[raisedbed]

A friend of mine recently got me 6 sacks of seaweed which I intend putting into the soil for potatoes,as I was emptying the sacks out to rinse them i noticed hundreds of maggots in it,I need advice here is it a danger to my potatoes to add these maggots to the ground in the seaweed or should i just make a liquid seaweed instead with some and add some to my compost bin?

[michael brenock]

if these maggots are normally on sea weed then they will not harm the potatoes, different diet. fresh sea weed should not be put in contact with seed potatoes, it is normal to allow the weed to dry out on the top of the soil before mixing it in with the soil. put the sea weed in the compost and use the compost later or next year. There are valuable nutrients in the sea weed which will not be lost in the compost. it is the salt content of the weed that causes damage to growing plants.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

[raisedbed]

Thanks micheal,Think thats the root I will go

[Blowin]

Just out of interest, how big were the maggots?

Big enough for fishing?

[raisedbed]

Blowin, I have never used maggots to fish but have seen them on the tv being used and the ones in the seaweed look excactly the same.

[Blowin]

Brilliant and thanks. I'll look out for some.