skimate as fertilizer

[mathman7728]

anyone try to use the results of skimming as fertilizer for your garden? what is the salt content of skimate? too salty?

 

[heathlindner25]

probably too salty

 

[davocean]

By no means is this my expertise, just sharing my experience here.
My last place I lived at for 14 years, the first 3 or so years I had a tree about 4', and it never grew those first 3 years.
No idea what kind of tree but I called it my Charlie Brown tree.
I started dumping my skimmate and WC water by that tree since it was the dumpier part of my yard.
Almost immediately I saw new growth, and when I moved that tree was about 25' tall
Now would I go dumping skimmate in my vegetable garden, probably not, I prefer safer alternatives.

 

[biom]

Yes, it is salty, the same salinity like tank water.

 

[bertoni]

It's too salty, in my opinion. Plants tend not to tolerate salt well, on average.

 

[Quiet_Ivy]

anyone try to use the results of skimming as fertilizer for your garden? what is the salt content of skimate? too salty?

Treated like a fish emulsion fertilizer (about 1 tablespoon per 4 gallons of water) skimmate had zero effect on my BFF tomato plants, or my various lettuces. (He's STILL complaining about the smell tho *g*). I'm not trying it on my orchids, but I suspect 2-3 tablespoons/gallon would be fine for general garden plants.


hth
ivy

 

[Tarawa]

its working on my pepper plants, I'm start using the skimmate on only one, as a test.It started producing fruit before the rest. Its possible peppers are more salt tolerant?

 

[Quiet_Ivy]

its working on my pepper plants, I'm start using the skimmate on only one, as a test.It started producing fruit before the rest. Its possible peppers are more salt tolerant?

I wouldn't think so, but peppers DO like a lot of calcium and high nutrient soil. Are you diluting the skimmate?
Interesting topic

Ivy

 

[Psionicdragon]

I only use the dry skimmate that collects on the internal neck. Dilute it heavily with Ro waste water and use it on the plants. DOn't see any difference.

 

[Reef Frog]

I suspect that your peppers may not be reacting to the sodium chloride until it reaches higher levels. Sodium is actually an essential plant micro nutrient (in very tiny amounts) but will hurt & eventually kill most terrestrial plants in high enough concentrations. If they're growing better,maybe the organic material in the skimate is being utilized. Maybe next year I'll try this on a sacrifice bell pepper.

Some common garden plants & wildflower are adapted to saline soils. Indian blanket flower & sea green junipers are examples. So are the plants you see growing on sand dunes near the ocean, obviously.

I pour my SW into a low spot full of lawn grass & weeds. I've never seen a negative effect to the vegetation - ever. My climate gets plenty of rain & my dump spot is fed by a small culvert. I always figure it was diluted by the two to an extent that the soil never absorbs enough to do any harm.

 

[Dan_P]

anyone try to use the results of skimming as fertilizer for your garden? what is the salt content of skimate? too salty?

Its mostly salt.

 

[ericarenee]

it will kill plants ......

Erica got into trouble for killing Bonnie's Fav Bush ....

Never kill Bonnie plants Bonnie makes you plant new ones.

 

[marco.sv]

noo it will burn grass and kill the plants!

 

[karimwassef]

Should be good for growing mangrove trees

 

[Tarawa]

nope, not diluting at all, tho I add the skimmate a while after I water so I suppose there is some dilution going on. lets hope them peppers taste dont take on some of the skimmate's smell =D

 

[Artthorn]

I tried this and some of my plants died.

 

[Sk8r]

It's very salty. Plant killer.