Question
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Followup To
Question -
Dear Kenneth:

I have never been able to understand the spreading instructions on fertilizer containers.  I have several  small garden plots in my back yard totally 300 sq. ft.  What is the best way to understand the mixing ratios.  How deep should I be digging in the fertilizer?  In my case I have had my soil tested and it is lacking in phosphorus and bone meal has been recommended.

Thanks


Answer -
Fertilizer can usually be added to the soil surface, or scratched in below the mulch and water will carry the nutrients to the roots. fertilizer dissolves in water.

An average home garden with resonable fertile soil should be fertilized with approximately 1/8 lb ACTUAL nitrogen per 100 sq feet garden area (see below what this means).

To grow vegetables or flowers satisfactorily you would normally choose a fertilizer with ratios 1-2-1 or 1-2-2. e.g. such as 10-20-20, 5-10-5, 5-10-10, etc. The actual numbers do not matter as much as the ratios. Staying with above ratios will give best result.

To apply 1/8 lb actual nitrogen per 100 sq feet lawn area, you divide 12.5 by the first number on the bag. E.g. if it is a 5-10-5 fertilizer, you would use 12.5 / 5 = 2.5 lbs per 100 sq feet. If it is a 10-20-20 fertilizer, you would use 12.5 / 10 = 1.25 lbs per 100 sq feet.

If you have many smaller plots which makes up 300 sq feet, you would have to estimate each plot. Say one plot is approximately 50 sq feet, and you use a 5-10-10 fertilizer, you would use 12.5 / 5 = 2.5 lbs per 100 sq feet, e.g. use 1.25 lbs for the 50 sq feet plot.

Meassure off 1.25 lbs (if it is a 5 lbs bag simply use 1/4 otherwise bring out a scale) and then distribute it evenly over the surface. Avoid getting fertilizer on the plants/sprouts but distribute evenly around the plants. Avoid hilling fertilizer into piles.

If you meassure out the fertilizer you need, you can avoid overfertilizing.

If you always look for fertilizers with the ratios listed above (or close) then you can always use the formula I gave you. E.g. look for 1-2-1 or 1-2-2 ratios (10-18-7 would be acceptable, and so would 7-10-10, but avoid 10-60-10 for example). Just make sure the 1st and 3rd numbers are about even and the middle number between 50% to 100% (twice) as big. That is excellent for most vegetables/flowers.

If you are establishing a new flower bed, you can mix the fertilizer thoroughly into the soil. If not you can just distribute it over the surface and scract it in below the mulch.

If your fertilizer is lacking is phosphorous, it is correct that bone meal is a very good choice. If you can, work it into the soil before planting because phosphorous is very immobile in soil. If you can not, then you can also topdress, but it is not as good. Use about 1 lb bone meal per 100 sq feet area.

Even if you apply bone meal, still fertilize as usual with a 5-10-5 fertilizer. I don't know where you got your fertilizer recommendation, but you still need to apply nitrogen as it is consumed fast by the plants. Apply the bone meal, but then fertilize as recommended above.

If you are looking for organic fertilizers,
try ESPOMA FLOWER TONE 3-5-7, BULB TONE 4-12-6, OR TOMATO TONE 4-7-10 (any of them can be used. you are not limited to the plants indiciated).

Espoma fertilizers are usually available in 5 lb bags at larger garden centers.

I have many places been able to find 10-20-20 lawn fertilizers. as you can see, the above is ratio 1-2-2 which is excactly what you want. They are available in 25 and 40 lbs bags and are very cheap compared to the volume you get. Note: most lawn fertilizer will have much higher levels of nitrogen, such as 29-3-4, 20-5-14, etc. These should not be used on vegetables or flowers, but if you find a large bag of 10-20-20 then you can use it... A small money saving secret..

Good luck.
If you have any further questions, or if you find a particular fertilizer and want to know about it's use, then write back. I will be happy to help out again.

Kenneth

Kenneth:

My soil has a lot of clay and I  was planning on adding more peat moss and compost.  I was going to dig out about 8 inches of soil and mix it with peat moss, bone meal and compost in my garage and then put it back into the beds.
Ron

Answer
Great idea. You can also just layer a 2-3" layer of compost, speatmoss sphagnum and bone meal and then mix it into the top 8-10" with a shovel instead of bringing it to the garage, but either way, amending the soil is a good ideal.

Still, after you have planted this spring, use a general all purpose fertilizer like 5-10-5, 5-10-10, or even 10-10-10 after planting. Your plants need some fertilizer to grow on