This thread started with fertilizer. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good “number” to use as an all purpose fertilizer for veggies? I was looking at a guide on the web, and 5-10-10 seemed to cover about everything, yet, I don’t see it in stores. Should you dress the beds several days before planting to avoid burning the roots?
I have used a lot of compost tilled into the soil and lightly spead about 15 lbs of a 13-13-13 fert evenly over my garden area and till it in when I till the compost into the soil. I have tilled this mix into the soil about a week before I transplant to the garden.
After that I just use Miracle-Gro to and fert. each plant by hand using a bucket and plastic cup.
We use a smorgasbord of “things” but to start the season off we always spread dried sacked steer manure down, then we apply 12 12 12 especially if we are adding fresh compost and spade that in and let it sit for at least a week. Today I applied GreenLite Super Bloom 12 55 6 mixed in a 2 gallon watering can to my established strawberry bed. Then I applied Miracid mixed in the same watering can to my BlueBerries soaking the soil. (thanks Diana for the tip). Next I spread some of the triple 12 with 15% sulphur to that bed and covered it with peat moss. My young bride says if Bully Boy manure was good enough for my Mother it’s good enough for her.
We have a good inventory of different fertilizers both organic and scorch the earth commercial varieties such as the 4 month Osmocote 14 14 14 that goes in all her planters plus she uses Super Bloom on them at least twice during the season...