seedstarter w/o fertilizer

LoreD · March 17, 2007

It was my understanding that the seed has all it needs as far as nutrition so adding fertilizer would be counterproductive. I use Hoffman's seedstarter that does not have fertilizer. When I get the first true leaves I transplant the soil blocks and use a potting mix that has fertilizer.

When I initially used a small amount of fertilizer in the seedstarter I got explosive growth. Huge leggy things that grew way too fast.

Do other people have the same experience?

Lored

**mdvpc** · March 17, 2007

Depends of what kind of fertilizer.

melody · March 18, 2007

I give my seedlings weak fish emulsion when I transplant from the cells to pots. Nothing in the seed starting mix. They also get fish emulsion when I transplant to the garden.

**mdvpc** · March 18, 2007

Melody-some fish emulsion has a lot of nitrogen. I am not that familiar with it since my wife has forbidden use of it! But you might check the nitrogen content.

melody · March 18, 2007

I use a VERY weak solution...can't tell you the brand just now...it's out in the detached garage....away from living quarters....

feldon30 · March 18, 2007

My extra seedlings that are still in 4" pots pretty much stopped growing, so that tells me they need some fert.

Suze · March 18, 2007

I use those large compressed bales of Pro-Mix for seedstarting; it doesn't have any added nutrients at all other than some limestone for ph balance, so I use a seaweed emulsion at about 1/4 - 1/3 strength for the first watering needed after germination.

Because I neglected to include that step in my seedstarting this year, my seedlings grew much slower than they did in the past. There was some minor yellowing as well; took me a while to figure out what I did wrong. Once I fed them, they perked up.

What kind and how much fertilizer did you use?

DavidinCT · March 19, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suze

. . .There was some minor yellowing as well; took me a while to figure out what I did wrong. Once I fed them, they perked up . . .

Appreciate the post as I think that is my problem . Growth was good with just the Pro-Mix but two days ago the Early Girls started to yellow. Take a look:

Orange Pixies on the left, Yellow Canarys in the middle are doing OK but the EGs are washed out and the Matina, Glacier and Kimberly next to the EGs are looking droopy. Just watered them so I suppose it is better to let them dry out before hitting them with fertilizer?

Earl · March 18, 2007

My early tomato plants, the ones still all jammed up together in the fertilizerless seed starting mix all look better than the ones I transplanted into 4 inch pots with fertilizer in the potting mix. If I remember to do it I'll take some pics tomorrow and post them.

michael johnson · March 19, 2007

Can somone please tell me- exactly what is fish emulsion and what is its estimated NPK rating, it sounds very good stuff as lots of you are often relating to it, but over here in the UK we do not seem to have any for sale.

We have fish,blood, and bone granulated fertiliser, we also have lots of seaweed liquid mixes, but no fish emulsion, ???

Suze · March 19, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael johnson

Can somone please tell me- exactly what is fish emulsion and what is its estimated NPK rating, it sounds very good stuff as lots of you are often relating to it, but over here in the UK we do not seem to have any for sale.

We have fish,blood, and bone granulated fertiliser, we also have lots of seaweed liquid mixes, but no fish emulsion, ???

Michael, fish emulsions tend to have rather low NPK numbers overall, but usually have a proportionally higher amount of N. A common ratio for fish emulsion would be 5-1-1. From what I gather about how fish emulsion is made, it seems to generally be a liquidified byproduct of fish that are processed for meal and/or fish oil.

Personally, I tend to prefer seaweed emulsion myself as it is more NPK balanced, and I have three cats. Don't want them to take a special interest in my seedlings.

LoreD · March 19, 2007

I bought some kelp meal this year would that work better when I transplant than a weak fish emulsion?

LoreD

feldon30 · March 19, 2007

A seafood emulsion. Is that like fish stock?

Some people like seaweed (kelp), some people like fish. Generally on my seedlings I use kelp. Then later on I use fish. Not really sure why. One of those gardening things that can't be explained. hehe

melody · March 19, 2007

My fish emulsion is 5-1-1...and smells like a cannery. I dilute it 1 scant teaspoon to a gallon of water for seedlings. The dog thinks it's grand, and wants to roll in my tomato plants.

It does have a high nitrogen content...but I use it sparingly.

montanamato · March 20, 2007

In 20 years I have not used a fertilizer of any type on seedlings...When they start to look lighter green, it is generally about time to plant them in the ground...I know there are different situations and sometimes weather etc., might prevent planting out on time, but I have found the plants will green up and take off pretty fast again...Seems a lot more trouble is caused by over fertilizing and watering than plain neglect...I will admit I tried a seaweed foliar spray 2 years ago...Don't know if it helped , but I guess I felt better for doing it...

Jeanne

March 17, 2007	#1
LoreD Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 306	seedstarter w/o fertilizer It was my understanding that the seed has all it needs as far as nutrition so adding fertilizer would be counterproductive. I use Hoffman's seedstarter that does not have fertilizer. When I get the first true leaves I transplant the soil blocks and use a potting mix that has fertilizer. When I initially used a small amount of fertilizer in the seedstarter I got explosive growth. Huge leggy things that grew way too fast. Do other people have the same experience? Lored __________________ Its not what you get to keep in life, its what you get to give away.

March 17, 2007	#2
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Depends of what kind of fertilizer. __________________ Michael

March 18, 2007	#4
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Melody-some fish emulsion has a lot of nitrogen. I am not that familiar with it since my wife has forbidden use of it! But you might check the nitrogen content. __________________ Michael

March 19, 2007	#12
LoreD Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 306	I bought some kelp meal this year would that work better when I transplant than a weak fish emulsion? LoreD __________________ Its not what you get to keep in life, its what you get to give away. Last edited by LoreD; March 20, 2007 at 08:19 AM.

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March 18, 2007	#3
melody Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 162	I give my seedlings weak fish emulsion when I transplant from the cells to pots. Nothing in the seed starting mix. They also get fish emulsion when I transplant to the garden.

March 18, 2007	#6
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	My extra seedlings that are still in 4" pots pretty much stopped growing, so that tells me they need some fert.

March 18, 2007	#7
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	I use those large compressed bales of Pro-Mix for seedstarting; it doesn't have any added nutrients at all other than some limestone for ph balance, so I use a seaweed emulsion at about 1/4 - 1/3 strength for the first watering needed after germination. Because I neglected to include that step in my seedstarting this year, my seedlings grew much slower than they did in the past. There was some minor yellowing as well; took me a while to figure out what I did wrong. Once I fed them, they perked up. What kind and how much fertilizer did you use?

March 18, 2007	#9
Earl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,278	My early tomato plants, the ones still all jammed up together in the fertilizerless seed starting mix all look better than the ones I transplanted into 4 inch pots with fertilizer in the potting mix. If I remember to do it I'll take some pics tomorrow and post them.

March 19, 2007	#10
michael johnson Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK. Posts: 960	Can somone please tell me- exactly what is fish emulsion and what is its estimated NPK rating, it sounds very good stuff as lots of you are often relating to it, but over here in the UK we do not seem to have any for sale. We have fish,blood, and bone granulated fertiliser, we also have lots of seaweed liquid mixes, but no fish emulsion, ???

March 20, 2007	#15
montanamato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 1,038	In 20 years I have not used a fertilizer of any type on seedlings...When they start to look lighter green, it is generally about time to plant them in the ground...I know there are different situations and sometimes weather etc., might prevent planting out on time, but I have found the plants will green up and take off pretty fast again...Seems a lot more trouble is caused by over fertilizing and watering than plain neglect...I will admit I tried a seaweed foliar spray 2 years ago...Don't know if it helped , but I guess I felt better for doing it... Jeanne