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Appalachian Mtns.

Having trouble locating this information but...what is the difference between "cold-processed" and "pasteurized" solutions of a seaweed/fish blend? I realize pasteurizing probably has detrimental effects but to what extent? Measurable differences or about the same for AG growing?

1/22/2003 8:02:27 PM

Montoursville, PA

Another way to look is to powdered as is Holland's Land O'Giants Soluble Seaweed Powder, 100% Pure Norwegian Seaweed (Ascophyllum Nodosum). One teaspoon makes a gallon.
No need to pay for the shipping of water or the treatment of solutions to keep them from spoiling.

I have used this product. Mixes easily and does not clog up delivery equipment. Email: [email protected] Ask for literature.

1/23/2003 9:00:33 AM

Northern California

Can fresh seaweed, which has been rinsed clean of salt water, be used to fertilize plants? If so, what is the method?

1/25/2003 9:54:09 AM

Montoursville, PA

Absolutely. You could till it in during fall or very early spring patch work. You could work it into you compost program. It could use it for mulch. You could mix it in or use it in any tea process you have devised.

Think of seaweed the same as hay or any other green mulch. It is from the living sea. When you collect it decomposition has just begun. You wash out the salts by flushing. What you have left is full of goodies any garden needs. I doubt very much if any single human act of gathering and using with any reasonable ballanced garden progam could cause there to be to much added to any patch.

In your compost which is the end result of decomposition the final fully composted mater will have a PH of 7.

1/25/2003 11:02:28 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

My question still is...what's the differences to the plants between cold-processed and pasteurized foliar spray blends? I have a local Fertrell dealer so I don't have to worry about shipping, etc. The stuff comes in 1 gallon concentrate and it's a pasteurized seaweed/fish blend.

1/25/2003 5:26:32 PM

[email protected]

Some advocates of cold processed extracts claim theirs is more biologically active. As a fingicide, the idea is to colonize the leaf surface with a living nonpathogenic agent that will out compete the pathogenic fungal organisms that cause foliar dieases. The problem is, the beneficials get washed off by rain or irrigation & sunlight kills them quickly too. We need both in copious quantities or pumpkins won't grow. So even though the jury is still out on this subject, I don't buy it. I believe there will be some disease supression, but not good enough for the standards we must maintain to grow true giants.
The reason for pastuerization is merely to prevent spoilage & probably to reduce odors. Some manufacturers are using questionable ingredients (like food processing wastes) that are prone to spoilage. I don't think thats the case with straight seaweed extracts. But since the law doesn't require these products to list their ingredients like commercial fertilizers, we must take the manufacturers word for it.

There may be more to the subject than this. Here's why I say this. I sell a cold processed formula (Bolster by Sustane) that doesn't smell bad at all. Never saw it spoil either & I have one jug here at the house that's now 3 years old.
The material works very well at promoting growth, but I would never have the audacity to market it as a fungicide. Though I've seen competing manufacturers making these claims, these tend to be small, young companies that actually sell for lower prices. Probably due to the lower grade ingredients.

Just my 3 cents though.

Steve

1/25/2003 6:44:28 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Thanks Steve, very helpful. Got some more questions for the sales rep now.

1/25/2003 8:55:53 PM