Fish blood from fish in a garden box. - Ask Extension
My husband got this idea to put the blood from fish he had cleaned into our garden box. He havested some beets from the box and they taste icky and sm...
Knowledgebase
Fish blood from fish in a garden box. #878734
Asked July 25, 2024, 1:00 PM EDT
My husband got this idea to put the blood from fish he had cleaned into our garden box. He havested some beets from the box and they taste icky and smell. I do not know if they are safe to eat, and I will not eat them. it is not like putting that stuff in the ground it has no place to go in a raised garden box. I was really mad at him for ruining the soil , can it come back?do we have to replace it? I do not know where he gets these weird ideas.
Grant County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for a question that caused me to laugh. Fresh fish blood will biodegrade in time, but I agree that it does not belong in a raised garden bed, especially if it has a bottom and no connection to the soil it may be sitting on.
Let the soil sit for a year or grow flowers or something that you will not be eating. Smell the soil after a year or more and if it smells normal, I think you will be okay to use it again for food.
I found the following web pages by doing a search on how to make fish fertilizer. They may be of interest to your husband.
https://www.ridgedalepermaculture.com/blog/making-fish-hydrolysate
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/fish-emulsion-fertilizer-guide
Also read the first 2 or 3 responses to using fish fertilizer on this site. It mentions that animals are attracted to the smell and may dig up the soil looking for food.
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-benefits-and-risks-of-using-fish-fertilizer-on-plants
Let the soil sit for a year or grow flowers or something that you will not be eating. Smell the soil after a year or more and if it smells normal, I think you will be okay to use it again for food.
I found the following web pages by doing a search on how to make fish fertilizer. They may be of interest to your husband.
https://www.ridgedalepermaculture.com/blog/making-fish-hydrolysate
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/fish-emulsion-fertilizer-guide
Also read the first 2 or 3 responses to using fish fertilizer on this site. It mentions that animals are attracted to the smell and may dig up the soil looking for food.
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-benefits-and-risks-of-using-fish-fertilizer-on-plants
