Westland tomato feed any good

A._Badger

Ah, I see! Just not hip enough...

Not necessarily true about tomato feeds though - at least, not all of them. The analysis of Chempak's powder type is 11-9-30, plus the key trace elements - which would make it quite suitable for flowering subjects and, with the benefit of the trace elements, would work out better than some of the alternatives like 'liquid Growmore'.

peter_the_piper

I'm sure its good but I prefer a more balanced feed, something like 20.20.20, but each to his own I guess.

Lotus-eater

Don't forget there are the more natural fertilisers available, I have mostly used home made stuff, made with comfrey, nettle and urine.

dogstarheaven

A._Badger wrote: »

As for using poultry manure in pots, I know people do this, but I'm not that keen, personally - I think it's a bit fierce and could burn plant roots. That said, I think it does a pretty good job in open ground

thanks for your input badger. well, i would like to think i can be resourceful and to save money, would it be possible to use poultry manure pellets in a diluted as in liquid form (i know that crushing them to powder would be more practical, but i don't really want to bang away on my rolling pin as if i were making a cheesecake base!). if so, how can i achieve this? you've explained all the various trace elements etc., that would be benenficial to certain growth conditions, but i don't really want to be spending extra money on buying various products esp. when i don't really have the storage space for them all (have my tools in the cloak room!!)

A._Badger

dogstarheaven wrote: »

thanks for your input badger. well, i would like to think i can be resourceful and to save money, would it be possible to use poultry manure pellets in a diluted as in liquid form (i know that crushing them to powder would be more practical, but i don't really want to bang away on my rolling pin as if i were making a cheesecake base!). if so, how can i achieve this? you've explained all the various trace elements etc., that would be benenficial to certain growth conditions, but i don't really want to be spending extra money on buying various products esp. when i don't really have the storage space for them all (have my tools in the cloak room!!)

All sorts of things are possible, but the problem is quantifying what you would get. A box of chicken manure pellets might give an NPK ratio on the side, but what you would have once you'd diluted them would depend on the strength of the dilution and then would change (possibly quite rapidly) once the end product was in use.

The problem with growing plants in pots (especially in soilless composts, whether peat or waste-based) is that they contain next to no reserves of fertilisers, once the initial additives have been used (2-6 weeks, depending on the manufacturer, I always reckon). From that point on, your plants are wholly dependent on you to provide all their nutrition, beyond light and water.

You may well find that a home brew does the trick - but you'll never be sure what you are giving them and as the plants can't tell an 'organic' molecule from a 'chemical' one (they are, of course, identical), it makes sense to me to shell out and buy a packet of feed that enables you to be sure what you are doing.

A single packet of, say, Phostrogen , costs, what - just under £4? The various clones from the likes of Wilkinsons, a bit less. For me it seems worth the cost, but your mileage may vary, as they say.

dogstarheaven

badger: i can tell you loved your science lessons in school! seriously, you have given me some insight in the importance of different feeds for certain growing conditions that i will give it some bearing as to which kind i will go for... i do spend an awful lot on seeds and ornamental plants that it makes perfect sense to feed them well and treat them with equal importance to ensure they give me back the results that they deserve. my potted ornamentals/shrubs and climbers all have JI no.3 but veggies have all been given fresh multi-compost yearly.

just some wee questions to ask.. when is the best time to apply bonemeal to the flower bed? would it be required for pots too? will i need to lime the soil tho' not sure about the PH level yet... (am wondering if there's a homemade test i can do with ordinary household equip/supplies??). i've a few ericaceous plants that need new compost but have considered putting in the ground, as the ones i have haven't really flourished (grown much) all that well in pots (camellia, azalea, heathers)

thank you for sharing your wisdom. it's been v educational to read your replies badger..