Volcanic Ash/rock dust

[montyb]

Finally after a year I’m settled and looking forward to planting a garden this year. Going to try and grow enough to preserve tomatoes through winter. I was reading a couple articles that said volcanic ash is good for the garden. Wondered if anyone here used it and how it may have affected the tomatoes. Help flavour or growth etc.

[seaeagle]

I remember reading that the volcanic ash soil is why the Hawaiian - Okinawan purple sweet potato tastes so good and is not grown commercially on the mainland, Most are imported from Hawaii.

[KarenO]

Volcanoes are pretty scarce in Canada
KarenO

[montyb]

Fortunately they sell it online LOL

[kurt]

http://tomatoville.com/search.php?searchid=3461332

Some good results it seems like.I use vermiculite really coarse grade since we get a lot of moisture,plus it breaks down and locks in nutrients and aeration is better for my containers

[MrBig46]

Volcanic ash would certainly be suitable for growing tomatoes from Mount Vesuvius, which should withstand storage for several months (Principe Borghese, Pienollo, etc.). I tried to store these varieties grown in normal soil, but I was not very successful. I mainly lacked potassium and other elements. I have also not found the chemical composition of such volcanic ash anywhere.
Vladimír

[PaulF]

Unable to access the above search. I wonder if volcanic ash and rock dust is too dense for good growth to happen. Perhaps it is mixed in with soilless mix to help with fertilization. I have tried adding granite chips to seedling mix to ward off damping off problems, but then I have never had damping off so I was not sure it helped or hurt.

[kurt]

http://tomatoville.com/search.php?searchid=3461398
Same Tville archive.

[biscuitridge]

I use it and I believe that it is advantageous to do so,but there is many different qualities of it,you'll want one that has a high paramagnetic level.