Fertilize-before or after irrigation?

Tracydr · April 15, 2012

I have flood irrigation on a two week schedule. ( every month in the winter, every two weeks in warm weather)
With my raised beds, it acts like bottom watering, wicking up from the bottom but not overflowing the top. The plants seem to love it and I only need to add supplemental water when it gets extremely hot or with tiny seedlings.
I just switched from a liquid fish/seaweed to a dry fish meal and maxi crop kelp. Would it be better to side dress before irrigation with the fishmeal and then dose with the maxi crop after irrigation or before?
Or, could I also side dress with the maxi crop, since it's a soluble powder?
I'm assuming before is better with the fish. I'm also assuming its better to dissolve the maxi crop in some water but I have no idea when it would be better to use it for best results.
I'd also like to get ahold of some molasses for a soil drench. Would this be best after irrigation or before?
BTW, our irrigation costs $67 a year. Once I figured out how to use it for my raised beds, it's saved me a ton of money. I had a bill of over $400 a month in the spring and summer on water so it's well worth the hassle to flood my backyard. Not to mention the trees need it, anyway.
Thanks!

April 15, 2012	#1
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Fertilize-before or after irrigation? I have flood irrigation on a two week schedule. ( every month in the winter, every two weeks in warm weather) With my raised beds, it acts like bottom watering, wicking up from the bottom but not overflowing the top. The plants seem to love it and I only need to add supplemental water when it gets extremely hot or with tiny seedlings. I just switched from a liquid fish/seaweed to a dry fish meal and maxi crop kelp. Would it be better to side dress before irrigation with the fishmeal and then dose with the maxi crop after irrigation or before? Or, could I also side dress with the maxi crop, since it's a soluble powder? I'm assuming before is better with the fish. I'm also assuming its better to dissolve the maxi crop in some water but I have no idea when it would be better to use it for best results. I'd also like to get ahold of some molasses for a soil drench. Would this be best after irrigation or before? BTW, our irrigation costs $67 a year. Once I figured out how to use it for my raised beds, it's saved me a ton of money. I had a bill of over $400 a month in the spring and summer on water so it's well worth the hassle to flood my backyard. Not to mention the trees need it, anyway. Thanks!