Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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May 20, 2016 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: south carolina
Posts: 175
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Fertilizers for odd situation
I have been doing very heavy composting for years and latest soil test shows excessive phosphorus and calcium.What type of fertilizer would you suggest??I try to stay organic when I can.Primary crop tomatoes and other garden vegetables.
Thanks Rick |
May 20, 2016 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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Alaska fish fertilizer is 5-1-1.
That would be one suggestion. Worth |
May 20, 2016 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: south carolina
Posts: 175
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Thanks!!
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May 20, 2016 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6
Posts: 1,582
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Excessive phosphorous is kinda the inevitable thing when you use manure and related things.
Saltpeter plus fish fertilizer would be a solution. Sure, salpeter isn't exactly organic, but it is a natural resource, so at least it's not synthesized. Or, generally just use manure with less P (like sheep), no need to just avoid completely. |
May 20, 2016 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7
Posts: 4,919
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I have a similar soil test result: High P.
Since I am not practicing organic , I find MG 24-8-16 to be a good bet. For organic, I think Blood Meal and products derived from Sea Weed can be useful . Gardeneer |
May 20, 2016 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
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Fish meal. Cover crops with legumes for nitrogen. Is the pH high? Then I'd use sulfur,too.
Any plant material should be fine,especially greens. Coffee grounds. Do you actually need anything? I understand that they figure the nitrogen amount based on inorganic so,which don't always equate. I'd probably use fish emulsion/meal and a little kelp whenever they're stressed and just avoid manures for awhile. |
May 20, 2016 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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I follow the same practice, manure/leaf compost etc...I have found Fish emulsion and kelp to work very well. I have up'd the frequency to once a week now and the plants are really responding. I also found Calcium Nitrate to be really good to mix in the first few feedings, but once flowers start opening I stopped.
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May 20, 2016 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7
Posts: 4,919
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Personally, I would never buy Fish Emulsion (5-1-1) at about 7 bucks for a 32 oz bottle. It has very little fertilizing juice, IMO. It is 7% fertilizer and 93% just water and filler. YMMV
Gardeneer |
May 21, 2016 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
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May not be much in it but for some reason,that and kelp work wonders. They seem to Do far more than just add fertilizer. I notice the plants seem stronger and more resistant to bugs and disease after using.
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May 21, 2016 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Chicago IL
Posts: 857
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Same experience here- add to it bit of molasses and tiniest pinch of fulvic/humic acid- oh my...plants look different overnight
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May 23, 2016 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 903
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May 21, 2016 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 6a - NE Tennessee
Posts: 4,538
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Miracle Grow has a Nitrogen only organic fertilizer from Seaweed. It comes in a burnt-orange bottle of concentrate. If your goal is to raise the nitrogen to a value that will better balance your NPK values, then I would simply add some Nitrogen.
Edit: There's also Blood Meal which is also Nitrogen only.
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Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch |
May 21, 2016 | #13 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7
Posts: 4,919
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Quote:
I will look into it. I might use it if the price is right. My garden soil has enough P, K, Ca, Mg ..but low in N, S, Fe, Na. all I need to regularly supplement N and some S and Fe. I am using Rose Fertilized for that. I can also get Ammonium Sulfate, as my soil test shows low level of sulfur. I have some but running out. So to each their own. I like organic fertilizers concept. but my budget does not allow me to use them.. Gardeneer |
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May 21, 2016 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 7,068
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You could use the Vegetable formula from Urban Farms; but despite having a high level of calcium I prefer the results I get with the Texas Tomato Food. I also tested very high in phosphorus and calcium but found despite that I got better fruit set using the TTF which has a good bit of calcium in it.
Bill |
May 24, 2016 | #15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7
Posts: 4,919
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If it works for you that is all that matters.
What is you skipped it ? what would be the result ? Gardeneer |
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