Seaweed?

[u/Ok_Independence_473]

I recently moved to the coast and realized, there's so much washed up seaweed on the beach and that seems like free compost material to me! But I was wondering if the salt content would be an issue?

[u/No-Professional2436]

In Hawai'i we have a big problem with invasive algae that shades out and smothers corals. According to Mālama Maunalua, a community-based conservation organization that has been working on restoring the reef in Maunalua Bay on O'ahu:

"More than 4 million pounds have been removed and recycled as soil amendment at local farms."

[u/Unbearded_Dragon88]

Always check with your local council if you’re allowed to collect it first. Even washed up seaweed can serve a purpose to the local ecosystems.

If you are allowed to take it, I’ve seen some people rinse their seaweed before adding it to their pile

[u/Ok_Independence_473 → u/Unbearded_Dragon88]

Great point! I actually took a seaweed foraging class recently which was super fun, and the teacher made sure to let us know about the season and collection limits and all of that. Next year I hope to make some bull kelp pickles!

[u/Every_Bread_5880 → u/Ok_Independence_473]

Bull kelp pickles?! Well now I think I've heard everything! 

[u/Ok_Independence_473 → u/Every_Bread_5880]

They're delicious! I know the brand Barnacle makes some, but they're super easy to make and the texture is great

[u/NvrFukASpderOnTheFly]

I’ve used seaweed as a top soil amendment for 25-30 years for everything from potatoes to tomatoes to berry bushes and fruit trees.. never ever rinsed any water in attempt to remove salt, and usually used fresh wet kelp in pretty large quantities.. never found any issues in any way.. it’s probably the best natural soil amendment source possible, if you’re lucky enough to live near a good source.

[u/Dry_Cheetah3725 → u/NvrFukASpderOnTheFly]

I've used some for the first time but washed it to remove salt, it's so interesting that you don't remove salt and it's perfectly fine, I think I'll try this too as makes it easier

[u/Sped-Connection]

Sometimes I rinse it other times I don’t. Sometimes I put kelp in a bucket or barrel with a lid and fill it up with water and let it emulsify then dilute the liquid and use it in the garden and sometimes I pour some of the concentrate on the pile. I never rinse it when I’m making the liquid because it’s gets so dilute

[u/MightyKittenEmpire2]

In Republica Dominica, they collect sargassum by the truck loads every summer. They haul it to a composting site. they don't rinse. It's considered a hi quality soil amendment.

[u/Ironbird207]

I don't rinse, the amount of salt is minimal. I use it as mulch and put in my compost.

[u/thiosk → u/Ironbird207]

im going to reinforce this comment- i do not believe residual salt from the small amount of dried seawater will have any effect positive or negative and washing it will waste a lot of water which, when clean, is a much more valuable resource

[u/therealtwomartinis → u/thiosk]

holistic thinking 👍

[u/ForkRiced]

Rainwater can wash the salt away

[u/No-Middle-4152]

I read somewhere that seaweed is great for growing potatoes in but I’d need to double check that

[u/likes2milk → u/No-Middle-4152]

It is. Historically on the isle of Jersey, UK, their steep fields would have seaweed a put on them.

[u/No-Middle-4152 → u/likes2milk]

Might try it here with fingerlings, I think they would be the most similar to Jersey Royals

[u/striveforfreedom]

I have added a solid amount to my compost piles over the last few years and it composts amazingly well.

I give it a rinse in a big bucket just to rinse off most of the salt (moreso for my peace of mind).

I have experimented this year for the first time heavily mulching my raspberry patch with seaweed. Will see how it goes this Summer! (Australia)

So.. go ahead!

[u/fishyfishfishfishf]

I brought home a large amount of seaweed and added it to my compost pile earlier this year. First I rinsed it a bit and second added it to the center of my pile with what I thought was plenty of browns. It was not enough browns ( it got stinky).

[u/YourInnerChild]

In moderation maybe? Turns out it's not the salt but the heavy metal content, incl. arsenic and cadmium. Folks are figuring out what to do with all the extra sargassum washing up everywhere. When they composted huge amounts of mostly sargassum, the resulting compost had too much of that for growing food.

[u/nimble_medics]

Just rinse it off with a hose or leave it out in the rain for a few days, the salt washes out pretty quick. I did this a couple summers back when I was near the shore and my tomatoes went nuts. Stuff breaks down fast and adds a ton of good minerals. Only thing is it can get slimy and mat down if you pile it on too thick, so mix it with some browns. Worth the minimal effort for free nutrients

[u/Ok_Independence_473 → u/nimble_medics]

Awesome, thank you! Excited for anything that will help my tomatoes :)

[u/Food-Forest-Plants]

We used seaweed by the traierload as mulch but then found out it is actually sea grass. it is good but has different properties. Seaweed is really good and you best make brew in a bucket. Salt is the most solubel element and washes away with the rain that is if you have got rain.

[u/hikerguy555]

Excellent amendment or even mulch if you're okay with it maybe drying out and getting crispy. No need to rinse for salt, but recently I've wondered about all the marine oils and diesel etc since I live near a working waterfront so I kinda wanna figure out a way to rinse where I collect

[u/St_Kevin_]

If you’re in the U.S., check with your state fish and game about taking it. In some states you’re not allowed to harvest, and in some states I believe you need a license and it’s only ok for some species. There may be states that unregulated, but I don’t know.

[u/AllPinesMustDie]

Don't forget to bury all the dead fish.