[happyisme]

After this year’s GG, I will be adding lime to the soil to up the ph. Can rockdust be added with lime or will it be recommended to add later or before?

Thank you my friends!!



-happy

[JGP]

 happyisme, on 19 August 2011 - 10:50 PM, said:

After this year’s GG, I will be adding lime to the soil to up the ph. Can rockdust be added with lime or will it be recommended to add later or before?

Thank you my friends!!



-happy

I would add the rock dust ASAP as it takes years to break down and add the lime early nextyear.

[happyisme]

 JGP, on 19 August 2011 - 10:58 PM, said:

 happyisme, on 19 August 2011 - 10:50 PM, said:

After this year’s GG, I will be adding lime to the soil to up the ph. Can rockdust be added with lime or will it be recommended to add later or before?

Thank you my friends!!

-happy

I would add the rock dust ASAP as it takes years to break down and add the lime early nextyear.

JGP!!

What is roughly the time period of rockdust before the nutrients are used up, is it fair to say, add fresh annually??


-happy

[Randalizer]

I'm not so up on the GG end of rock dust use, but one application a year, added to your site at least 6 months before planting. Unless you can get it as a powder. Here in the states I can get a cattle feed grade of rock dust that is like talcum powder. Very easily assimilated in comparison.

I mix some ein with my compost. Follow my link to my compost topic for the amounts I use. You can also do a search in the organic and inorganic compost topics here. There is a good one with OT1s recommendation for outdoor growing (a handful for every certain area).

Or that recommendation may even be in this topic somewhere.

This post has been edited by Randalizer: 20 August 2011 - 09:33 AM

[L'Emmerdeur]

 happyisme, on 19 August 2011 - 10:50 PM, said:

Can rockdust be added with lime or will it be recommended to add later or before?

I use the Seer stuff indoors.

The dosage on the bag for outdoor use is 2kg per sq/m in the first year and 1kg sq/m in subsequent years.

It also says that additional lime is not recommended.

[Randalizer]

dolomite lime though has extra stuff in it (calcium and magnesium) and I've read, can never raise the ph past 7. So it's safe to use bu and large.

[happyisme]

 Randalizer, on 20 August 2011 - 09:32 AM, said:

I'm not so up on the GG end of rock dust use, but one application a year, added to your site at least 6 months before planting. Unless you can get it as a powder. Here in the states I can get a cattle feed grade of rock dust that is like talcum powder. Very easily assimilated in comparison.

I mix some ein with my compost. Follow my link to my compost topic for the amounts I use. You can also do a search in the organic and inorganic compost topics here. There is a good one with OT1s recommendation for outdoor growing (a handful for every certain area).

Or that recommendation may even be in this topic somewhere.

Thanks guy for the replies!! Some time ago, I remember reading ya giving your plants rock dust that was made for livestock. I have done some research on the topic but need to devote more time.

 L, on 20 August 2011 - 10:30 AM, said:

 happyisme, on 19 August 2011 - 10:50 PM, said:

Can rockdust be added with lime or will it be recommended to add later or before?

I use the Seer stuff indoors.

The dosage on the bag for outdoor use is 2kg per sq/m in the first year and 1kg sq/m in subsequent years.

It also says that additional lime is not recommended.

I have applied a small amount (all that i had) today and it is the same name as yours (Seer). Hope to see a better grow for next year, shit as far as that, this year as well.

I did not see on the packaging that lime is not recommended. The pH readings for most of the plots, at the beginning of planting, were around 5.3, 5.6, 6.0, and 6.3.

Would ph increase after adding rock dust??

 Randalizer, on 20 August 2011 - 10:51 AM, said:

dolomite lime though has extra stuff in it (calcium and magnesium) and I've read, can never raise the ph past 7. So it's safe to use bu and large.

I will research dolomite lime. I remember reading so much at the beginning but retaining is another story.



-happy

[Chairman O The Bored]

SEERS Rockdust at B&Q!

So i was out getting yet more stuff to finish off my board room and thought i'd have a look in the gardening section although i didn't actually need anything(like thats ever stopped me!) and saw this:



rear of sack:


thought for £6 for 10kg its got to be worth a try, the consistency is about the same as the seers stuff i already have, maybe a little finer but not consistant:



its also a bit lighter.

chair....

[-=DrGreenThumb=-]

Thanks Chairman O The Bored! Glad I checked this thread!

I've been looking to buy some more Rock Dust lately and already having tried Seer's and Pinetums I was going to go with the Pinetums as it's a finer grade. That said Pinetum's price was basically 5kg for £12 (delivered) and they advised no one else stocks their "grade" so I can't avoid the expensive delivery costs and simply live too far.

To me it all seems a bit of a piss take to be honest, it's just too expensive for what it is, which is an industrial by product as far as I can see and the Quarry's claim they are giving it away free to anyone who's take it off their hands.

I think both Pinetums and Seer's want £15 for 20kg when picked up so 10kg for £6 still beats their prices and the fact any of us can get it from our B&Q is great news. Hopefully it'll mean Seer's and Pinetum's will bring their prices down to a more realisitic value.

I'll be going out and buying this next time to give a whirl!

[rasta]

Found this on the ABC Catalyst show website

Narration: Sometimes a scientific breakthrough comes from the most unexpected sources! Sam Catalano was once just an ordinary farmer struggling to make a living on poor tropical soils. But now his life has been turned around, simply by watching his cattle in their paddock. He noticed his cows loved to graze at one particular spot. The grass of course was greener there, and Sam had a hunch why. On Sam's farm there's a quarry producing crushed basalt for road base. Each day the mining trucks are washed down and the rock dust flowed into Sams paddock just where the cows liked to graze. If quarry dust could make his grass grow better, would it have the same effect on his crops?


I use a produce here called the Naked Farmer its a coal/Organic carbon based organic soil conditioner. from what I've found out its whats left over after they wash and clean the coal for resale

here is what they say

Rich Source of Organic Carbon

Naked Farmer Soil Activator for Organic Gardens is extremely rich in Organic Carbon, Humic Acid and Fulvic Acid. It is perfect for constructing great quality soils and will improve the condition of the existing soil by stimulating biological growth, optimising the chemical composition and improving the physical structure.


The Soil Activator key benefits to your garden are...

Brings your Soil to Life: For the past 20 years, gardeners have been told that plants require chemical fertilisers for strong growth. Soils have left to deteriorate due to the lack of organic matter being returned to the soil & in some cases have become lifeless. Soil Activator for Organic Gardens is extremely rich in Organic Carbon. Organic Carbon is a nutrient source for microbes & bacteria in the soil. Microbes are responsible for breaking down nutrients & making them available to plants to absorb through the root systems.


Stronger Healthier Plants: Growing trials have shown that plants have bigger root balls, thicker leaves & stems. Stronger plants are naturally more disease & pest resistant.


Breaks Down Clay Soils: Soil Activator for Organic Gardens contains humic & fulvic acids which will breakdown the clay chemically while the concentrated organic matter will keep the clay particles separated.


Builds up Sandy Soils: Soil Activator for Organic Gardens is concentrated organic matter that will add structure to sandy soils & assist in holding water & fertilisers.


Stops Fertilisers Leaching through the Soil: Soil Activator for Organic Gardens is negatively charged & through the cat-ion process will attract fertilisers & nutrients that are not absorbed by the plants & store them until needed. It also helps lock-up unwanted chemicals in the soil.


No Smell or Animal Waste: Soil Activator for Organic Gardens is 100% naturally sourced product & does not contain any animal waste & is smell free. Soil Activator for Organic Gardens is 100% natural & is certified by NASAA for use in Organic Gardens.

Hope it all helps
Cheers Rasta

[christopher99]

Thanks for nice discussion here. I like this type of discussion. My thinking is without discussion no one get ideas….

[doze]

Great thread.

A question. Is this free rockdust. If I sieved it to get the finest stuff?








It's from are quarry (basalt, i think) near me. Thing is i think the owners are dumping it there from another quarry.

[pepsum]

Hi doze. you may find this useful My link

scroll down to "testing your gravel dust"

There's lots of great info on that website.

Please let us know how you get on. I am about to do the same thing on granite dust (called grano dust at builders merchants) available for £5 in 25kg bags at a BM near me.

[coverking]

im on the rock dust thing too guys gona grab a bag of verve from B&Q
seers i believe, just gota sieve the big bits out of it unless you could use them as drainage
although my soil drains well so ill use the dust only

[coverking]

update, im informed the PM granules have rock dust already! food for thought""" well for the micro herd anyway