molasses

[tjg911]

since it is not good to over fertilize, i'm wondering if using neptune's harvest fish emulsion every 2 weeks AND using molasses (every other week???) is too much? this would have my garden vegetable plants getting a foliar spray every week, seems this is too much. what do you think?

for years i have done a nh foliar spray every 2 weeks, no other fertilizer.

a possibility if fertilizing each week is too much, could do a foliar spray every 2 weeks of molasses then 2 weeks later nh. but then i wonder, which would be better, the molasses or the nh? the reason i ask is keeping track of alternating fertilizer may be a pain.

what do you think?

tom

[Polar_Lace]

I did a copy & paste of that article, to a text file, & read it most thoroughly at a size 14 font.

It says clearly that you can indeed mix fish emulsion, kelp and other assorted fertilizers - among other various fertilizers into the molasses mixture.

Say that 3X's fast!

It's not a big deal if you're growing outside, as there are the rains that come along just to try & wash it away. And don't forget about all of that winter Tundra that is now going to melt washing out any other good stuff you put there last year.

Just me opinion.

~* Robin

[creister]

Maybe you could use the molasses as a soil drench around each plant to increas microbe activity in the soil, which would improve plant health.

[tjg911]

i never considered mixing molasses with nh but i guess that is a possibility.

i like the drench vs foliar idea.

my concern is over fertilizing. too much fertilizer organic or not is not good.

tom

[creister]

I don't think you will overfertilize if you add the molasses to the nh. I have done so in the past, and there were no ill effects. If you mix them and spray every two weeks, you should be all right. I used to spray a product with molasses in it one week, and then nh the next. Plants loved it. good luck.

[Polar_Lace]

Originally Posted by tjg911

my concern is over fertilizing. too much fertilizer organic or not is not good.

tom

Tom,
Dilute the mix with more water then!

~* Robin

[tjg911]

creister did what i said but questioned because it was fertilizing every week - 1 week molasses the next nh.

i'll give this a try, the molasses that is. does black strap mix well with cold well water or do i have to add it to warm water? i also wonder if being so sticky will the molasses clog the sprayer nozzle?

i ask a lot of questions but i keep thinking of things.

tom

[Medbury Gardens]

I`ve never heard of using molasses before,whats in it that's of benefit as a fertiliser.

[creister]

Tom,

Use warm water with the molasses, it is very thick. I have never had it clog the sprayer. I mix 1 or 2 oz per gallon.

I usually try and find horticultural molasses, as it contains more of the orginal nutrients.


Medbury, molasses feeds the beneficial microscopic life that make nutrients more available to plants, thus increasing soil and plant health. If you are using chemical fertilizers, molasses may not show a benefit to your plants.

Tom, I forgot to mention that you can make a molasses "tea" using feed grade molasses that you would find at a feed store. Fill a 5 gallon bucket up half way, fill with water, and let it soak for a day. Strain out the molasses residue, and use the liquid. You also put the molasses in a paint straining bag and use it like a tea bag.

[Polar_Lace]

Ok, Medbury Gardens; here's the original link at Tomatoville which will take you to another link on the subject that was posted on a different forum.

Molasses, Did You Know?

~* Robin

[dice]

Sugar cane molasses is usually around 5% potassium. It has a
little nitrogen, perhaps as much as 1%, and it contains trace
elements.

It is a good way to boost potassium without having any
negative impact on the soil or plant, quite the opposite.
It is great to mix into compost or manure tea to feed the
microbes in it before a soil drench.

I mixed it occasionally with fish emulsion, kelp tea, etc
last year and sprayed it on. No problems. I read somewhere
that it has a chelating effect on minerals in solution, making
it easier for the plant to absorb them either through their
foliage or roots.

[stormymater]

well, y'all convinced me - I got a 50# bag of dried molasses at my Farmer's supply - $13. Gonna give her a whirl with digging it into my raised beds. May end up getting a second sack to mix as a foliar spray as well. I personally love molasses - cool to read about how useful it is. If it really works against mosquitos....

[dice]

Note that dry molasses is molasses coated on some kind of
grain. Mixed into the soil, it will have a little more fertilizer
value than liquid molasses dissolved in water and poured on
(more nitrogen, mainly).

[Medbury Gardens]

Thanks for the info folks,going to see if i track so down now.

[Charley Gardener]

Here is where I get my molassas
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...ralID=NA#chart