Fish/Seaweed fertilizer questions

10 years ago

Started our quest last year to move away from conventional gardening and into wide deep beds and organic fertilizers. I was quite impressed with the fish fertilizer I stumbled across. It was "Alaska" brand, 5.1.1. It worked on everything from the veggies to the flowers. However, our pole Lima's did not start setting fruit till late in the season, and it was much less than it should have been. Everything else including the green beans and peas did very well. The Lima plants had a good color, grew tall, and had no major bug problems. I've been wondering if the Nitrogen level of the fertilizer might have been a bit too high for them. I'm considering "Neptune's Harvest" Fish and Seaweed fertilizer 2.3.1. in hopes of reducing the nitrogen a bit and boosting the blooming. We have 3 varieties of pole Lima's this year, so it would be a good time to try it out. I also read about people adding molasses to the mix but can't find the reason or ratio's. Any comments would be appreciated as we move further into uncharted waters! Thanks.

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daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)

7 years ago

I've been a bit amused by recommendations about molasses as a fertilizer. It contains, we are told, calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium, as well as some micronutrients. Of course, molasses is just heat-processed sugar and granulated sugar is *much* less expensive than molasses. Just scoop some sugar on your plants, and you'll get all the same nutrients. The "old wives tale" about molasses is because in the days of old wives, molasses was the handiest form of sugar. It isn't anymore.

But really, is that even a good idea? Scooping sugar on plants? Now there are many ways to get those atomic nutrients. We're also told that plants need "carbohydrates" to grow. Now, photosynthesis *makes* carbohydrates (including sugars) for the plants, and most carbohydrates are molecularly complex enough that they simply can't get in the roots. So added sugar in soil may not do much good for the plants. In fact, plant roots exude simple sugars and amino acids in low concentrations to help promote beneficial soil bacteria. That's a kind of symbiosis. But feeding them with a scoop of simple sugars is kind of like feeding people with energy drinks. The effect is explosive. The sugars are consumed extremely fast by bacteria which multiply quickly. The net effect is a burst in soil bacteria, followed by their large scale death. A much smarter way to feed this bacteria is with organic matter such as compost. That organic matter already contains sugars, minerals, and other nutrients, but in a form that promotes digestive equilibrium.

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Comments (9)

Donna
10 years ago
Typically, you don't need to fertilize beans. If they get too much nitrogen, you'll get nice lush green plants, but no beans. Limas seem to be particularly sensitive. Try growing them without any added fertilizer at all. Or, better yet, get a soil test and then you can stop guessing.
newyorkrita
10 years ago
I use Neptunes Fish/Seaweed blend on my veggies. Fantastic stuff. However I do not fertilize the beans. If you do you get fantastic plants but, as you are finding out for yourself, no actual beans.
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digdirt2
10 years ago
Ditto what the others have said. Legumes of any kind normally don't require nor tolerate supplemental N. Plus limas are much more prone to blossom drop and lack of fruit set due to heat than many others varieties of beans.

But as for Alaska 5-1-1, it is a good basic fert but there are better blends that include seaweed, kelp, etc. and so more micro-nutrients and don't have the odor issues.

Dave
SortaOrganic
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for the replies. Hot weather last year was a likely contributor as well as my feeding them. I also did the same for the peas and Blue Lakes and had a tremendous harvest from them. For a change, I will not fertilize this year and see what happens. I know I need some type of soil testing equipment but we have had such good luck for the last 3 years flying by the seat of our pants, it just hasn't been on the top of my to do list. Guess it's time to do more reading on them. Thanks for everyone's input!
seysonn
10 years ago
But as for Alaska 5-1-1, it is a good basic

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IMO, there is no punch in it . Any good horse or cow manure can beat that. It is basically nitogen, anyway. Even then not enough of it. I have a bag of Ammonium sulfate ( 29- 0- 0-) I use it for green stuff(No flower, no fruits wanted ). Then I have some 16-16-16. Also have some bloom booster type (? 8 -29- 6 ??). I use the first for things like cabbage, .. the later on maters and flowers, cukes.
diepilze
10 years ago
I think the OP made it clear he was leaving conventional gardening behind. Those mineral salts will disrupt the soil food web.
digdirt2
10 years ago
"Punch" is not necessarily desirable with most crops. A low-dose but steady diet of nutrients - regardless of the type of source - is usually preferable.

Dave
hummersteve
7 years ago
I have used the alaska emulsion but was never impressed by it . But in its behalf it may be more when and how you use rather than anything else. I have since moved away from emulsion and now use neptunes harvest fish and seaweed which also contains many micronutrients and is not heated as emulsion is . I have also seen effective results in my limited time of using it this season.

Fish/Seaweed fertilizer questions

daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)

Comments (9)

Donna

newyorkrita

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