Fish Meal as fertilizer

[Labradors2]

I couldn't resist buying some Menhaden fish meal (7-3-1) today.

They didn't have anything like Tomato Tone for me to compare it with in the store, but I figured that the nitrogen amount looked good for seedlings at least.

I'm planning on growing at least 5 tomato plants in containers this year so I guess I have to add some fertilizer to the Pro-mix.

Could I start them off with the fish meal and then add something with more Phosphorous later on? Any suggestions? I'm new to growing tomatoes in containers (without using Miracle Grow)!

Linda

[henry]

Ground fish bone, 3 16 0 should work.

[Hermitian]

What you are short on for tomatoes is Potash. As a natural source, you could consider Potassium Sulfate or Sul-Po-Mag. The latter will acidify your soil to a greater extent than the former. So if your water supply and soil is already acidic, choose the Potassium Sulfate.

Here are some mixing ratios for you:
For each pound of 7-3-1 Fish add 1/2 pound of Sul-Po-Mag,
OR
For each pound of 7-3-1 Fish add 1/5 pound of Potassium Sulfate.

[Labradors2]

Thanks very much Richard,

I get Potassium and Phosphorous mixed up.

The Sul-po-mag (0-0-22) looks good! We live in Limestone City and have incredibly hard well water, so presumably it is alkaline.

Linda

[Labradors2]

Thanks Henry,

As I said, I get my P's and K's mixed up it seems - sigh!

It seems odd that the ground fish bone is so high in potassium and the Menhaden fish meal fertilizer that I bought isn't - and is supposedly a very bony fish. Maybe those little tiny bones don't count for much, nutrition-wise!

Linda

Originally Posted by henry

Ground fish bone, 3 16 0 should work.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Thanks Henry,

As I said, I get my P's and K's mixed up it seems - sigh!

It seems odd that the ground fish bone is so high in potassium and the Menhaden fish meal fertilizer that I bought isn't - and is supposedly a very bony fish. Maybe those little tiny bones don't count for much, nutrition-wise!

Linda

Think like this, Gas N, Mineral P, Metal K.
Another thing that confuses people is that potash or potassium are not really the same thing.
Potassium is an element and potash is what you can get potassium from.
The term potash comes from soaking burned plant ashes in a pot with water.

So K=kettle=metal=pot,=potash,=K=elemental designation.
Just an idea to help from getting them mixed up.
This is how my warped mind remembers things.

Worth

[Labradors2]

Good one Worth!

I can identify with that and will use it from now on .

Thanks,
Linda

Originally Posted by Worth1

Think like this, Gas N, Mineral P, Metal K.
Another thing that confuses people is that potash or potassium are not really the same thing.
Potassium is an element and potash is what you can get potassium from.
The term potash comes from soaking burned plant ashes in a pot with water.

So K=kettle=metal=pot,=potash,=K=elemental designation.
Just an idea to help from getting them mixed up.
This is how my warped mind remembers things.

Worth