Yes, may is planting time ;-) What do I have growing...hmmm... I started at the very end of Jan or 1st of Feb some geraniums and crazy daisys, ornamental peppers, dalhias and zinnias. I should not have started the zinnias or dalhias, just got too excited! But, the other three are all very very slow growing! They need to be started around then. I put them under shop lights, so they are all doing ok, surprisingly even the zinnias and dalhias. Out of three full seed trays (72 plants each) I have only lost 5 plants. I have since then, about a week ago started a flat of various types of rudbekia. One is Prarie Sun, beautiful yellow flower with a green centre. Another is a type of double, and I also planted a type that has these beautiful oversized flowers and rusty centres. Two of the three varieties are short lived perennials. This last weekend, I have started marigolds and coleus. I also planted a really neat type of coneflower. it has petals on top of the centre cone. I put those in the fridge though and they will stay there for four weeks to stratify, so they won`t come out until April. I am hoping that by April, I can move them out to a cold frame. Now I have learned about it, I am planning on winter sowing a whole bunch of other seeds. I just got a stand off freecycle. I am thinking of trying some extra coneflower and crazy daisy and rudbekia seeds. (I just can`t get enough of those plants, although many likely won`t flower until next year. I have some purple basil, and forget me nots, and a burgandy blanket flower that I am also thinking about winter sowing, or starting in the cold frame. I also have some green envy Zinnias that will be directly sown in the spring. I have probably spent over a $100.00 so far on seed. I am not sure if I spent it wisely, but I have a lot of varieties that are not the common ones, and cost a little bit more. I figure though, I will get about 500 plants out of it by the end, so, by the time you add up the cost of the other supplies to grow them, perhaps it will work out to 75 cents a plant. Even if some don`t bloom until next year, that is still a pretty good value considering they can cost $7-14 at a nursery! I am really interested in seeing how the winter sowing thing goes. It will open up the door wide on what I can start next year. There is only so much you can grow in the house! So, what are you planning on growing...

Just looked it up. I have never used it but it has calcium and magnesium that most other fertilizers lack. I'd try it for sure!

I was using 14-11-25 last season for my container toms and peppers. Last year season started in april, finished in october, i was using only the mentioned fert and had abundance of fruit (started feeding when the first truss appeared). Ofcourse if you want that *little bit extra* you can always try to adjust ferts with different stages of growth but a simple balanced fert with a higher K will usually do the trick for the whole season. In late september, as it got cold, i did get some signs of phosphorous deficiency (purple veins), but at the time it had more to do with the temp of soil in container then with the actual phosphorous lacking. Also, i've used that same fert for toms in the ground in garden and they didn't complain either :)

On another thread someone said this was not normal and could be caused be lack of fertilizer. My question is :what signs can I look for that indicates I need to add fertilizer??? Since I was the one that said that I need to clarify for you what I was saying. Perhaps there is something in the Texas water that only allows fruit on the lower half of the plant? ;) No, seriously, while it is of course true that your Texas heat will prevent fruit set at various stages of plant growth unless you intervene, that happens to all of us to varying degrees. But that doesn't mean that the plant doesn't need feeding at various stages of its growth so that fruit set, when the air temps allow, can happen. Indeterminate plants grow in stages. 6-8" of stem and leaves and then a bloom cluster, then another 6-8" of stem and leaves, and then another bloom cluster, etc. and will do so indefinitely until killed by disease or frost. So the potential for fruit throughout the height of the plant is what is normal when the air temps allow or when the gardener provides shade to allow for it. And just like growing kids they need regular inputs of food. Depending on the type of fertilizer you are using, failure to supply it at those proper stages results in none or limited production. Liquid ferts have to be replaced regularly because they leach and some use regular fertigation while some use diluted doses every time they water. Granular ferts mixed in the soil are only good for that first growth spurt and then fade away so side-dressing with additional is necessary after each bloom cluster develops. Compost applied regularly as a side dressing or mulch also works well but slower as it requires microbial assistance. Container plants of course need more frequent feedings than do in-ground plants. But the main point is that a one time or even 2x feeding isn't going to carry the plant through the season. Regular, staged feedings of some sort of fertilizer/compost is required for the plant to develop and produce normally throughout it's life span. As to the signs to look for: usually by the time you see any real signs it is too late so just shoot for a weekly feeding of a dilute liquid or a monthly feeding of a well-balanced granular fertilizer. Hope this is of help. Dave