Apply fertilizer now, before planting?

zeroma · March 12, 2016

In the past I know some experienced gardeners who broadcast fertilizer several weeks before seeds are direct sown or new seedlings are added.

1. what fertilizers are used? just straight N or a balanced 5-5-5 or what strength?

2. zone 6 here, how soon before applying? I've seen waiting until the early rains are over so it doesn't just leach out. I've read 6 weeks before planting. I've read 'several' weeks prior to planting.

3. what does it cost in your area for a basic home garden soil test for growing vegetables and some berries?

I would have loved getting a soil test this year, but so far it has not happened. I like to know what I have before just randomly adding. But this is a community garden and I'm not in charge nor do I have funding.

Just curious what you all think.

zeroma

kath · March 13, 2016

I haven't grown in a community garden so I don't know if they take care of adjusting pH by adding lime to the plots or anything. If you're talking tomatoes, I generally keep it pretty simple- just dig in some compost and apply a dry organic fertilizer in a circle at least 3" away from the stem at planting time, scratch it into the dirt a bit, water, and cover with a light layer of grass clippings, straw, leaves or whatever to help prevent splash back. Later on in the season, plants can be fertilized again if needed with a liquid or more dry fertilizer.

You could look into your state ag office to see if they do soil tests. It might take a while at this time of the year to get results.

zeroma · March 14, 2016

Thanks Kath,

Well, we did get soil tests when the garden was started, 4 years ago. and even though most people lime their plots, we have high alk. soil so if we do adjust the pH at all it is the other way. 7.2 to 7.8 were the pH rates 4 years ago. We have added a lot of organic matter over the years and have just grown in what we have. It is so hard to really get much change to lower the pH. To make it more interesting we are on a military installation so on Federal land so every bag of fertilizer needs to be saved in case some might want to use it in a bad way.

We do try to go organic as much as possible, so compost is what we do as well as the usual non organic fertilizers. If it were up to me we wouldn't use anything but organic products. But our funding sources have already purchased non organics that we have to use up.

I was just wondering if anyone here just uses a general broadcasting method before planting and if so, how far in advance of planting out or starting seed.

Zeroma

March 12, 2016	#1
zeroma Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 637	Apply fertilizer now, before planting? In the past I know some experienced gardeners who broadcast fertilizer several weeks before seeds are direct sown or new seedlings are added. 1. what fertilizers are used? just straight N or a balanced 5-5-5 or what strength? 2. zone 6 here, how soon before applying? I've seen waiting until the early rains are over so it doesn't just leach out. I've read 6 weeks before planting. I've read 'several' weeks prior to planting. 3. what does it cost in your area for a basic home garden soil test for growing vegetables and some berries? I would have loved getting a soil test this year, but so far it has not happened. I like to know what I have before just randomly adding. But this is a community garden and I'm not in charge nor do I have funding. Just curious what you all think. zeroma

March 13, 2016	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	I haven't grown in a community garden so I don't know if they take care of adjusting pH by adding lime to the plots or anything. If you're talking tomatoes, I generally keep it pretty simple- just dig in some compost and apply a dry organic fertilizer in a circle at least 3" away from the stem at planting time, scratch it into the dirt a bit, water, and cover with a light layer of grass clippings, straw, leaves or whatever to help prevent splash back. Later on in the season, plants can be fertilized again if needed with a liquid or more dry fertilizer. You could look into your state ag office to see if they do soil tests. It might take a while at this time of the year to get results.

March 14, 2016	#3
zeroma Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 637	Thanks Kath, Well, we did get soil tests when the garden was started, 4 years ago. and even though most people lime their plots, we have high alk. soil so if we do adjust the pH at all it is the other way. 7.2 to 7.8 were the pH rates 4 years ago. We have added a lot of organic matter over the years and have just grown in what we have. It is so hard to really get much change to lower the pH. To make it more interesting we are on a military installation so on Federal land so every bag of fertilizer needs to be saved in case some might want to use it in a bad way. We do try to go organic as much as possible, so compost is what we do as well as the usual non organic fertilizers. If it were up to me we wouldn't use anything but organic products. But our funding sources have already purchased non organics that we have to use up. I was just wondering if anyone here just uses a general broadcasting method before planting and if so, how far in advance of planting out or starting seed. Zeroma