potash. It contains no objectable trace elements. The ashes may contain insignificant traces, of good minerals. I could find no specific use suggestions except that sprinkling upon the lawn and gardens is a positive safe place, for the ashes.

It would not do well, to place corn ashes, on acid loving plants such as azaleas, blueberry, and evergreen foundation plantings. Over use anywhere will raise the PH factor.

My take, on the general knowledge available would be, to use sparingly and keep an eye, on your NPK soil test. On a thousand square feet there should be no noticeable change in NPK or PH if a light application, of a five gallon, bucketful per year is used. Your observation and testing will determine the higher levels of usage based on your soil tests. It could safely be used, in your compost again with modest application being the rule, of thumb.

You may be one, of the first, to use this resource. Keep us posted noting your results.

4/17/2006 9:21:35 AM

Cottage Grove, MN

Make me the 2nd, been doing this all winter on my patch. Kind of closes the corn cycle, grow it, burn it, put the ashes back in the garden. My luck we'll find out they are explosive when mixed with fish emulsion.

4/17/2006 2:56:13 PM

Montoursville, PA

Easy does it goes well with any non tested procedure. Testing, for the proof, in the pudding is a must do within the rule, of common sense.

4/18/2006 6:54:29 AM