A garden is only as good as the ground that it's planted in. Discussion forum for the many ways to improve the soil where we plant our gardens.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Lebanon, Mo
Posts: 59
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Our pond is badly overstocked with bluegill to the point all we catch is 2 to 3 inch fish. The bass and catfish are evidently not eating enough. I started using live traps to catch them and am composting about 35 fish a day.
We've all read about the Indians supposedly using fish for fertilizer. Has anyone else done this? Should I keep a separate compost pile or just mix them in with everything else? |
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brownville, Ne
Posts: 3,290
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I would be fearful of attracting skunks and raccoons and maybe rats to the compost pile. Composting along with other organics like vegetable matter probably be quite a compost pile. Maybe a little stinky though. From what I understand it is best to put the fish parts into the core of a compost pile that is already up to temperature and that will eliminate most of the odor and the pest attraction.
All told, fish compost is a good source of nitrogen if composted correctly. Undercooked fish will release a lot of ammonia into the pile, so be sure your pile is plenty hot.
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there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes. |
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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The first year I had my greenhouse, I used a horse trough of bluegill for my water. Plants love fish water. That is probably the best use for live fish.
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Lebanon, Mo
Posts: 59
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Paul, The main compost pile consists of truckloads of fresh horse manure and one dump truck load of brewers whey. (sp) so rotten fish would actually be an improvement. ha. For years I've been praying for a decent source of manure for our clay,rock soil. Now I have too much and will be adding an average of a truckload a week from a horse stable. That's where I'll be burying the fish. It should be plenty hot.
I keep the house compost in a separate pile. Maybe I should core a few fish into this pile to add nitrogen to the brew. This bin is a concrete sheep stock tank about 5 ft in diameter |
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 1,413
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I would just toss them in the compost whole, critters or not
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 610
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My parents, who came from the "old country" Ukraine to be exact, dug a hole, buried them and planted right on top. They did it there, being Ukraine, and they did it here, being Cleveland. We never had a problem with varmints, cat, dogs or enything else digging them up.
I don't follow the same practice because I don't fish. |
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 278
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I put the straight in the garden and the compost pile , only had a digger once in the compost pile
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Lebanon, Mo
Posts: 59
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OK, I'll plant some under the peppers as I plant them and see if the peppers taste fishy or not. Actually it may be a good time to do a test. I'll mark some plants with the fish underneath and keep track on how they do. The soil in each container is exactly the same and all watered with drip irrigation so should have good control on results. I'll use a couple containers for tomatoes doing the same.
neoguy do you want me to mail you some fish? Last edited by oldasrocks; May 1, 2014 at 09:21 PM. Reason: addition |
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#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 610
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LOL, thanks for the offer but I'll pass, I don't think the postal carrier would be too happy.
Last edited by neoguy; May 2, 2014 at 08:28 AM. |
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
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I have used bluegill heads and I have used shad whole. Just bury them deep enough..about a foot or so...and fill the hole back in....then plant away. It works great.
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Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture |
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#11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: peru, Iowa zone 5a
Posts: 167
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I also bury bluegill under my tomato, cucumbers, and pepper plants. ![]()
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Rob ![]() |
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#12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Fort Smith, AR
Posts: 86
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I put a catfish carcass in the pot on the left earlier this spring after a fishing trip. Wasn't planning on planting anything in it, just figured I could use the soil next year. I said what the heck and threw a few pole bean seeds in there just to see what happened.
As you can see.. It's noticeably greener. Will see how it produces compared to the others beside it. ![]() |
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#13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 1,013
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I can't believe that nobody has suggested a BASS O'MATIC. Mmmm GOOD.
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#14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 1,413
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No need for a separate kitchen appliance when my wife's blender works just fine. Counter space is limited.
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#15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: new jersey
Posts: 97
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i used to put all my fish carcases in a deep hole under the plants. 10lb bluefish were great. always dug at least two feet then put dirt, lime and more dirt. i think the lime helps with keeping the smell down for critters and my soil needs lime anyway.
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