[Kajazy]

Sorry - a numpty question - a friend has just given me a bottle of liquid seaweed extract (I think Vitax is the make) - on the bottle it just says that it's a tonic for plants - does this actually feed the plants (I have several container-grown plants), or will they need an additional feed?

[Trillium]

Seaweed is a feed, but the liquid form is actually a great foliar feed. Mix some up and spray it directly on leaves which can absorb the nutrients.

You would need to feed the soil as well, preferably with rotted manure and/or compost. Seaweed and manure are not complete in themselves, but in combination they will cover a lot of bases.

[Aidy]

I use and swear by Maxicrop, liquid seaweed. A few years ago I did a comparison with some seedlings, 6 were watered as normal, the other 6 were fed every so often with Maxicrop. The difference in root growth was massive, and since then a lot of other plot holders have switched to feeding their seedlings with it too.

[lochnesslass]

Seaweed is a feed, but the liquid form is actually a great foliar feed. Mix some up and spray it directly on leaves which can absorb the nutrients.

can i just clarify, is the best way to use the liquid seaweed to spray it onto the leaves rather than spraying/pouring in onto the ground at the base of the stems?
just like to know i'm doing the right thing.

[devonbarmygardener]

I use and swear by Maxicrop, liquid seaweed. A few years ago I did a comparison with some seedlings, 6 were watered as normal, the other 6 were fed every so often with Maxicrop. The difference in root growth was massive, and since then a lot of other plot holders have switched to feeding their seedlings with it too.

I too swear by Maxicrop. They do an iron preparation too that my raspberries liked - they had gone a bit yellowy. The brassicas liked it too. Kept them nice and green.
I do use granular growmore or fish, blood and bone too.

emma

[Trillium]

lochnesslass, you can both spray leaves and the soil with seaweed fertilizer. Both ways work, but if you've got lots of manure on hand, use that for the ground and the seaweed for the leaves. People find it hard to believe that plant leaves will absorb nutrients, but they will. And foliar feed is the fastest way to get nutrients into a plant. Soil application takes a while for it to reach the roots, be absorbed and then act.

[lochnesslass]

great thanks, i dont have much seaweed soup so will spray it on for more effective use!

[Schubunny]

lochnesslass, you can both spray leaves and the soil with seaweed fertilizer. Both ways work, but if you've got lots of manure on hand, use that for the ground and the seaweed for the leaves. People find it hard to believe that plant leaves will absorb nutrients, but they will. And foliar feed is the fastest way to get nutrients into a plant. Soil application takes a while for it to reach the roots, be absorbed and then act.

So what about things like pumpkins and courgettes? Would you water it onto the leaves or to the roots? It's just I thought they didn't like their leaves wet.

[Trillium]

You do need to be careful with those softer fuzzy leaves like courgettes and pumpkins, but any of the smoother leaved plants love foliar feeds. Though I have heard of champion growers using foliar on pumpkins, etc. They'd spray in the morning so the leaves have all day to dry off. Noon would be too late as it's the hottest time with most direct sun and could burn spots into the leaves. And do note that it's a spray you're doing, not heavy dripping which isn't so great for the leaves.

The undersides of the leaves need spraying as well as the top. Try to strain out all the extract solids before putting the extract into your sprayer to avoid plugging up the sprayer.

[Schubunny]

Thanks!

[devonbarmygardener]

lochnesslass, you can both spray leaves and the soil with seaweed fertilizer. Both ways work, but if you've got lots of manure on hand, use that for the ground and the seaweed for the leaves. People find it hard to believe that plant leaves will absorb nutrients, but they will. And foliar feed is the fastest way to get nutrients into a plant. Soil application takes a while for it to reach the roots, be absorbed and then act.

So what about things like pumpkins and courgettes? Would you water it onto the leaves or to the roots? It's just I thought they didn't like their leaves wet.

I feed curcubit family members on bottles guiness washed down with some water.
I feed it to the roots with an old bottle with one of those spout things on the end.
They seem to like it - when there is snough sun to help - particularly the squashes and pumpkins-all mine died off last year

[Trillium]

Seems like a waste of good guiness  I take it you're not growing the burpless type? 

[devonbarmygardener]

Seems like a waste of good guiness  I take it you're not growing the burpless type? 

I might give outdoor cucumbers a go this year but I'm not normally very good with them.
As for the guinness - I don't like it anyway!

[Ice]

If I feed my lawn Guinness will it come up half cut?

[devonbarmygardener]

If I feed my lawn Guinness will it come up half cut?

That did make me laugh.

Very good.

If you try it and it works, let me know - I loathe cutting the grass