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ny

I have clay soil that tested out to be very low on potash and nitrogen. I have added about 5 pounds on my mound that has 4 plants. I fertilize every day with 20-20-20 or 18-18-21 and water 15 min every 2 hours with soakers. Potash is 0-0-60, whats going on. Do these wash out easy or are the plants really hungry? Growth has slowed, I don't have enough
expirence. HELP!

8/14/2001 10:50:41 PM

Kuna, Id.

Zac, I'am also new at this. I planted 5 plants that slowed in growth also. My soil is alot like yours clay and low in Potash & Nitrogen. I compinsated as you did with no luck. I was told by the people on this page that I had to many plants competing for food. I removed all but two and they started growing up to 4" a day. That may not be right for you, but it worked for me. You may also be short on water some soaker hoses only put out a gal a hour.I us over 350gals a week. If you have'nt looked at my post in general discusion{it's old} How much water. take a look I learned alot on watering & fertilizers. Good Luck! Ken

8/15/2001 12:27:07 AM

Western Pa.

Your slow down in growth may not be attributed to your fertilizer. Weather changes, insect damage, age of plant, can all cause a slow down of growth. Clay soil tends to hold elements, and they stay in the soil a lot longer than a sandy soil. Also, just because certain elements are in the soil, doesn't mean that they are readily available to the plants. That's why some growers have a tissue test done, because what you have in the soil, and what the plant is actually using could be 2 totally different things!

kilr

8/15/2001 7:20:07 AM

Cologne / Germany

I read on some other pages that you find a lot of potassium inside coffee mug or ash from your fire-place or from charcoal. I started 4 weeks ago to collect used coffee bags at my office (7 coffee drinkers there) and mixed them with ash from frequent barbeques. It´s already around 8 pounds! About the time when Potassium should be stressed in 2002, it will be....enough to start selling it, I guess. So start collecting the good kitchen stuff, it might help. Good luck.

10/18/2001 9:22:11 AM