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Growing Tomatoes

adding fish carcuses to soil ?

12 years ago

Bet you've never heard this question before...LOL.. I fish alot in the fall. I fillet alot of crappies. Would it hurt to bury some of these carcuses in the soil where i grow my tomatoes?Its basically skin guts head and bones.. or would it hurt to put a carcus in the bottom of the hole when i plant in the spring..Indians did it... Hope I didn't ruin your morning lol

Thanks

Bruce

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Comments (11)

terrybull
12 years ago
my parents and grandparents did it. i cant because im in self watering containers.
also they just used the heads, bones and skin but no guts.
riceloft
12 years ago
My mom buried a trout carcass and then planted a rose bush over it. She planted 3 other rose bushes at the same time, semi-nearby with the same sun exposure.

The one over the trout carcass is 3x as big with easily 5x as many flowers on it.

So yeah, I'd say do it!
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tomva
12 years ago
It works really well,but one year I had an animal come into the garden and kill all my tomato plants trying to get to the fish,so I quit doing it.
tokizy
12 years ago
I'm glad someone posted this. I was thinking about this. You always see the planting of the crops pics and what the Indians taught the Pilgrims (my kids are in elementary school). I think I might try it out next year. Maybe I will go to the local farmers market, get all the fish nasty they serve up and till it into my garden. Or just scoop a bucket of chum into each hole. Of course I would be more after head and spine as opposed to skin and guts.

Thanks for posting and sharing this thought.
riceloft
12 years ago
I probably wouldn't just "till it in". I'd bury it at least 8 inches down, if not more, and then till in the fall after it has had a chance to decompose a bit.
barryla61
12 years ago
Heard it works.
I had though about composting fish remains in grass clippings for a year then working that into my soil the next spring.
tsheets
12 years ago
I have wondered about that as well. In reading on composting they say not to use animal fats / meat in the compost pile. But, growing up we always buried our fish leftovers in the garden. So, wasn't sure if it was recommended or not.
harcourt
12 years ago
I do this any time I have fish parts left from filleting. I use them both at planting and around existing plants, without disturbing the roots too much. These are fresh parts that don't have much smell, and I try to water well to keep raccoons disinterested. I find them to be a gentle fertilizer for all my plants, not just vegetables.
springlift34
12 years ago
Without a doubt in your mind, do it.

Dig it deep,till around on top layer, and be encouraged about the truth. I fish in the spring here on Lake Livingston,TX and catch 500-1000 shad on 20 minutes.

I planted around 20 plants in a trench. 10 days before and after I tilled(Troy-Built),I would bring the leftover shad=bait home and just pour the shad/blood/water over this area.

Many ants at first,then it dies down.

No idea about useful properties regarding a 5-gallon bucket of shad vs. a single fish scale.

Take care,
Travis
augiedog55
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you all for your responses. I'm going to try it. I'll dig my holes about a ft. deep and put the fish remains in the bottom and go from there. Thats should be deep enough. I live in town so not to many coons around here, maybe a possum or 2 but I don't think they would dig that deep. they are lazy.
Should be an entertaining experiment.
Bruce
springlift34
12 years ago
I might think about sawing that fish in three, for quicker results. Foot deep, with a strong foot stamp. Do not forget that the tomato plant roots stretches near the soil level sideways, so maybe look at it 1 foot deep, and half a foot soil surface wise.

Ants will speed the process, keep away the diggers, and give you what you may be looking for.

Take care,
Travis

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