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Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

I'm thinking of purchasing a 5 gal. pail of Neptune's Harvest fertilizer(fish and seaweed formula).
I'm growing just one AG plant in Christmas tree form. My plant will likely be 400 sq. ft. or less.
I'm wondering the best way to do a soil drench.
I can irrigate either manually, with a gallon sprinkler watering can(I don't know a better term for it), or I can run a hose down there.
Should I do a soil drench once a wk., and a foliar feed once a wk.? Should molasses be in the soil drench?
Also, would you recommend foliar feeding with molasses as well? If so, should I mix the molasses in with the Neptune's Harvest. Or foliar feed seperately with both?

Doug

6/14/2004 1:03:02 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Ummmm....YES! To all the methods.

I don't think it matters how we apply it. So long as it's applied evenly, I use whatever method saves me some time & doesn't waste material.

When the plants are small, I also use a watering can. I sprinkle Neptune's as a drench to the entire rootzone & the area I believe the roots are about to grow into (very carefeul peaking in a small hole). Also drench the main vine & secondaries & the areas they're growing into. As the watering can gets down near the bottom, I drizzle the rest onto the foliage. Now that the plants are in high gear & running, the watering can method is too slow.

So....

Some will graduate to a hose end sprayer. I sometimes do this. But my newest favorite method is to take a Miracle Grow hose end sprayer & mount it inline with the sprinklers supply line. This takes less than 1 minute to set up.

I live over a mile from the shore now. But whenever I "Neptune", it smells like were back on the beach again.

I should think that one 400 sq ft plant might best be done with a hose end sprayer.

6/14/2004 7:01:34 AM

Commack, NY

Steve, have you tried running it through the springlers using one of those Hozon siphon's?
Scott

6/14/2004 7:59:50 AM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Tremor(or Steve?),
Thanks for your input!
I have no experience with a hose end sprayer. Is there a way to adjust appliction rates with them? Also, What rate of application do you recommend with Nuptune's harvest for a soil drench, and for foliar feeding?

Doug

6/14/2004 10:35:04 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

No Scott. I'd like to try a more reliable device to accurately dispense through the sprinklers. But even the small Dosa-Tron is pricey. I'm watch our neighbor the garden center & hoping they upgrade soon. Then I'll buy the one they're using now. The way it stands now, since the Miracl Grow feeder is a fixed rate device, I have to dilute what goes into the jar with water to obtain the desired ratio. Pain in the butt.

Doug, Tru-Serve has a fairly nice unit that's a knock off of the old Gilmour unit. The pistol style valve is attached to a nice machined brass proportioner. On top is a black plastic knob that adjusts the finished output. There is also a small restrictor device inside that can be removed to increase output as indictaed on the dial from 1-10 teaspoons to 1-10 tablespoons. These things are all far from perfect, but this is the best one I've seen in some years. I would never use these things for high analysis fertilizers nor pesticides since I question the accuracy. Neptune's, etc are forgiving enough to avoid disasters.

Whatever type selected, make sure to always rinse it with clear water when finished. Dried "stuff" in the proportioner will alter the output.

6/14/2004 11:11:17 AM

Commack, NY

Steve, the hozon doesnt provide predictable mixing ratios?

6/14/2004 5:07:56 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

I use 2 methods,in may/june i use ortho Dial sprayer (from homedepot)goes from 1tsp up to 8oz per gallon easy to use..july to the end i use what scott said hozon siphon..very easy to use....and fast LOL

6/14/2004 5:09:43 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Scott,

I don't know. I've never seen one, let alone used one. I do need to find something better than what I'm currently using.

6/14/2004 8:49:04 PM

Commack, NY

Its a piece of cake to use. basically just a siphon. the trick is you have to have enough water pressure to make it work, or else it doesnt do squat. just a brass valve that attaches to the hose and spigot, and a rubber tube that you stick in a bucket.

6/14/2004 11:11:14 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

I use the ortho Dial sprayer also, it works great as there is a hose that goes into the "canister', and no water gets mixed so you can return unused product back to the original container, just set the dial to whatever measurement that the product calls for.
I use it with Neptunes harvest fish and seaweed, and all of the plants in my garden (not just the pumpkins) love it!

7/21/2004 3:10:18 PM