PNW crew: Anyone have ripe toms yet?

[DoubleJ]

I've only fertilized with 0-10-10 Alaska Mor Bloom and only once. It is a brand new, WELL amended bed though. Lots of nutrients went into the bed last winter so, it is probably too much nitrogen. So, potassium is the way to go? Would another shot of the 0-10-10 Mor Bloom be good about now? I have no molasses.

If I were to get some molasses, how is it mixed/applied?

Thanks

[dice]

Originally Posted by DoubleJ

I've only fertilized with 0-10-10 Alaska Mor Bloom and only once.

That is fine. I dislike the muriate of potash in it (earthworm
toxin), but it has the kind of N-P-K balance you want right
now (no N, plenty of P and K).

It is a brand new, WELL amended bed though. Lots of nutrients went into the bed last winter so, it is probably too much nitrogen.

Not necessarily too much, but from the size of your plants,
it clearly has plenty. I had plants like that the first year
after I filled a new raised bed with 1/2 horse manure, plus
scattered alfalfa meal and flax seed meal around in it.
They still produced fine. (The next year growth was more
moderate, with a few inches of new horse manure turned
under in spring. They still got that tall, but not until late
August.)

So, potassium is the way to go? Would another shot of the 0-10-10 Mor Bloom be good about now? I have no molasses.

You could foliar feed with it if you have a sprayer. That way
the plants get a modest boost, and you avoid abusing the
earthworms in the raised bed.

If I were to get some molasses, how is it mixed/applied?

With thick blackstrap molasses like you find at a grocery store,
I use 1-2 tablespoons per gallon of water, and I give each plant
a gallon. If the molasses is thinner (what one might find at a
feed store for a much lower price per volume in a 5-gallon
bucket), you might mix it half and half with water.

You may not need it if using the MorBloom. The point at this
time of the year is mainly just to add potassium. When using
molasses in compost tea brewing and so on, it has other functions
as well (carbohydrate source for beneficial bacteria and fungi).

Some research results on effects of irrigation and potassium
supplements:
http://www.actahort.org/members/show...knrarnr=823_11

The Three Little Birds on molasses:
http://www.gardenscure.com/420/organ...-goodness.html

[PNW_D]

Gotta love this weather - my first official 'harvest'



from 1:00 o'clock, clockwise

2 Ben Gantz
1 Sylvan Gaume
2 Galina x GMG
2 Kimberly
1 Psamathe
1 Crnkovic Gold

[DoubleJ]

Hey Dice,

What about bananas? I have a crap load of those in the freezer.

[velikipop]

D,

Those look great. A really fantastic summer for tomatoes and peppers as well.

[Barnowl]

I just came back from a long weekend trip up here in B.C. and this was waiting for me in the garden... life is real good...

Kellogs Breakfast
Dynnye
Bulls Heart
Tibet
Kimberly
Black Cherry
Amazon Chocolate
Reif's Red Heart
Grushovka
Cherokee Purple
Sweet Million
Stupice...

[dice]

I would not waste bananas on fertilizing my plants. I would
eat the bananas and throw the peels in the compost pile
(or worm bin).

If you had a lot of banana peels that were pretty soft (from
freezing them), you could put them in a blender with water,
blend until they are liquified, then soil drench with that.
It will take a little while for bacteria to break them down,
but they are fairly rich in potassium. And the worms will
be more than happy with that treat.

[akgardengirl]

Denise and Barnowl,
All your tomatoes look fantastic. I am close behind with Ben Gantz. I will be gone for 5 days so I hope to see some real progress when I get back. I've picked 3 Grub's x Galina off 2 different plants so far. I am very happy with the earliness on that one. Thanks Denise,
Sue