Dynamic Accumulators of Nutrients for Composting

Tania · July 14, 2014

I found this great resource when looking for plants that helps to build the soil.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...=sharing#gid=0

Here is a 'less scientific' list, with no numbers:
http://oregonbd.org/Class/accum.htm

Chickweed, Lambsquarter, horsetail, stinging nettle, and dandelion are gold mines!

Unfortunately we do not have lambsquarter any more

Tatiana

Tania · July 14, 2014

By the way, the spreadsheet (the first link) has many other tabs that are all very informative and useful.

joseph · July 14, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tania

Unfortunately we do not have lambsquarter any more

How fortunate for you...

And lucky for me because lambsquarters is one of my most prolific weeds. What's your mailing address? I'll send you some seeds...

Redbaron · July 14, 2014

Thanks Tania. YOU are the gold mine!

ScottinAtlanta · July 14, 2014

Fascinating. Thanks for posting.

Too bad it does not include kudzu.

peppero · July 14, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

Fascinating. Thanks for posting.

Too bad it does not include kudzu.

Scott I Read something about Kudzu's use as a fertilizer so I am trying it .

I am sure people passing by thought I was a little odd or worse when they saw me pulling it and storing in the back of my country cadillac(pickingup truck) but, I did see where it was used by a famous giant tomato grower as part of his tomato feeding program.

jon

Labradors2 · July 14, 2014

Wow! Thanks Tania!

I guess I shouldn't be sending my dandelions to the city compost facility! Trouble is that they usually have seeds on them by the time I get around to pulling them up! Gotta put some horsetail in my composter too!

Linda

Tania · July 14, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Wow! Thanks Tania!

I guess I shouldn't be sending my dandelions to the city compost facility! Trouble is that they usually have seeds on them by the time I get around to pulling them up! Gotta put some horsetail in my composter too!

Linda

Dandelions are allowed to grow on our property. As we pull them promptly (for salads and juicing also

), they are not very wide-spread, and at this time of summer I wish I had more of them available.

They are also awesome food for your chickens.

Tania · July 14, 2014

Re horsetail - we collect it in buckets, and add water and let it brew there for a while, until it turns into a nice bubbly stinky mess. Makes it a great fertilizer!

Same works for chickweed.

Brewing chickweed in water helps to kill the seeds, so it does not spread like crazy in your veggie beds. Adding it to compost may not kill the seeds (unless your compost pile heats very well)

Labradors2 · July 14, 2014

Hi Tania,

I know I have to make more use of the horsetail. I was thinking of brewing a tea and spraying my tomatoes with it as a preventative. Letting it sit in a bucket of water sounds like an easier way to do it!

I could ship you a truckload of Dandelions in the spring or would you prefer some seeds?

Linda.

Tania · July 14, 2014

Linda, LOL.

I think I will start asking neighbours to bring me their dandelions

Here they are starting to come up again and blooming, second time.

July 14, 2014	#1
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	Dynamic Accumulators of Nutrients for Composting I found this great resource when looking for plants that helps to build the soil. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...=sharing#gid=0 Here is a 'less scientific' list, with no numbers: http://oregonbd.org/Class/accum.htm Chickweed, Lambsquarter, horsetail, stinging nettle, and dandelion are gold mines! Unfortunately we do not have lambsquarter any more Tatiana __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase Last edited by Tania; July 14, 2014 at 10:41 AM.

July 14, 2014	#2
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	By the way, the spreadsheet (the first link) has many other tabs that are all very informative and useful. __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

July 14, 2014	#4
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Thanks Tania. YOU are the gold mine! __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

July 14, 2014	#9
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	Re horsetail - we collect it in buckets, and add water and let it brew there for a while, until it turns into a nice bubbly stinky mess. Makes it a great fertilizer! Same works for chickweed. Brewing chickweed in water helps to kill the seeds, so it does not spread like crazy in your veggie beds. Adding it to compost may not kill the seeds (unless your compost pile heats very well) __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

July 14, 2014	#11
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	Linda, LOL. I think I will start asking neighbours to bring me their dandelions Here they are starting to come up again and blooming, second time. __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

July 14, 2014	#5
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	Fascinating. Thanks for posting. Too bad it does not include kudzu.

July 14, 2014	#7
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	Wow! Thanks Tania! I guess I shouldn't be sending my dandelions to the city compost facility! Trouble is that they usually have seeds on them by the time I get around to pulling them up! Gotta put some horsetail in my composter too! Linda