From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Georgia

Hi its joey, and i would like to find out if it is any better to start seeds by soaking them in water, or a fish fert. thanks.

2/27/2008 9:55:42 PM

Tyler County, Texas

I start a lot of seeds indoors every year - tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and various herbs and flowers - and I haven't found that soaking them first speeds-up germination. I do soak okra and beets overnight before planting them outside and I sprout spinach between two wet paper towels in the frig before planting it in the garden -usually about ten days in the refrigerator (spinach won't sprout in warm, fall soil). I plant it as soon as the seed makes a little white sprout on the end, spacing them at 8 inches. Okra and beets sprout a lot faster if soaked first.

Jack in East Texas (Zone 8b)

2/28/2008 1:20:02 PM

Tyler County, Texas

Also, I wouldn't think that soaking them in liquid fertilizer would help anything. You don't want to fertilize new seedlings.

I see there's no edit or delete buttons on this software - so I'll have to be careful! :-)

I garden about an acre.

Jack

2/28/2008 1:26:16 PM

Georgia

Another guestion; is a 5 in the soils posphate level good or bad.

2/28/2008 5:31:02 PM

Georgia

thanks

2/28/2008 5:31:37 PM

Tyler County, Texas

5% would be plenty of phosphorous for me here in East Texas where natural soil has a high phosphorous content. If you live in a pine tree region in Georgia, you likely have a lot of natural phos, as well.

I mostly use Peters commercial plant food (same thing as Miracle-Gro), which is 20/20/20, mixed in the irrigation water and applied directly to the roots in a drip irrigation system. I also use some granular Triple 13 and a little granular nitro (33/0/0) on some plants that are really heavy feeders - like spinach.

Always remember - the 1st number is for the leaves, the 2nd number is for the fruit, and the 3rd number is for the roots. For leafy vegs, high nitrogen. For vegs that make a fruit (tomatoes, eggplant, pepper, beans,etc) more phos, and root crops (taters, carrots, beets) more potassium.

The straight 20/20/20 has always worked well for me, though.

Jack

2/29/2008 6:09:25 AM

Tyler County, Texas

OH, Heck - wait a minite! Your talking about your soil test results! Right? I wish this software had an edit button so I don't keep making a fool of myself?

I don't know if 5 is good or not. On a scale of 1-10, I guess it would be average??? Usually, they make recommendations for soil amendments with your results - but all state extension services differ. Texas charges a fee now - used to be free.

The only test I ever get is for Ph - whether I need lime or not. Our soil is naturally acid.

Jack

2/29/2008 6:16:27 AM

Georgia

thanks for the info jack

2/29/2008 6:51:10 PM