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I am a first year grower, and I am confused as to what I should be using to fertilize with. I have an existing garden which I have enlarged. I am adding large amounts of coffee grounds, and as soon as my backyard dries out I plan on tilling in horse manure and leaf humus. I have read about blood meal, bone meal, and fish emulsion. I would like to go organic. Does anyone have a way of simplifying the fertilization process. Miracle Grow seems to have a good balance of nutrients, but at this point I'm not sure at all what to use.

3/28/2004 12:44:04 PM

Ohio

If I only knew...

3/28/2004 8:02:41 PM

San Diego

here is a simple in season fertilizing. Use fish and seaweed emulsion once per week in soil and spray on leaves when plant is larger. Most growers also use a small amount of water soluable ferts too once a week. 15-30-15 is great for the first 5 weeks, then 20-20-20 during the growth stage, then a higher potassium fert during fruit growth. You could go even simpler by just using the 20-20-20. Most people stop fertilizing a week or so before polination and restart up after polination is over to help aborts. Just don't over use the chemical ferterlizers. Jim

3/28/2004 10:10:12 PM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

rpumpkin after docgipe gets back from niagra ask him about going organic!he is very intelligent and very helpful,agrok has a excellent program or check out dirt works they have several good links to help ya good luck and good growing keith barrett also you can go back and look at several of docs old posts very helpful

3/29/2004 12:05:01 AM

Montoursville, PA

R Pumpkin........"I would like to go organic" Sounds like you have a decent garden already. Your plans for this spring are all solid building, of healthy soil plans. The manure should be at least a year old. If it is old you may put on as much as six inches.

....I do not know your personal factors. In the order of importance I will suggest some additives for you to consider. The suggestions are based on a patch of aproximately one thousand square feet. Add about twentyfive pounds of kelpmeal, ten pounds of yellow corn meal and ten pounds of or a blend of the following...greensand, Azomite from the Fertrell Company or Ironite. Add twenty five pounds of a good organic fertilizer like one of Fertrell's
products contining a value of not more than 5-3-4.
...Till this in with your manures and composts this spring. You really do not need much if anything more put into your ground.
...A good basic foliar feeding program common to many good growers includes the use of fish oil, liquid kelp and black strap liquid molasses. Two gallons of molasses will last the year for most growers. The fish and kelp liquids or products that you can add water to a and make liquid will need to be applied weekly. The molasses goes on at the rate or about two ounces per week in a gallon of water. When the patch is full of leaves you need two gallons to foliar feed a two plant patch of about one thousand sq. ft.
.....Most growers have elected to use some insecticides and fungicides. In the purest sense or organic position in theory or practice I have never been able to absolutely eliminate all synthetic products. My use is minimal but not totally eliminated. We continually work in this direciton but have not succeeded. I leave the chemical decisons to your own plans and determinations. You have time to make your own research into many avenues of preventive and other killing insect control plans.

3/29/2004 11:22:18 AM

huntsburg,ohio

Rpumpkin you live with-in a half hour of me.e mail me i'll give you my phone and we can hook up i can give you some info plus how to join the ovgpg.I have quite a bit of experience so i might be able to help.Jerry

3/29/2004 11:51:22 AM

Norton, MA

Deffinetly talk to Jerry. He knows some great stuff on the subject as he demonstrated in Niagara.

3/29/2004 11:58:59 AM

Montoursville, PA

Wow.....now it is getting right down to basics. "Monkey See Monkey Do! :) Now my son, go hence forth and learn.

3/29/2004 1:53:47 PM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

hey doc you the man!you bring the touch to b.p. youre group in pennsylvania needs to electa president you!burrhead

3/30/2004 12:39:26 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

That is an offer I would not refuse!

3/30/2004 12:23:41 PM

Thanks to all who provided info. Jerry I have e-mailed you, and can't wait to take you up on you're offer. If you happen to see this update and have not received the e-mail please make another post and I will try again.
Thanks, Tony

3/31/2004 2:19:33 PM