Rock Dust

John3 · May 9, 2010

Anybody using rock dust in your garden?
If so what are your results?

The 1800's book that first started and found out about rock dust
http://www.archive.org/details/breadfromstones00hens

Worth1 · May 10, 2010

There is a garlic grower here in Texas that uses rock dust but not all dust is the same.
http://www.gourmetgarlicgardens.com/index.htm
Worth

amideutch · May 11, 2010

Sure do. Mix it with my container potting mix and at my surrogate raised bed at work. It is mined at a region in Germany that is called "The Emperors Chair" which is one of two extinct volcanic regions in Germany. Ami

John3 · May 11, 2010

Worth thanks for the link - did a quick look and see and didn't find the rock dust segment. Found this quote some where

Quote:

A better yet rock dust comes from glacial gravel or volcanic rock like basalt. Another is montmorillonite. Montmorillonite is a very soft phyllosilicate mineral that typically forms in microscopic crystals, forming a clay. It is the main constituent of the volcanic ash weathering product, bentonite.

What have you used are researched as to the best for vegetable - fruit - nut gardens?

Ami

Are you finding any improvements using it?

amideutch · May 11, 2010

John, It's one of the products I use in my tomato growing regemen. It can't hurt but it can certainly help. In order to test it's efficacy I would have to isolate plants to test so my approach is to try to cover all the bases in one shot and if something happens then I deal with it. So far I have had no problems with my plants.

Ami

Worth1 · May 11, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by John3

Worth thanks for the link - did a quick look and see and didn't find the rock dust segment. Found this quote some where
What have you used are researched as to the best for vegetable - fruit - nut gardens?

Ami

Are you finding any improvements using it?

That guys web site goes on forever and he tells how he uses pulverized minerals (Rock Dust) on his garlic.

Worth1 · May 11, 2010

http://www.gourmetgarlicgardens.com/gardenyear.htm

Worth

John3 · May 11, 2010

Thanks Worth
BTW I talked with a big quarry company here in Alabama and they said the rock dust I want (glacial gravel or volcanic rock) would be in Texas and Calif. area as the rock around here is marble and granite.

Anybody know of any online sellers of rock dust?

barkeater · May 11, 2010

I used rock phosphate dust and greensand for potassium on my tomato fields for about a dozen years. I had great tomatoes but can't say if it helped or not. I had a great sandy loam soil to begin with, but figured unlike regular fertilizer, these would not leach away.

Worth1 · May 11, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by John3

Thanks Worth
BTW I talked with a big quarry company here in Alabama and they said the rock dust I want (glacial gravel or volcanic rock) would be in Texas and Calif. area as the rock around here is marble and granite.

Anybody know of any online sellers of rock dust?

We have all of that plus marble and granite

Now gold dust would be nice.

Worth1 · May 11, 2010

Come to think of it my garden is made up of rock dust and organic material from run off.

Worth

dustdevil · May 12, 2010

Sandy soil and heavy clay soil already has a high mineral content. The key is what mineral is lacking in the mix for growing vegetables. That's where your soil test comes in.

Worth1 · May 12, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustdevil

Sandy soil and heavy clay soil already has a high mineral content. The key is what mineral is lacking in the mix for growing vegetables. That's where your soil test comes in.

Or you can just put the plants in the ground and watch them grow like weeds like I do.
I hate to say this but I can look at soil and tell whether or not it will grow anything.
Not against soil tests I just dont feel I need to do it, if the plant is dark green and growing fast and produces lots of babies then it's good enough for me.

Also in heavy clay the test will show minerals but due to the micro plate like structure of the soil many plants cant take up the available nutrients.
Other plants like pomegranates Vitex trees elephant ears cactus bears breeches bamboo and so forth do great.
Tomatoes and other vegetables not so good.
The reason I know this is because I have both soils on my property and have tested many different plants and done the research.

BUT if in any doubt or you have a big farm a soil test is a god start.
Worth

creister · February 8, 2011

Chicken Grit is crushed granite, which is supposed to be one of the rock fertilizers to add. Has anyone tried it, or heard results from using it. $8.00 for 50lbs.

RinTinTin · February 8, 2011

Volcanic rock (and ash) seem to be the most sought after. In many regions of the world, some of the most fertile soils are around erupted volcanoes. When a volcano erupts, it kills everything within miles, but within a few years, everything comes back with increased vigor. A volcano brings rock from deep within the bowels of the earth which contain almost all of the major/minor minerals.

Like anything else,use in moderation can be beneficial. In excess, it could do significant harm to your soil. Large grit (as in fine sand) will not break down for many years. A fine, flour-like dust will add the trace elements to your soil for several years. As stated in the documentary, it is something that is added every 5 or 10 years. A detailed soil test would be appropriate prior to adding this to your soil. For soil-less mixes, it will probably improve vigor, flavor, and nutritional value.

If there is a gravel company near you, you can probably get all of it you need for free.

May 11, 2010	#3
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Sure do. Mix it with my container potting mix and at my surrogate raised bed at work. It is mined at a region in Germany that is called "The Emperors Chair" which is one of two extinct volcanic regions in Germany. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

May 11, 2010	#5
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	John, It's one of the products I use in my tomato growing regemen. It can't hurt but it can certainly help. In order to test it's efficacy I would have to isolate plants to test so my approach is to try to cover all the bases in one shot and if something happens then I deal with it. So far I have had no problems with my plants. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

May 10, 2010	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	There is a garlic grower here in Texas that uses rock dust but not all dust is the same. http://www.gourmetgarlicgardens.com/index.htm Worth

May 11, 2010	#8
John3 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alabama 7.5 or 8 depends on who you ask Posts: 727	Thanks Worth BTW I talked with a big quarry company here in Alabama and they said the rock dust I want (glacial gravel or volcanic rock) would be in Texas and Calif. area as the rock around here is marble and granite. Anybody know of any online sellers of rock dust?

May 11, 2010	#9
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	I used rock phosphate dust and greensand for potassium on my tomato fields for about a dozen years. I had great tomatoes but can't say if it helped or not. I had a great sandy loam soil to begin with, but figured unlike regular fertilizer, these would not leach away.

May 12, 2010	#12
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	Sandy soil and heavy clay soil already has a high mineral content. The key is what mineral is lacking in the mix for growing vegetables. That's where your soil test comes in.

February 8, 2011	#14
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Chicken Grit is crushed granite, which is supposed to be one of the rock fertilizers to add. Has anyone tried it, or heard results from using it. $8.00 for 50lbs.

February 8, 2011	#15
RinTinTin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 581	Volcanic rock (and ash) seem to be the most sought after. In many regions of the world, some of the most fertile soils are around erupted volcanoes. When a volcano erupts, it kills everything within miles, but within a few years, everything comes back with increased vigor. A volcano brings rock from deep within the bowels of the earth which contain almost all of the major/minor minerals. Like anything else,use in moderation can be beneficial. In excess, it could do significant harm to your soil. Large grit (as in fine sand) will not break down for many years. A fine, flour-like dust will add the trace elements to your soil for several years. As stated in the documentary, it is something that is added every 5 or 10 years. A detailed soil test would be appropriate prior to adding this to your soil. For soil-less mixes, it will probably improve vigor, flavor, and nutritional value. If there is a gravel company near you, you can probably get all of it you need for free.