When to fertilize (and with what)

[tam91]

My little tomato and pepper seedlings are doing great. They're all transplanted from the seed starting trays (metro-mix 200) into square pots or 12 oz styrofoam cups with metro-mix 360.

They're getting pretty good sized, and we don't plant out until around mother's day. So they have over a month to go.

I'm wondering when/if I should fertilize them?

I have Miracle Grow for tomatoes, which I could use diluted. I'm open to hearing other/better options for fertilizers also. I do not grow organic.

[dice]

Quarter to half strength fish/kelp is popular for this. I used
earthworm castings in the planting mix and dilute liquid kelp
with some molasses in it this year. Others use 1/4 tsp per gallon
Miracle Grow and similar.

About every two weeks (or when you see some yellowing in
the lower leaves) for the liquid or water soluble fertilizers.

Worm tea would be great (this is an unusually low price for
it, though; most places it costs 4 to 5 times this much for
the same quantity):
http://www.localharvest.org/worm-wra...tea-C4435?r=fr

The main thing is to not overdo it. (Fertilizer burn is a leading
cause of premature seedling death.)

[cleo88]

I do one dose of 1/4 tsp Miracle Gro per gallon (quarter strength) when they are still in pots, maybe 4 weeks along or so. I think beyond that, the leaves will tell you if things are OK. I used Miracle Gro seed starting mix for some and ProMix for others - the Promix ones have leaves that are light yellow and are starting to look not so good - I will dose those ones again soon as soon as they need water.

[les matzek]

try dyna gro foliage pro with pro tekt
3/8 tsp per gallon im shure you will
like the results you can get in at www,
dyna gro. com.

i have used it for the past 3 years and
i have not any ! ber. good luck.

les

[amideutch]

This year I'm trying a couple new ferts from Humboldt Nutrients for my seedlings.

Sea Cal 2-0-0 + Calcium

Sea Mag 1-3-4 + Magnesium

And also "Kin-Mineral" from the folks that market EM (Effective Microorganisms) that has all of the micro's.

Results so far have been very good.

Ami

[fortyonenorth]

Les and Ami -

Is this your fert regimen solely for seedlings or do you use it throughout the year?

[les matzek]

i feed my seedlings 1 1/2 tps of
maxicrop liquid kelp per gallon
of water for the first four weeks
of growth than i switch to the
above feeding as i posted above,
good luck.

les

[les matzek]

p. s. i use the above feeding
till the plants are through,
regards.

les

[amideutch]

I'm using the above for the seedlings prior to plant out. Ami