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Fertilizer -- What & When #751313

Asked May 21, 2021, 2:27 PM EDT

Hello, My wife and I are growing vegetables in a community garden. We tested the soil and it was very low in N and K & high in P. We added blood meal to all of the 4x8 bed areas with kale & broccoli, however I'm wondering if we added enough b/c some of the lower kale leaves and some of the small broccoli leaves seem to be fading or turning a little yellow. Also, I think the broccoli should be thriving a little more. I believe this is still a nitrogen deficiency, however, to add fertilizer I do not know exactly which NPK ratio to use. I'm considering adding something like feather meal or alfalfa meal. I'd consider soymeal but I'm concerned about it being GMO. I'm trying to avoid things like Miracle Gro although I do have many types of "organic fertilizer" from Espoma. Any suggestions you can provide on NPK approach and also other micronutrients to green up the vegetables and help repel pests would be much appreciated. Regards, Michael Hammond

Howard County Maryland

Expert Response

Hi- nitrogen is the nutrient required in the greatest quantity by vegetable plants. The release of nutrients from organic matter is slow in spring because soil temps are relatively low. 

Fertilize with either a dry or liquid fertilizer. The ratio should be as close to 1-0-1 as possible since the soil is high in P and low in K. This can be difficult with organic fertilizers. Consider applying potassium sulfate or potassium chloride to correct the low K (both are allowed under certain conditions by organic farmers).

Don't worry about micronutrients, unless the report from the soil testing lab recommends increasing the level of a nutrient other than N, P, and K.

All of the meals (alfalfa, fish, cottonseed, and soybean) are fine to use. 

Please see our web page on fertilizing vegetables.

A few observations:

Your broccoli plants are a little under-sized for this time of spring. For a variety of reasons, MD gardeners typically have better luck with fall broccoli (planted late July). Covering kale, broccoli and other cabbage family members with a floating row cover will exclude pest insects.

Wood chips are ok to use as mulch but don't incorporate them into the soil as this can lead to a nitrogen deficiency (microbes scavenge available N to break down a large amount of high carbon wood chips).

Jon

Hi and thank you.  I thought the broccoli looked a little small.  We started them from seeds in the house.  Could it be because there was not enough nitrogen in the soil? When we tested it, the nitrogen was depleted, so we added blood meal.  We've also treated with a liquid nitrogen where the N is 24.  What would you recommend at this point to help give it the boost it needs?  

Thank you for the information on the wood chips.  We have the woodchips in our walkways only and not in any of our beds.  

Regards, 
Michael   

On Mon, May 24, 2021 at 10:50 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 24, 2021, 11:05 AM EDT

Hi- low nitrogen could be one of the reasons for slow growth. Fertilizing now with the liquid fertilizer may push growth but it's still a question as to whether the plants will produce decent heads. 

Jon 

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