BB, Lots of good nitrogen fertilizer info in that article. "Would that mean I cut it 240 to 1? 120000 ppm / 500 = 240. ex: 1 oz to 1.875 gallons " No, the 240 to 1 is on a mass basis. We need to convert that to a volume basis. Fertilizer labels, such as 12-4-8, refer to weight measures. And PPM usually refers to a weight basis as well. However, when we dilute our plant nutrients, we almost always do it on a volume basis. Scott's liquid product is probably somewhat denser than water. A gallon contains 128 fluid ounces and 1.875 x 128 = 240, but we need to convert to a mass basis to get the PPM right. We need the product density to convert volume to mass and vice versa. In other words, we need to know the specific gravity (density) of the liquid product. Its specific gravity is probably somewhat greater than 1. Water weighs about 8.3 pounds per gallon, so for the sake of argument, lets say that the liquid fertilizer weighs about 9 pounds per gallon. The label indicates it is 12% N, so 9 x .12 = 1.08 lbs N per gallon. Let's say you want to add 1 oz of LiquaFeed to G gallons of water and wind up with 500 PPM of nitrogen in the solution. That ounce contains 1/128 gal x 9 lb LiquaFeed/gal x .12 lb N / lb LF = 1.08/128 lb N = .0084375 lb N. We add that to G gallons of water to get .0005 lb N/ lb water. .0084375 lb N / ( G gallons x 8.3 lb/gal ) = .0005 N / lb water Solving that equation for G, G= .0084357 / (8.3 x .0005) Hence G is about 2.03 gallons. That's not too far from your 1.875 gallons, but it does take into account the fact that the PPM is on a weight basis. For a more accurate number, you would use the actual weight of one gallon of LiquaFeed, instead of the 9 lb/gal estimate that was used above. And in the calculations above, we neglected the amount of water in the 1 ounce of LiquaFeed. To be really exact, we would take that into account in the algebra. And we would use a more exact number than 8.3 pounds per gallon of water. But we are in the right neighborhood for the dilution if you plan to use Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed. You might want to check my math. I am a little rusty in that area. Other areas too, but we won't go into that. In your first message, you said "I contacted Miracle Gro (Scotts) about the PPM of Nitrogen in their Liquid fertilizer." Are you talking about their LiquaFeed product? I think that is probably the one that the MSDS I linked to referred to. Their LiquaFeed system is convenient, but not cost effective in my opinion. If you go down to the bottom of the page I just linked to, you will see a hose-end feeder that you simply screw a jar of solid Miracle-Gro into. I am not recommending that hose-end feeder (notice that it got low user ratings), but I am recommending the use of solid Miracle-Gro products as giving you more "bang for the buck". Also, the solid Miracle-Gro products (outdoors I use Miracle-Gro Tomato Food (18-18-21) for its higher magnesium content) also contain the trace element copper. The LiquFeed product apparently lacks both magnesium and copper. If you have copper plumbing, you may not need the copper, and some water supplies may already have some magnesium. But in our rural environment I need both, and my zinnias develop boron deficiency symptoms unless I add a trace of boron (in the form of boric acid) to the nutrient mix. I also grow zinnias and other plants indoors, which requires that I use urea-free nutrients that contain all of the trace elements, including boron and molybdenum and I have to supply calcium indoors -- I use calcium nitrate. Plants actually need a fair amount of calcium. Incidentally, although plants can live without silicon, they actually benefit from it in several ways. Rice growers usually include a considerable amount of soluble silicon in their fertilizers for stem strength. I use liquid potassium silicate concentrate to provide soluble silicon. ZM

Please help! Sorry to bother you about this, but I've got dyscalculia (a learning disability like dyslexia, but regarding math and numbers), so for numbers I often have to rely on the kindness of strangers. This year I'm experimenting with some containers of pure cat litter (diatomite/ kieselgur), it's a bit like vermiculite, I guess, but more water retentive. I've just bought some organic NPK slow release fertiliser, but I have NO idea how much to use. -I've read through the above posts three times to no use. The product I have is: 5 liter = 4 kilo NPK 9-2-5 N: 9.0% P: 2.0% K: 5.0% Magnesium (MG) 0.2% Content of dry matter: 88% How much do I need to use (preferably in volume)? Even though I'm on metric here, you can tell me in fluid oz & gallons, as long as you tell me if it's the American or British system (I can convert it via an app on my phone). If any of you could help me, you would make me VERY happy! VG PS: I noticed a couple of places above "#" used after a number... What does that mean? Here it's used in front of numbers, and simply means "number", like #1 is "number one" or #5 is "number five".

I know this thread is probably dead. But, I have to say for the sake of newbies, it's hard for me to believe it's true. Growing from the size of a dime to 21 inches around in 5 weeks? I grew 4 sugar baby watermelons in a half whiskey barrel last summer. Each plant produced one melon that grew to maturity. It took almost 12 weeks from dime size to eating size. I admit that your zone 9 climate is probably much better for growing melons than mine is the Ohio Valley. And I want to add that it was a blast to grow them. Just be realistic about what you can achieve.

Oh Rick Congrats! Arent they fun! I too became a first time grandma July 23, to a 8lb 7oz boy 21.5". They live next door so I get to see him alot. Zachary has been in the garden with me, listening to me talk about my plants. I don't get much weeding done though, he is quite a handful! Again congrats! Tammy