I guess I should start out by explaining the term "heaver feeder." In garden-speak, a heavy feeder is a plant variety that requires more nutrients than your average plant. For this article I'm talking veggies. If you're growing a veggie garden or
you've ever grown a garden then you probably know that nutrients are
very important. Sun and soil are important as well (and SEEDS) but
nutrients also play an integral role in plant health. Most "all-in-one" type of fertilizers
have an "NPK" rating. NPK stands for Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium
(potash). What does each nutrient do? In addition to other properties,
Nitrogen helps plant foliage to grow strong. Phosphorous helps roots and flowers grow and develop. Potassium (Potash) is important for overall plant health.
For step-by-step growing instructions, feel free to check out my Growing Tips & Videos page. There is a wealth of info available!
The classifications below are based on having fertile soil at the start. If you have sandy soil or clay soil, amending the soil is important.
Heavy Feeders include Asparagus, Broccoli, Celery, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Melons, Okra, Peppers, Pumpkins, Squash and Tomatoes.
For heavy feeders, work your organic nutrients into the soil approx 3 weeks before planting. If you have already planted, making your own liquid feed is very easy with the right nutrients.
For Eggplant, Peppers, Squash and Tomatoes I usually fertilize every 3-4
weeks, with the first fertilization at planting for the first 9 weeks. Each variety of nutrients will have their own set of instruction. The organic nutrients I use call for approx 1 tablespoon at a time. During the approx 9 weeks I side-dress with homemade compost, compost tea or DIY Alfalfa Tea fertilizer for one or all of the "feedings."
Be careful not to fertilize too close the the stem or base of your plant. Nutrients should be applied at the "drip-line" of the plant to keep from burning your plant.
Moderate Feeders include Beans, Bok Choy, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, GREENS: Kale, Lettuce, Spinach and Swiss Chard.
Beets, Carrots, Leeks, Onions, Radish and Rutabaga are all light feeders. If your radish grows spindly then it needs calcium. Otherwise, just make sure your soil is fertile and you should be good to go.
For moderate and light feeders, work your organic nutrients into the
soil approximately 3 weeks before planting. If you have already planted,
making your own liquid feed is very easy.
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Part 1 of Using Seaweed in the Garden was posted back in July 2011. I thought it would be nice to go into more detail about the Why and the How of using seaweed as a natural fertilizer (and more).
Seaweed has many uses but I'm going to talk about using seaweed for Fertilizer, Mulch, Pest Control and Compost Activator.
Fertilizer Seaweed tea is simple and easy to make. It can be stored up to 3 month but is best used within 4 weeks. Seaweed contains trace elements and minerals and is a Nitrogen-rich soil amendment. Use seaweed for those heavy feeders such as Tomatoes, Peppers and Squash.
Mulch I use all types of organic material for mulch such as dry leaves, store-bought bark (mulch) and seaweed. Once I have used up the last of my tea, the rest gets used as mulch around my tomatoes. Mulch is important to keep down the weeds, retain moisture, protects close to the surface roots, all while providing nutrients to the plant as the mulch breaks down.
Pest Control While using seaweed hasn't kept the neighborhood cats out of my garden, I have very little snails or slugs. For natural pest control I also use companion planting for an all around happy garden (and happy bees).
Compost Activator If you have a compost pile of bin, seaweed is your friend. What is Compost? was also posted July 2011 and is a great starting point for new gardeners. "Compost is a natural soil amendment and garden fertilizer. It can be made FREE using kitchen scraps (and yard clipping)." Add seaweed to the compost pile to add nutrients and speed the process by feeding the beneficial microbes.
As I mention in my original post, clean the seaweed before you apply to plants, tea or compost. It's important when collecting seaweed that you observe you state and local laws. There are many protected beaches that do not allow people to remove anything from the shore or water. I collected my seaweed first thin in the morning so it was fresh and relatively clean.
Please be aware of tiny creatures. Inspect the seaweed or rinse before you leave the shore so you don't bring home (and possibly kill) helpless creatures.
I am re-posting from July because my tomatoes are growing bigger than I could have possibly imagined thanks to a bit of aged compost. The best part...It was FREE!!! Since Christmas is right around the corner and I'll be cooking like a madwomen, I'll also be adding most of my kitchen "waste" to my brewing compost bin.
What is Compost? Compost is a natural soil amendment and garden fertilizer. It can be made FREE using kitchen scraps. Apple cores, banana peels, celery or carrots parts, rinds and peels from fruits and veggies...throw it all in there! But don't stop there- also use grass clipping, dead leaves and other yard waste.
Not only does composting save money on expensive fertilizers and soil amendments, it keeps all of this "trash" out of your garbage bin and out of landfills.
Using compost improves soil structure, texture, and aeration and increases the soil’s water-holding capacity.
Warning: Everything I read about compost says not to use meat, diary or pet waste in your compost.
Do I need to buy a fancy (expensive) composter? No way!
In my own yard I have a big (dark) plastic tub which I drilled holes into the bottom. I've added my kitchen and yard "waste" and then a layer of soil...repeat! Every 4 or 5 days I go out into the yard and turn it over. No, I don't dump it out, "turn it" is garden-speak for stir or mix. The more I "turn" the mix the faster it seems to decompose.
What's in My Compost Bin?
Cherry stems, apple cores, lime rinds, coffee grounds, tea bags, celery leaves, potato peels, carrot ends, cucumber and onion bits, egg shells (washed and dried), grass clippings, dead leaves, dead flowers, mango skins. I might have forgotten a few things but you get the picture.
Stay away from using lawn clippings or additives with chemical fertilizers or pesticides!
Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are produced naturally by the feeding of microorganisms and decomposing waste. These three ingredients are essential for a thriving veggie garden.
Compost is a natural soil amendment and garden fertilizer. It can be made FREE using kitchen scraps. Apple cores, celery or carrots parts, rinds and peels from fruits and veggies...throw it all in there! But don't stop there- also use grass clipping, dead leaves and other yard waste.
Not only does composting save money on expensive fertilizers and soil amendments, it keeps all of this "trash" out of your garbage bin and out of landfills.
Using compost improves soil structure, texture, and aeration and increases the soil’s water-holding capacity.
Warning: Everything I read about compost says not to use meat, diary or pet waste in your compost.
Do I need to buy a fancy (expensive) composter? No way!
In my own yard I have a big (dark) plastic tub which I drilled holes into the bottom. I've added my kitchen and yard "waste" and then a layer of soil...repeat! Every 4 or 5 days I go out into the yard and turn it over. No, I don't dump it out, "turn it" is garden-speak for stir or mix. The more I "turn" the mix the faster it seems to decompose.
What's in My Compost Bin?
Cherry stems, apple cores, lime rinds, coffee grounds, tea bags, celery leaves, potato peels, carrot ends, cucumber and onion bits, egg shells (washed and dried), grass clippings, dead leaves, dead flowers, mango skins. I might have forgotten a few things but you get the picture.
Stay away from using lawn clippings or additives with chemical fertilizers or pesticides!
Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are produced naturally by the feeding of microorganisms and decomposing waste. These three ingredients are essential for a thriving veggie garden.
I guess I should start out by explaining the term 
