Side dressing

[seedcorn]

I would caution anyone using compost for a nitrogen source in sidedressing if you are trying to fix a nitrogen problem. Compost could have a lot of fiber and the microbes trying to break it down are going to tie up nitrogen--could make problem worse.

The concept of side dressing is to address a lack of nitrogen either now or in the future (in case of corn). If your plants don't show yellowing from nitrogen loss, don't need to do it. For a lot of vegetables, foliar feed is probably more efficient than sidedressing.

 

[vfem]

I side dress my fruit treats while they are dormant in the spring, then not again until the following year. I don't add much else to my annual veggies. But I've learned to throw a little more compost when things start to fruit. I side dress tomatoes with crushed egg shell when they start to fruit, extra calcium boost... and I side dress blueberries 2 times with coffee grounds throughout the season.

I don't really do much with my strawberries yet, but I've thought about it, maybe someone has a good 'organic' suggestion for those.

I know some people who just throw all purpose fertlizer out, but I think they may just be too much... and once you over do the fertilizing, you can't turn back!

 

[desertgirl]

vfem-
I added crushed eggshells at the bottom of my planting holes,(along with a pinch of the calcium granules I feed to the chickens). Hopefully this will ward off the accursed bottom end rot I experienced last year. It is very reassuring to hear that you do the same thing!

As for the side dressing, I think I will just give them a dose of my home made compost a few times this season. That should probably do the trick.

 

[digitS']

How often do you guys apply fertilizer (average). I am going to research specific's plant's needs, but about once a month is aveage, right?

You are getting good advice, DG.

Time of year also makes a difference since it effects rate of growth and fertilizer needs. Around here, things start off so slowly with spring rains and cool soil/air temperatures that my starter fertilizer can last 2 months.

If my crop is lettuce or radish, I won't need to apply any more for those plants. If something is in the ground for a longer season, more fertilizer can be applied about 2 months in. Usually, I miss a 3rd application because things are winding down. There's also the issue of too late an application -- this may be a problem with carrots splitting late in the year, for instance.

I don't suppose you are doing much hilling-up with your square foot gardening but putting down fertilizer before pulling soil up around the plants works well for me. Foliar application, as Seedcorn seems fond of, is really a good way of dealing with some plants. With onions in beds and tomatoes in "sprawls," I can't really get in there for any hilling of the plants. Running around like a mad man with my sprinkler can of fish emulsion works well during those weeks of the year . I like to apply it twice, about a week or so apart.

I know . . . it smells funny (or is that, "funky" or just, "bad" . . ? ).

Steve

 

[jamespm_98]

I side dress my fruit treats while they are dormant in the spring, then not again until the following year. I don't add much else to my annual veggies. But I've learned to throw a little more compost when things start to fruit. I side dress tomatoes with crushed egg shell when they start to fruit, extra calcium boost... and I side dress blueberries 2 times with coffee grounds throughout the season.

I don't really do much with my strawberries yet, but I've thought about it, maybe someone has a good 'organic' suggestion for those.

I know some people who just throw all purpose fertlizer out, but I think they may just be too much... and once you over do the fertilizing, you can't turn back!

I added a little "Plant Tone" organic fertilizer to my strawberries about 6 weeks ago and they look very good. I typically only use compost, but kind of hard to do with a bed of strawberries. I have rabbits so next year I will probably just add some composted rabbit poo, well see how that goes.

 

[desertgirl]

How often do you guys apply fertilizer (average). I am going to research specific's plant's needs, but about once a month is aveage, right?

You are getting good advice, DG.

Time of year also makes a difference since it effects rate of growth and fertilizer needs. Around here, things start off so slowly with spring rains and cool soil/air temperatures that my starter fertilizer can last 2 months.

If my crop is lettuce or radish, I won't need to apply any more for those plants. If something is in the ground for a longer season, more fertilizer can be applied about 2 months in. Usually, I miss a 3rd application because things are winding down. There's also the issue of too late an application -- this may be a problem with carrots splitting late in the year, for instance.

I don't suppose you are doing much hilling-up with your square foot gardening but putting down fertilizer before pulling soil up around the plants works well for me. Foliar application, as Seedcorn seems fond of, is really a good way of dealing with some plants. With onions in beds and tomatoes in "sprawls," I can't really get in there for any hilling of the plants. Running around like a mad man with my sprinkler can of fish emulsion works well during those weeks of the year . I like to apply it twice, about a week or so apart.

I know . . . it smells funny (or is that, "funky" or just, "bad" . . ? ).

Steve

I used fish emulsion last year, and it seemed to work really well. I'll probably do a little of both-my soil is a mix of peat,compost,potting soil and vermiculite (heavy on the compost), so I think they'll be good for a while. In a month or two I'll apply some fish oil, then a month or two later compost (which will give my "hot" chicken poo plenty of time to cool off).Maybe switch of between the two every couple of months.

 

[vfem]

I side dress my fruit treats while they are dormant in the spring, then not again until the following year. I don't add much else to my annual veggies. But I've learned to throw a little more compost when things start to fruit. I side dress tomatoes with crushed egg shell when they start to fruit, extra calcium boost... and I side dress blueberries 2 times with coffee grounds throughout the season.

I don't really do much with my strawberries yet, but I've thought about it, maybe someone has a good 'organic' suggestion for those.

I know some people who just throw all purpose fertlizer out, but I think they may just be too much... and once you over do the fertilizing, you can't turn back!

I added a little "Plant Tone" organic fertilizer to my strawberries about 6 weeks ago and they look very good. I typically only use compost, but kind of hard to do with a bed of strawberries. I have rabbits so next year I will probably just add some composted rabbit poo, well see how that goes.

ooh... I do have some organic plant tone, I have loved that stuff since I first found it. But so far have only used it on my shrubs without thinking. I will try those in the strawberry bed for sure now. Thanks!