What did you do in the garden today?

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Sammster said:
Can you explain the application of worm castings and blood meal? Do you sprinkle it on, dry? Do you add it to water?
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Of course! So when I made my seedling mix, I used potting soil, coco coir, blood meal, worm castings, vermiculite, and perlite. For me, the fertilizer is already worked into the soil and so I've not needed to feed mine at all.

Now for you, if you don't have plans to pot up currently, you can sprinkle it along the top and then top water. It's not a big deal to top water, especially since you're using pots. If you were using soil blocks (which is what I do) it would be a lot more difficult to do this without a repot. I would give a reasonable dusting, since there's no need to worry about it burning the plant and it'll just feed over time.

Given that your plants are in a tray, top watering will help saturate and distribute the nutrients and then the tray will capture the rest of the water and allow for it to be absorbed over time through the holes in the bottom of your pots.

You could also do the same thing in the garden. If you ever notice your tomatoes do this, scatter the blood meal and worm castings around the stem and water. If you have blossom end rot, you'll need more calcium, which you can use bone meal for.

I have a preference for organic fertilizers, although I do apply water soluble/mixable fertilizer over the entire garden during peak season (I use SuperThrive which is also organic). I can't speak to non-organic, but I'm certain there are others than can. This has just worked well for me, so no reason to change it if it's not broke.

Also a little goes a long way. A bag of blood meal and bone meal seems small, but it's a VERY fine dust. Be careful not to breathe it in because it stinks lol. Most organic fertilizer is smelly, which I suppose is the biggest downside.
 
Noralesong said:
Of course! So when I made my seedling mix, I used potting soil, coco coir, blood meal, worm castings, vermiculite, and perlite. For me, the fertilizer is already worked into the soil and so I've not needed to feed mine at all.

Now for you, if you don't have plans to pot up currently, you can sprinkle it along the top and then top water. It's not a big deal to top water, especially since you're using pots. If you were using soil blocks (which is what I do) it would be a lot more difficult to do this without a repot. I would give a reasonable dusting, since there's no need to worry about it burning the plant and it'll just feed over time.

Given that your plants are in a tray, top watering will help saturate and distribute the nutrients and then the tray will capture the rest of the water and allow for it to be absorbed over time through the holes in the bottom of your pots.

You could also do the same thing in the garden. If you ever notice your tomatoes do this, scatter the blood meal and worm castings around the stem and water. If you have blossom end rot, you'll need more calcium, which you can use bone meal for.

I have a preference for organic fertilizers, although I do apply water soluble/mixable fertilizer over the entire garden during peak season (I use SuperThrive which is also organic). I can't speak to non-organic, but I'm certain there are others than can. This has just worked well for me, so no reason to change it if it's not broke.

Also a little goes a long way. A bag of blood meal and bone meal seems small, but it's a VERY fine dust. Be careful not to breathe it in because it stinks lol. Most organic fertilizer is smelly, which I suppose is the biggest downside.
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This is so helpful! TYVM! ♡
 
Sammster said:
This is so helpful! TYVM! ♡
Click to expand...
Of course! Spreading the gardening love. Just like I said, it's a bit smelly. Anytime I mix that soil combo it smells like stinky socks, so beware! I can imagine that's why some people don't like to go fully organic since the process is not the nicest smelling.

SuperThrive, if you are thinking of using it, smells like absolutely foul gym socks left in a 100F car for a week. Diluting it helps of course, but your gardens stinks for a few hours after.
 
Noralesong said:
Of course! Spreading the gardening love. Just like I said, it's a bit smelly. Anytime I mix that soil combo it smells like stinky socks, so beware! I can imagine that's why some people don't like to go fully organic since the process is not the nicest smelling.

SuperThrive, if you are thinking of using it, smells like absolutely foul gym socks left in a 100F car for a week. Diluting it helps of course, but your gardens stinks for a few hours after.
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Yeah, but the produce you'll grow will smell great! Fresh tomatoes, beans, asparagus... :drool
 
Morning all. Looks like a lot of us are expecting snow. Blech. Snow tonight, snow next week. Boo. I had to call someone in to possibly plow for this one next week. When I get back from PT I will fill feed & waters & turn on the seed mat in the nesting box as there is no telling when I’ll be able to get back out there. 🤬

I took a walk around the yard, all sorts of stuff popping up - daffodils, iris, crocus, garlic, chives but no egyptian walking onions. 🤔

I am not a fan of anything Miracle Grow. I try to use all natural/organic fertilizers & soils & things when I can. The stinkier the better (talking to you, alaska fish emulsion 🤣)
 
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Sueby said:
Morning all. Looks like a lot of us are expecting snow. Blech. Snow tonight, snow next week. Boo. I had to call someone in to possibly plow for this one next week. When I get back from PT I will fill feed & waters & turn on the seed mat in the nesting box as there is no telling when I’ll be able to get back out there. 🤬

I took a walk around the yard, all sorts of stuff popping up - daffodils, iris, crocus, garlic, chives but no egyptian walking onions. 🤔

I am not a fan of anything Miracle Grow. I try to use all natural/organic fertilizers & soils & things when I can. The stinkier the better (talking to you, alaska fish emulsion 🤣)
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Their organic shake-n-feed isn't bad, but that's only when I've been strapped on time.

Otherwise, composting and amending is the best way to go. So jealous of everything you've got popping up. The onions will be there soon too!
 
Sammster said:
Some of my tomato seedlings have yellowing leaves. Too much water? Can I save them?View attachment 3427022
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Usually I start my tomatoes in little peat cells (the little jiffy compressed tabs that expand with water). Once they have sprouted and have some good leaves, they get up-potted to a larger container - usually a clean quart yogurt container with holes drilled in the bottom. I mix up new soil for the up-potting, and I mix in some dry fertilizer to the soil in the bottom of the container. I trim off all lower leaves from the tomatoes, and when they are put into the container, I bury as much of the stem as I can. This causes more roots to form, as they will form roots off their stems when they are in a humid environment or touching soil. Yours look like they are at the perfect size to up-pot into some larger containers that are deeper. Then, once it is time to plant outside, I dig a deep hole (and/or angled trench), putting some Nitrogen fertilizer tabs in the bottom - Miracle Grow quick start tabs are easy to find, and cover these with a thin layer of soil. I plant the tomatoes deep, again burying as much stem as possible - either in a deep hole or in the angled trench. I think @TJAnonymous plants her tomatoes with a mix of shrimp, egg shells, and a few other things rather than a fertilizer.

Overall, tomatoes are pretty hardy - given the right nutrition. Good luck!
 
Noralesong said:
Of course! Spreading the gardening love. Just like I said, it's a bit smelly. Anytime I mix that soil combo it smells like stinky socks, so beware! I can imagine that's why some people don't like to go fully organic since the process is not the nicest smelling.

SuperThrive, if you are thinking of using it, smells like absolutely foul gym socks left in a 100F car for a week. Diluting it helps of course, but your gardens stinks for a few hours after.
Click to expand...
LOL I raised 3 sons and I have chickens 😉
 

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