For many centuries coastal communities across the world have harvested seaweed and used it on their fields to boost their crops. In the channel islands this practise is known as ‘vraicing’ and there are still official times when it is permissible to cut and gather seaweed. Ordinarily in horticulture we apply a fertiliser that is high in Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K) – however, Seaweed, with values of 0(N) 0(P) and 1(K), doesn’t even come close to animal manure values. Instead seaweed contains over 70 minerals, vitamins and enzymes which address other biological needs of developing plants in some miraculous ways.
In a May 2001 article of the Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research, titled Seaweed As A Biofertiliser [1] researchers found the following yield benefits when plants were fed with seaweed fertiliser (vs control groups):
- Strawberry crops +14.8% to 31.9%
- Cucumber crops +41%
- Potato crops +20%
- Tomato crops +20%
- Banana crops +22% and 8.5 weeks earlier
Most of this gain is attributed to the presence of cytokinins in seaweed. Cytokinins [2] are a class of plant growth hormones (called phytohormones) that promote cell division (or cytokinesis), in plant roots and shoots. They also control root length, number and nodules, which obviously support the plant growing above them. So in essence if you feed your plants with seaweed extract, either in the soil or later as a foliar feed (sprayed onto the leaves), you’re giving them a massive growth boost.
Other known benefits of applying seaweed to plants include:
- improved seed germination (seeds previously soaked in seaweed liquid)
- increased uptake of soil nutrients
- increased resistance to some pests (aphids)
- resistance to diseases like powdery mildew [3]
- more resistance to frost
- extended shelf life of fruits and vegetables (if applied 10 days before harvesting)
- lengthened life of cut flowers (if sprayed with liquid seaweed a day or two before cutting)
Clearly we’d all be very foolish to ignore seaweed if we want to get the most out of our plants using an organic method. Seaweed should be used by all gardeners and allotmenteers to supplement the more traditional manures and fertilisers that we use on our plants. Even the 19th century people of Jersey knew that seaweed was not a substitute for good old horse muck but worked in tandem with it:
“Vraic, amalgamated with stable dung, and suffered to rot, would doubtless form an excellent species of manure.”
William Pleece – An account of the island of Jersey – 1813
So how do you use seaweed if you don’t live near the sea?
Probably the simplest way to start using seaweed on your own plants at home or on the allotment is with a liquid product such as LIQUISEA from Dorset Seaweeds. LIQUISEA contains all the growth hormones and beneficial compounds that plants need and is best used alongside a traditional NPK feed (such as Tomorite). You mix a small amount of the seaweed liquid into a watering can and apply to plants when watering. If you’re growing big feeding giant pumpkins (like I do) then a weekly feed is best, it doesn’t need to alternate with the traditional NPK feed, you can combine in the same watering can if necessary. I also found it helpful do an additional fortnightly foliar feed of LIQUISEA using a pressure sprayer to apply to all leaves where the ingredients can be absorbed. (Lidl usually have a good deal on sprayers).
In addition to liquid seaweed products, I also collect seaweed at the beach if I happen to be there (note beach-washed seaweed, I don’t go cutting it from rocks which would NOT be environmentally friendly). MrsGrow isn’t a massive fan because it can mean a smelly car journey back home again no matter how many carrier bags I wrap the seaweed up in! Once home I soak it for 24 hours in tap water to remove salt, then it goes into my greenhouse, spread all over the floor to dry out. Once dry (which can take a while especially in winter) I break it small pieces and crush it by foot. Then I either add it to my main compost heap of manure for a general compost boost, or I mix it with compost as I plant out seedlings (again especially pumpkins).
In summary seaweed is a must have for those in horticulture – be sure to try it yourself. It may very well give you the edge in your local flower show or simply boost the size, taste and quantity of the vegetables you take home from your allotment.
References
[1] Seaweed As A Biofertiliser – Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research
[2] How do plants respond to cytokinins and what is their importance?
[3] Seaweed extract reduces foliar fungal diseases on carrot
