[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Afternoon All,

I gave my onions a side dressing of BFB yesterday evening, but when I watered it in, the bed turned in to a puddle for about 2 minutes before it drained through.

I'm worried that the BFB may have been too intense and it would have touched the bulbs as a strong liquid form, for a couple of minutes and then leaving a strong residue on the onions thereafter.

Do you think this would have damaged them in any way, or do you think it would have been diluted enough by the water?

[BabbyAnn]

you could try breaking up the soil round the onions and then give the bed another (but gentle watering from say a rose can) to dilute off any residue.  It probably isn't good for the plants to be in direct contact with fertilisers but then again, I don't think there'll be any lasting damage.  Breaking up the soil surface by the way should reduce the puddling effect as water should drain away a lot quicker, and also blends any fertiliser with the soil so avoid having the same problem again.

[JayG]

BFB isn't a "hot" fertiliser as most of nutrients are quite slow release, but if you are worried you can do what BabbyAnn suggests. 

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Thanks Guys!