Most soils are lacking in vital nutrients. It's complicated to get a soil test and then know what to do with it once you get it. It's easier to give the soil everything the plants need in measured amounts over the growing season. This has been proven to replace what the plants take out of the soil so there is no need to rotate crops. That's good news for most home gardeners. This recipe is better, but comparable to MiracleGro but much cheaper per application.
Weekly feed Fertilizer
25 pounds 13-13-13 Fertilizer (Buy 50 pounds and use half)
25 pounds 13-13-13 Fertilizer (Buy 50 pounds and use half)
4 pounds Epson Salt
10 oz. packet Mittleider Magic Micro-Mix
5 cups powdered lime
Mix in a wheel barrel, tossing together with a shovel. Shovel into a 5-gallon bucket with tight fitting, screw off lid. Store in a cool place.
For the garden:
Once a week sprinkle 1/2 ounce per foot which works out to be:
10 foot row (5 oz.)
20 foot row (10 oz.)
30 foot row (15 ounces)*
Sprinkle the fertilizer on the soil where the water can wash over it and carry it to the plants. Keep the fertilizer about 4 inches away from the plants.
*Tip: If your garden rows are 30 feet long, divide that number in half (15). Then look in your pantry for a can of veggies that's 15 oz. and have that for lunch. Wash the can and dry it good and put it with your fertilizer. Then just sprinkle one can of fertilizer down each row.
For transplants begin fertilizing the day you plant or within three days.
10 oz. packet Mittleider Magic Micro-Mix
5 cups powdered lime
Mix in a wheel barrel, tossing together with a shovel. Shovel into a 5-gallon bucket with tight fitting, screw off lid. Store in a cool place.
For the garden:
Once a week sprinkle 1/2 ounce per foot which works out to be:
10 foot row (5 oz.)
20 foot row (10 oz.)
30 foot row (15 ounces)*
Sprinkle the fertilizer on the soil where the water can wash over it and carry it to the plants. Keep the fertilizer about 4 inches away from the plants.
*Tip: If your garden rows are 30 feet long, divide that number in half (15). Then look in your pantry for a can of veggies that's 15 oz. and have that for lunch. Wash the can and dry it good and put it with your fertilizer. Then just sprinkle one can of fertilizer down each row.
For transplants begin fertilizing the day you plant or within three days.
TIP: Have your first application be the most convenient day to fertilize all summer. Continue until the plants are nearing the end of their growing season. Don't fertilize seeds until they are a couple of inches tall and have several leaves. Then begin feeding them once a week.
$$ Just a note $$
In 2014 I did the math for the fertilizer as it applies to fertilizing tomato plants. It works out to be about .20 cents a plant for the ENTIRE summer. Considering each plant has the potential to produce about 20-35 tomatoes (35 in Alabama!) Each of my tomato plants, if pruned, watered and fertilized, can produce about $50.00 worth of tomatoes! The fertilizer is a good value. This fertilizer is better, but comparable to MircleGro but cheaper per application. *This recipe makes 50 cups.
Using the whole bag and both packs of Micro Nutrients (Micro-Mix comes in a pack of 2) will make just a little over 100 cups.
In 2014 I did the math for the fertilizer as it applies to fertilizing tomato plants. It works out to be about .20 cents a plant for the ENTIRE summer. Considering each plant has the potential to produce about 20-35 tomatoes (35 in Alabama!) Each of my tomato plants, if pruned, watered and fertilized, can produce about $50.00 worth of tomatoes! The fertilizer is a good value. This fertilizer is better, but comparable to MircleGro but cheaper per application. *This recipe makes 50 cups.
Using the whole bag and both packs of Micro Nutrients (Micro-Mix comes in a pack of 2) will make just a little over 100 cups.
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| Notice that plants in the garden do not all get fertilized the same number of applications. Tomatoes get the most applications of fertilizer. |
If you have bedding plants that can't be planted in the garden right away, dissolve 2 tsp Weekly Feed in 1 gallon water. Use each time you water. This is called Constant Feed solution.
"The Constant Feed (liquid) solution is NOT for feeding potted plants and trees. It would be stronger than needed if used each time you water. We recommend you apply the fertilizer dry at the rate of 1 ounce of Pre-plant and ½ ounce of Weekly Feed per cubic foot of soil in your pots, and water it in. The Pre-Plant is applied only one time per year, and the Weekly Feed is applied three times..." Jim Kennard at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MittleiderGardening/222455361219630/
"The Constant Feed (liquid) solution is NOT for feeding potted plants and trees. It would be stronger than needed if used each time you water. We recommend you apply the fertilizer dry at the rate of 1 ounce of Pre-plant and ½ ounce of Weekly Feed per cubic foot of soil in your pots, and water it in. The Pre-Plant is applied only one time per year, and the Weekly Feed is applied three times..." Jim Kennard at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MittleiderGardening/222455361219630/
Tina, do you sale your weekly plant food?
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