Feeding - 3 questions from a newbie

Hi All. What are the rules of feeding ANY plants.

1 When you sow seed you just use plain old water, Once the plant begins to bud/flower is that when you start to use the various feeds available?

2 When watering should you always water around the seedling/plant rather than over the plant?

3 When do you stop feeding?

I hope you don't mind 3 questions in one post.

Thank you all.

 

Veggie, 1,assuming you are sowing the seed in trays, before sowing you should water the compost and let it soak away. Then sow your seed, cover with compost but do not water. 2, Always water the compost not the plant, plants absorb moisture through the roots, ideally keep the compost moist but not wet. 3, while you are " growing plants on ", that is, getting them to a size where they can go into thier final position, I would not feed them. Because you are repotting them there should be enough nutrient in the compost to sustain them.When you stop feeding depends on what you are growing. Annuals in containers and baskets should be given a weak feed twice a day until they are ready for the compost bin, perennials and shrubs in the ground should be fed weekly until the autumn. These are only general rules.

 

i agree with David, but feed twice a day David? id say water twice daily depending on weather and feed weekly for container plants. Of course when planting up a container there is slow released fertiliser which you mix in with the compost and that should last about 6 weeks.I would say that theres only need to feed containers once weekly with liquid feed and those in the ground once in the spring when new groth starts, but i might be wrong.what do others think?

 

im of course talking about non veg i suppose maybe thats why i dont do too well i will follow Davids suggestion this year and see wht happens

 

I agree Aster,i feed once a week ..I think David meant week not day...

 

No, David means twice a day with a weak mix. You will find your plants improve tenfold.

 

David I haven't got the time

 

My money is on the Welshman. :D

 

David - I am sure you are right. However well most of us try I am sure that we underwater and underfeed much of the time. I have seen some incredible plant specimens, that are way beyond my ability.

But can you over-feed, and what are the signs?

 

How do you manage to feed 20 or more pote twice a day? I can cope with once a day as a retired 'hobby gardener' but never twice - I must have time for eating and drinking as well as the golf course now and again.

Am I missing something..........?

 

Okay, now, in the summer it is normal practice to water containers and baskets twice a day. That`s 14 times a week. Wether you are busy or not Dee. If you feed just once a week, that means that for other the other 13 waterings all you are doing is helping to leach out those nutrients. If, however, you give a weak feed every time you water, then those nutrients will not be lost. If you are dubious about what strength you should use then go for 1 quarter of the recommended dose. I, personally would go for 1 half of the recommended dose.

[ 06. January 2008, 11:02 AM: Message edited by: daitheplant ]

 

Okay, "now" in the summer, David ... what country have you suddenly moved to, pray tell? We are not even "summer" here.

 

Ref question 1:

Until the seedlings are at the two week stage imo best to use tap water as oposed to water but water in order to help prevent the seeds moulding/ rot.

 

I`m sorry LOL there should have been a comma after now. It should have read, "Okay, now, in the blah blah. Sorry LOL won`t do it again. :D

 

Promises, promises ...