[wendycas]

I was talking to a lovely lady the other day who was giving me loads of great tips-I wish I'd had a pen! Anyway she was talking about feeds and mentioned how we shouldn't use chicken manure with onions as it's too high in nitrogen and she mentioned potash. Is there a straightforward way of knowing which feeds to use on which crops and when?
It's all a bit confusing!
Thanks!

[Beetroot queen]

If there is a straightforward way, I sure don't know it. I need a chart showing me what veg wants what for dinner.

This growing lark can be hard work.

[wendycas]

Yes, it's good to hear that other people get confused too! I'm looking forward to the day when I can reel things off as she did! Maybe in 100 years!!

[Beetroot queen]

Yes, it's good to hear that other people get confused too! I'm looking forward to the day when I can reel things off as she did! Maybe in 100 years!!

I will never get to that point, I just try things and see, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
I fed my strawberries Epsom salts without thinking, I had watered the raspberries with the same can. They seem very happy with it. It's all trial and lots of errors.

[Yorkie]

Potash stimulates flowers and fruit so is great for most fruit including tomatoes.

Nitrogen does leaves.

Phosphorus does roots.

I wouldn't use a high potash feed on onions, as they don't flower / fruit.  Chicken pellets are high in nitrogen.

[fatcat1955]

Use a general fertilizer 2 week's before planting your onion's then that is it. Garlic like's a bit of ash scattered around the plant's so as it is the same family perhap's onion's do too.

[mumofstig]

this comment from John re potash and onions

Although, like all plants, onions require potash, the more potash they have available the less sulphur they absorb. Using low potash fertilisers will result in smaller, but stronger tasting onions. There is information on potash in the fertilizers section.

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/onion-shallot/index.php

So do add potash for large mild flavoured onions

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

All fertilisers have NPK

N = Nitrogen
P = Phosphates/Phosphurus
K = Potash/Potassium

Easiest way to remember is - SHOOTS, ROOTS & FRUITS!! NPK

Now - Growmore, Blood Fish and Bone, are balanced and will contain around 5% of each NPK

Chicken Manure, and Sulphate of Ammonia, and manure in fact are high in Nitrogen/Ammonia and are therefore good for Brassica's and leafy veg, or something that is looking a bit yellow, or lagging, and needs a boost.

Bonemeal is high in P - Phosphates and is great for establishing a solid healthy root system

And Tomato Liquid Fertilisers are high in Potash and are good for flower production and fruiting.....

I have heard many times that onions need potash, although it does goes against the above..... but what do I know.

[mumofstig]

Specially formulated granular fertiliser of high phosphate to feed your onions, shallots and garlic through the growing season to promote better bulb development. (6-8-15)

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/garden-supplies/fertilisers/onion-fertiliser/kww2161TM

[Willow_Warren]

Well, that's all as clear as mud now  :blink:

Hannah

[mumofstig]

It's easy my way ( It might not be exactly right, but it's easy  )

Chicken manure pellets for potatoes and anything green and leafy.
Blood Fish & Bone for everything else.
Top up with whichever you used every 6 weeks or so 
Job's a good'un 

[Beetroot queen]

Well, that's all as clear as mud now  :blink:

Hannah

Not just me I need to print off and stick up in the kitchen so I can revise 

[Willow_Warren]

Chicken manure pellets for potatoes and anything green and leafy.

Oooohhhh... oohh... I did chicken mature pellets for my potatoes    (well for some, for others I used some potato fertaliser I bought).

I'm still working out where best to utilised the bunny pooh I saved!  (please don't say I could put it on the compost, I haven't and that's that  )

Hannah

[kentishgal]

well, Im just going to follow the advice of my father (and we always had fresh veg on the table growing up).
Chuck tomato feed on everything!!LOL

[Growster...]

Don't forget that a liquid manure does a good job as well!