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Minnesota

Do you have any thoughts, advice, past experience on making your own fish emulsion/seaweed. I use 6 gallon buckets (air tight) seaweed from a oriental store, fish from a fish market (remains of filleted fish)browned leafs, mollasses are the main ingredients. The plants love it and have really greened up. Only down fall is keeping the bucket air tight so the raccoons and little animals don't come and investigate.

7/27/2008 11:18:27 AM

Minnesota

You know what, of all the different web sites on links, for pumpkins, none of them have a "how to make your own fish emulsion/seaweed". I would think it would be more popular to make. After all everyone uses it all season long.

7/27/2008 4:41:16 PM

Minnesota

I really think that (someone who knows more about this than me) should post a "How to make your own fish emulsion/seaweed" in the "How To" section. I think we should have a post about it, gather the info and post it in the "How To" secton on the Links column. I think I'm on to something,,on to something or on something.

7/27/2008 4:45:31 PM

South East

for 5 bucks you can fish emulsion at walmart, why go to all that trouble when for maybe 20 bucks you can have properly made stuff, inbetween burying vines, making compost tea and spraying foliar treatments, making seaweed and fish would be to much. And i doubt the endresult would have the effect your really want.
20 bucks for an entire season isnt to much, even when yar laid off.

7/27/2008 5:12:17 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Richard,
Using freshwater fish that we have around here, may be a little different than the ocean fish, that I'm guessing is in most commercial fish/seaweed product. Also seaweed would have different mineral concentrations than our freshwater weeds, I'd think.
I would think grinding up your own fish would result in a very smell mixture after a few days, while the commercial fish/seaweed products I've used don't smell too bad. You could end up with critters in your patch that you don't want.
I think "the cooks" post may be the best way to go.

7/27/2008 5:41:26 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Sorry,
I forgot it was addressed to "Pap or any heavy hitter". That leaves me out...my last name is Wallace though.

7/27/2008 6:14:56 PM

Rhode Island

personally id have to agree with the cooks (and cousin doug ) -lol

to me if you place fish scraps ,seaweed scraps,etc, into a barrel and mix it up you will get some immediate benefit but its risky because you are also putting a decomposing solid ( or liquid) onto or around the plants. could also invite disease possibly

id stick to buying from the professionals who have spent thousands developing a product to benefit gardeners

just my take richard
pap

7/27/2008 7:26:44 PM

Darfield, British Columbia, Canada

Strong smell of fish is what got that darn bear in my patch.

7/27/2008 11:45:54 PM

Minnesota

Does'nt matter to me, pap, heavy hitter or anybody.

7/28/2008 12:52:31 AM

Seattle, WA

Not a heavy hitter, but wanted to chime in.

Other issue with the seaweed is that it may not be the most beneficial species. 90% of the products on the market use ascophyllum nodosum. You would need to cold press the seaweed and remove the salts if process yourself to maximize benefit.

~Tad

7/28/2008 2:19:55 PM

Minnesota

Thanks for all the help, advice.

7/28/2008 3:15:18 PM