Liquid feed

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by JJ28, May 6, 2018.

  1. JJ28

    JJ28 Gardener

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2014
    Messages:
    410
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    the best - retired
    Location:
    Sussex by the Sea
    Ratings:
    +772
    Can I ask for advice about which is a good general purpose (specifically strawberries in first instance) liquid feed please? I have absolutely no nettles in my garden!!! so difficult to make my own. If I put down blood fish bone, it attracts foxes even if I fork it in. I always get good advice from experts on here, for which I'm very grateful, and so is my garden.
     
  2. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2012
    Messages:
    7,475
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Cornwall
    Ratings:
    +17,486
    Hiya JJ28, I would use an organic seaweed liquid feed on your edibles :)
     
  3. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    Messages:
    30,589
    Occupation:
    Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
    Location:
    Under the Edge Zone 8b
    Ratings:
    +14,124
    Hi @JJ28 you need a feed rich in potassium for strawberry fruiting I feed mine with tomato feed and once a week with a light feed of liquid seaweed, but that’s personal choice.. I use these for my toms fruit and veg
    Organic Tomato Fertiliser
    Envii SeaFeed Xtra Liquid Seaweed Fertiliser | Bio8


    You can make comfrey tea too which is high in potassium, but it is mighty smelly.! :heehee: I also dig in chicken pellets and let them breakdown a bit before I plant
     
  4. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2005
    Messages:
    47,724
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Mid Kent
    Ratings:
    +84,397
    I'd just use Miracle grow, you can spend £££s buying specific liquid feeds, I do use tom food late in the season, so for strawbs I can see the advantage.:smile:

    I've never been sure about this seaweed thing, it just seems to double the price of something that is basically a chemical feed. :scratch:
     
  5. Vince

    Vince Not so well known for it.

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2008
    Messages:
    1,861
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    North London / Lincolnshire Fens
    Ratings:
    +3,499
    Did someone mention Comfrey tea? I have a dustbin full of the stuff and my tomatoes seem to be growing in that direction :snorky:
     
  6. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2005
    Messages:
    47,724
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Mid Kent
    Ratings:
    +84,397
    In the direction of the dustbin?:smile:
     
  7. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2012
    Messages:
    7,475
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Cornwall
    Ratings:
    +17,486
    Someone doubting seaweed???
    I used to get loads of seaweed from the beach and mulch the garden several inches thick with it over the autumn......results? Excellent weed free mulch, excellent slug and snail control (they hate both the texture and saltyness of it), crops loved it and I hardly ever used additional fertilisers.
    Seaweed is a wonderful tonic to plants, feeds them slowly and surely and toughens them up. Organic seaweed spray is ideal for most everything :)
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Marley Farley

      Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

      Joined:
      May 11, 2005
      Messages:
      30,589
      Occupation:
      Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
      Location:
      Under the Edge Zone 8b
      Ratings:
      +14,124
      Sorry @pete I have to agree with @Verdun it is wonderful stuff.! My friend in Carmarthen has collected fresh and used on their garden for years with excellent results too. Not so easy to get it here so I use the extract instead and also in powdered form when digging over the tunnel.. :thumbsup:
       
      • Informative Informative x 1
      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

        Joined:
        Jan 9, 2005
        Messages:
        47,724
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Mid Kent
        Ratings:
        +84,397
        I'm not doubting seaweed, I'm doubting those that stick it on the bottle, :biggrin:

        Just put, "with added seaweed extract", and you can double the price.;)
        Add to that an "organic" label and the sky is the limit.:yikes:
         
      • Marley Farley

        Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

        Joined:
        May 11, 2005
        Messages:
        30,589
        Occupation:
        Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
        Location:
        Under the Edge Zone 8b
        Ratings:
        +14,124
        Hmm @pete we are going to have to differ here I think.. I don’t and won’t use miracle grow because it is a synthetic fertilizer that contains ammonium phosphate and several other chemicals that can be toxic to your soil and plants and even you. So I feel I would rather pay more if thats the case to be as chemical free as possible ;):thumbsup:
         
      • Verdun

        Verdun Passionate gardener

        Joined:
        Oct 16, 2012
        Messages:
        7,475
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        West Cornwall
        Ratings:
        +17,486
        For edible crops I always use organic fertilisers. Growing our own food means we can avoid chemical additives which are rife in most everything we buy. Agree with Marley :)
         
        • Agree Agree x 2
        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

          Joined:
          Jan 9, 2005
          Messages:
          47,724
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired
          Location:
          Mid Kent
          Ratings:
          +84,397
          I guess you pay your money and you take your choice.;):smile:
          How you know what you are getting when its in a bottle I dont know:biggrin:
           
          • Friendly Friendly x 1
          • JJ28

            JJ28 Gardener

            Joined:
            Sep 9, 2014
            Messages:
            410
            Gender:
            Female
            Occupation:
            the best - retired
            Location:
            Sussex by the Sea
            Ratings:
            +772
            I have tomato feed so will give strawberries a slooch of that tomorrow. Also have chicken pellets so will dig some into where runner beans will go. I'm interested in using seaweed, can get lots when tide out - does it need lots of rinsing to get salt off before putting onto soil?
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • Marley Farley

              Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

              Joined:
              May 11, 2005
              Messages:
              30,589
              Occupation:
              Grandmother Gardener Councillor Homemaker
              Location:
              Under the Edge Zone 8b
              Ratings:
              +14,124
              @JJ28 Not that I know.. My friend as I said has been using seaweed as mulch for many years and we have never seen any affects, such as a salt overload in the soil. They have lots of rain like most of us..I suppose if you are concerned about salt, the seaweed can be spread out over your drive or the like and rinsed with a hose, but as I say they don’t rinse theirs.. Go for it I would love to..:thumbsup::SUNsmile:
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • Verdun

                Verdun Passionate gardener

                Joined:
                Oct 16, 2012
                Messages:
                7,475
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                West Cornwall
                Ratings:
                +17,486
                Concerning seaweed, when used fresh it is better used in autumn. There is a high salt element but this is washed out over the winter when fewer plants are affected by it. I would not use fresh seaweed around plants at this time of year. :)

                Chicken pellets are good JJ28. For me, it is all about "feeding the soil" rather than feeding the plants. Organic feeds will do this:)
                 
              Loading...

              Share This Page

              1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                Dismiss Notice