If you live near the sea you can collect seaweed from the beach to put on your vegetable garden.

We pick it up from several different beaches. And try and pick the freshest seaweed you can see. We load the seaweed up in big fish trays and take it straight into the garden.

It’s very easy to use.

Seaweed has exceptional qualities: It’s rich in valuable trace minerals that stimulate plant growth. The soil becomes really beautiful when the seaweed has broken down.

Some people rinse the seaweed before they add it to the vegetable garden. I don’t, because we have plenty of rain here to wash it off. But I don’t think the saltyness affects the soil or the vegetable plants in any way.

I scatter the seaweed over the raised beds. We only use the seaweed through the winter months so that it has time to break down. Over time the seaweed breaks down and becomes brittle and you can crunch by hand and throw it back on to the soil.
If you don’t want to use it straight in your garden then there are other ways to use the seaweed.

Compost

You can add it to your compost bin. Just add layers between your other stuff you add to your compost bin. The seaweed will crumble down and then you can add it to your garden.

Liquid feed

Add seaweed to your drum of water and let it soak for a week or two. Then water your plants with your liquid seaweed feed. It doesn’t smell very nice – but the garden will love it.