Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: A Reyt Tayty on April 07, 2014, 20:54
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I've just been given a part bottle of this stuff. I know you don't actually feed young tommy seedlings, but would it be ok to use a bit of this stuff in a very dilute form?
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Hi taty Most gardeners feed toms liquid /comfrey/seaweed feed when the fisrt truss has set to start fruiting thats the way i usually do it ;) Darren
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Thanks Darren.
I usually only start "proper" feeding after the first truss has set. I just wondered if this seaweed extract stuff would just give small seedlings a little bit of a leg up without actually feeding.
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If you're using ordinary multi-purpose compost to grow your seedlings in, the rule of thumb is that the nutrients will last for up to 6 weeks. As I've mentioned here on previous occasions, I'm not sure that can always be relied upon these days, and I for one will be mixing in a little Growmore to the mix at the final planting out stage.
As far as I'm concerned a 'growth stimulant' is a posh name for a liquid fertiliser - if you think your plants look a bit pale and weak despite having enough warmth and light, I'd definitely go for an occasional well-diluted feed (but nowhere near as often as you would feed after the fruit start to set.)
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Cheers Jay.
I always add bits and bobs to my final planting out mix. Usually some FB&B and my secret weapon, powdered eggshell. We know that blossom end rot is caused by poor watering regime causing lack of calcium. Well eggshells are calcium aren't they? Add a dessertspoon of finely powdered eggshell to each pot then I thought. Last year I had 10 plants on the go in the GH. Only 2 fruits had BER. Both on San Marzano. None on Moneymaker, Tigrella, or G Delight.
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Thanks Darren.
I usually only start "proper" feeding after the first truss has set. I just wondered if this seaweed extract stuff would just give small seedlings a little bit of a leg up without actually feeding.
What you do not want is a lot of leafy growth before any flowers, which additional feeding is likely to produce.
Seaweed extract? What nutrients does it contain? The label on the bottle will, I bet, go on about trace elements and easy availability, but with a smokescreen about any chemical analysis. Trials invariably show very little. Sales are made on muck and magic. It is a natural organic product so it must be good.
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I use Maxicrop as a dilute feed but only after potting on and just before I plant out. Very young seedlings don't need much in the way of feed.
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Use it at about 10ml per 5 litre for seeds and young seedlings going up to 20ml as they get older. I've been using it for a few years and ii certainly makes a difference leaves darker green and about 4 or 5 inches taller at the 4' mark. me and a mate did experiments with different varieties and these results were very consistent.
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Thanks Darren.
I usually only start "proper" feeding after the first truss has set. I just wondered if this seaweed extract stuff would just give small seedlings a little bit of a leg up without actually feeding.
There is some stuff called root it first feed for soaking seeds in and feeding seedlings.
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I was trying to find info about this very question recently and came across this: http://puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda%20chalker-scott/Horticultural%20Myths_files/Myths/Seaweed%20extracts.pdf
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I wonder how they know it's organic!!!!!
Bish
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Seaweed extract? What nutrients does it contain? The label on the bottle will, I bet, go on about trace elements and easy availability, but with a smokescreen about any chemical analysis. Trials invariably show very little. Sales are made on muck and magic. It is a natural organic product so it must be good.
The bottle gives no indication of what is in it, which seems strange. I think it's maxicrop. All it gives is dilution rates for different applications. Can be used as a seed soak before planting seeds, so it shouldn't hurt to give established seedlings a little slurp.