Actually AJ, I should have worded the post differently. How did they do in previous years compared to how they did this year.
Dale
Dale
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NPK ratio?
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AJ,
Not trying to dissuade you from a proven regimen at all but something to consider.
Plants can only use so many nuits at a time, the rest gets wasted. When we were raising tobacco, and Dad was getting yields among the best in the county, he used a lot of ferts, especially ammonia nitrate. He was a sharecropper: the land owner provided the land (obviously) and barns plus paid for the fertilizer; dad provided the seeds, equipment and labor and everyone split the revenue.
One year the landlord approached dad and suggested he reconsider the amount of fert he was using. Carl was thrilled with the poundage but pointed out that six months after the crop was finished, the grass was still green, even in the dead of winter. He "suggested" dad cut back a little since nitrate especially had almost doubled in price.
Dad did and it didn't hurt the plants one bit, not just in the first year but in succeeding years.
If I'm not mistaken Superthrive is not cheap so perhaps you, who like to keep meticulous records anyway, can try cutting it back on some plants and comparing the results.
I know it's not about money but about getting the best results.
Mike
Not trying to dissuade you from a proven regimen at all but something to consider.
Plants can only use so many nuits at a time, the rest gets wasted. When we were raising tobacco, and Dad was getting yields among the best in the county, he used a lot of ferts, especially ammonia nitrate. He was a sharecropper: the land owner provided the land (obviously) and barns plus paid for the fertilizer; dad provided the seeds, equipment and labor and everyone split the revenue.
One year the landlord approached dad and suggested he reconsider the amount of fert he was using. Carl was thrilled with the poundage but pointed out that six months after the crop was finished, the grass was still green, even in the dead of winter. He "suggested" dad cut back a little since nitrate especially had almost doubled in price.
Dad did and it didn't hurt the plants one bit, not just in the first year but in succeeding years.
If I'm not mistaken Superthrive is not cheap so perhaps you, who like to keep meticulous records anyway, can try cutting it back on some plants and comparing the results.
I know it's not about money but about getting the best results.
Mike
thepodpiper said:
Dale...last year was the first year I have grown so many plants ever...year before last, I had maybe 40 plants total including tomatos in my cement farm. I don't think I can make a fair comparison. Maybe I could get as good/better results without using the feed cycle I am using but because I had such a good harvest and healthy large bushy plants in 2008, I don't want to chance changing this year to compare.
wordwiz said:
I understand totally Mike...I re-read my post and it looked like I was using 1 tbsp superthrive per gallon along with the peroxide when in fact I was using 1 drop per gallon of superthrive....post was edited to indicate that.
The fertilize I use for grow is 3-1.5-4 with 1% calcium, 0.5% Magnesium, and 7% Humic acid. Compared to other fertilizers, this is a fairly low content nutrient base when it comes to NPK ratios so I don't think I am over fertilizing the plants.
I see the huge percentage fertilizes and truthfully, it scares me. Why? because I have not used them.
As all of you know, I am a relative newcomer to growing/gardening as compared to a lot of you folks. I have been doing this for about 8 years now and trying to make improvements every year based on lessons learned from the previous years experience...
I think I said before that I am not recommending everyone do as I do. This is just what works for me in my climate and grow season length here in North Texas.
Pam said:
you can't be serious
yes, the peroxide kills bacteria/fungus that causes root rot...don't use it just because I say I do...only if you need it...with my hot humid weather here during the grow season, I need it....you have to take into consideration the difference in our climates for everything...
, i want to use it because it makes sense.. and i dont think it would hurt.. 
You know Pam...that was stink bait and I fell right into the trap...good on you....
I was going to retort with something that was attached to envy but restrained myself...
I was going to retort with something that was attached to envy but restrained myself...
AJ,AlabamaJack said:
Well even if you are using more than you need, especially toward the end of the season, I don't think the extra penny or two saved is worth it.
AFAIK, the only difference is the dilution ratio. Mixing one pint of 10-10-10 with a gallon of water should give you the exact same amount of fertilizing agents as mixing one pint of 5-5-5 with two quarts of water.
I would prefer the lower concentrates to be honest. You can always apply twice but once you get fertilizer in the ground or on the plants, it's almost impossible to counter.
And as you probably know, I'm an old hand at gardening and farming and I learn all kinds of stuff from you and others. I don't think your plants would know the difference between 1 drop each week or 1 drop every week but unlike dad, cutting back wouldn't make any difference to the plants or your wallet!
Mike
Pam said:
Nope, Cro-Magnon (glad to have you back Pam)
Potawie is right...Potawie and Pam both said the same thing last year...I haven't learned about beneficial microbes yet and that is on this years "to do list"...
Just wanted to thank everyone for their input as well as let Pam know that I am happy with my average sized penis. AJ mentioned that he uses what works for him and touched on the idea that everyone should garden with this philosophy in mind. I think he is right. This is not something I really considered before posting this thread. Granted the info about fertilizer in general rather than a specific brand was very helpful. Everyone is working with different climates and mediums. So...as AJ and others have pointed out, results will vary. Based on TX's response I think I may go with Fox Farm's Big Bloom, Grow Big, and Tiger Bloom. Who knows it may not work out for me but I figure if I don't like it I will simply stop using it. I have just begun gardening and I have many more years to learn things through trial and error with some helpful input from you great folks. Thanks again.
Josh
Josh
Josh said:
Well Josh, If this is your first year really getting into it and you use a bunch of ferts and growth inhibitors and the plants do really well then you will naturally assume that they were the reason why they did so good but if you have never grown without using them then you will have nothing to make a comparison with. I would recommend first trying it with the bare minimum for the first year and if your not satisfied with growth and production mix it up alittle next year and see if you get better results. Pound for pound I would put my pepper patch up against anyones and I use nothing but a little Miracle Gro. (Maybe it's the toxic city compost.
)Dale