Posted on 05/07/2010 6:30:17 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232
Good morning gardeners! If you are a gardener or you are just starting out and are in need of advice or just encouragement please feel free to join in and enjoy the friendly discussion. There are many Freepers from all over the Good Ol’ USA that are willing and eager to help.
I thought a little primer on fertilizers might come in handy this time of year especially to those of you just starting out.
What do the numbers mean?
Every bag or container of commercial fertilizer has a three number code that tells you the percentage that that particular fertilizer has of the "Big Three" nutrients used by plants.
The big three nutrients are, in the order listed on the container:
A bag of fertilizer labeled as 13-13-13 will have equal percentages of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium for a total of 39%; the rest is filler.
Ideally a soil test is needed to determine how much of these nutriments your soil needs.
Also the type of vegetables or plants you are growing may require different percentages of these nutriments to grow or produce successfully. Know your plants needs.
And remember small amounts will go a long way. Don't over fertilize. Too much at one time or too often can overwhelm plant systems and cause problems.
Try making a raised bed using old hay/straw bales as your border and filling in with manure, then dirt. The hay bales decompose in a year or two adding organic matter to the soil. Old alfalfa is one of the best. I use it for mulch too because it is so rich in nutrients found deep in the soil.
90 and sunny here in central VA yesterday, low to mid 80s today, may have some rain tomorrow night. Sweet corn is 6 inches high right now. Put sweet taters in on Wednesday, maters, beans, and peas are comin up really well. Lookin good so far. Gonna take the scythe out to the field this weekend and start makin some hay.
We used to plant asparagus seeds on the farm and had real good luck. We had several rows of asparagus in the big two acre garden.
Thanks, more good info. Still too early for planting here. I’ll bet the soil temp is 40 degrees.
“I’m going to fill the cubbies in the concrete blocks with dirt this weekend and alternate basil (minette) and dwarf tomatoes (red robin) in those for effect. I’ve also got petunias (wave ones) to put at the corners.”
THAT is going to be GORGEOUS, Darling! Gorgeous! :)
Mighty pretty soil for being clay. Looks more like 20 years of working it over with organic material.
What are those green things stuck to the trees in the background?
Why thank you! :)
Those dwarf tomatoes are SO cute! I gave one in a pretty dolled up pot to both my mom and my MIL as sort of a pre mother’s day present.
I’m also debating putting some of my tumbling toms (yellow and red) in the cubbies as well. I’m not sure if they need more room than the little concrete block will give.
Thanks to both of you for your observations and advice.
tubebender - I have one of those pH meters that you stick in the soil. I do get different readings from all over my property but in the garden it does not vary much - if at all. What kind of kit did you buy?
Diana, thanks I knew I could depend on you to give us some good advice. I use a lot of compost tilled into my soil along with some 13-13-13 tilled in a couple of weeks before I start transpalnting plants to my garden area. Great stuff that compost. I do use a little Miracle-Grow mid season applied by using a bucket and plastic drink cup around each plant.
Oh, yeah. Lots of peat moss and composted added to that bed over the years. It is in the best shape ever. :)
Those ‘green things’ are leaves. You’ll get some soon, LOL!
I plant a ‘Tumbler Tom’ in a hanging basket under the garage eve. I pop a few when coming and going to & from work.
It reminds me that Life Is Good. :) (I read that somewhere this morning. *WINK* )
Thanks for the reply! I’m hoping and wishing it works out. If not it was just $4 of seed instead of $25 of asparagus crowns.
This past week we have finished (closed) the fence. Now my dog won't go near it. He seems to think that it is a subversive plot to put him in a kennel. So far, no rabbits, or deer, have come to call. But, I've found that the wind will blow my gate open, most likely because of the mesh backing we installed. So, I need a better latch.
In the last week, I've planted broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce -- lots of lettuce, one spinach start, a square of spinach directly sowed, squares of carrots and radishes directly sowed -- 2 kinds each, lettuce directly sowed, celery (purchased), leeks (purchased), marigolds (purchased), 1 cosmos, & 2 kinds of peas. Also 2 tubs of potatoes. I have 6 spaces saved for tomatoes and 13 plants waiting to go in. I have 8 pepper plants ready to go in and only 5 spaces (squares) left. The onions were planted 2 weeks ago and are coming up fine.
This weekend we will be placing landscape timbers around the bottom of the fence on the outside, so I can mow against it, and more landscape timers around the inside, about 12 in. from the fence to make a place for flowers, herbs, and maybe some of those left over veggie seedlings.
We shall also be place a double row of landscape timbers in a 10' x 10' space for my corn patch where I plan to plant corn, beans, & squash using the 3 sisters method where the beans will climb the corn stalks and the squash will spread over the planting bed to keep the weeds down. If my plan goes forward as outlined, this will eliminate the need to provide supports for the beans and curtail weeds around the corn.
Any suggestions for this first time veggie gardener?
I believe in directly fertilizing my plants, too. It makes a WORLD of difference and then you’re not wasting product trying to get every INCH of your garden bed perfect. Why feed the weeds? :)
Once again, I’ll plug Algoflash for tomatoes..and anything else! Love, love, love the stuff!
Nice looking soil in your garden, Diana. Is that some good silt loam texture?
Ok, I might try putting them in the corners of my second raised bed then. If it works, yay, if not I’ll pull them out and put something else.
I’ve put asparagus beans in the cubbies on the inside of the beds, where they join and got my husband to put up the trellises I got in the yard/garden department last fall (on sale! $29 trellis for $7!).
Hmmm, now I’m wondering if my bambino eggplants would be happy in a cubby too. I’m trying to see just how much and how varied of produce I can get from maximizing my raised bed production. I’m trying to talk my parents into building a couple to save them the work. My dad (75yrs) still gardens the old fashioned way. Tiller, rows, pulling weeds or hoeing. Hopefully I can convince him to save himself some work!
Those ‘green things’ are leaves. You’ll get some soon, LOL!
They are peeking there little selves out from where they hide in winter, but it is always risky if things warm up to the point they come out before the last chance for blizzard hits. Folks way down south see it when the ice storm hits and the trees have leaves, disaster.
Your beds are gorgeous.
Who’s the friend keeping an eye on things?
Immature mangoes coming along. There are two different trees and the fruits look different. Should be ready 60 days or a bit less
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