Organic fertilizers

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Permalink Reply by Kristi on November 27, 2009 at 5:10pm

I sure like using the bottled fish emulsion and mixing with water. I guess it's not the most economical but mine sure lasts a long time plus you can use it with flowers, veges and just about everything.

I generally don't fertilize veges as when preparing my beds and in the off season I''m adding blender compost, coffee grounds and manure.

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Permalink Reply by Judy on November 27, 2009 at 5:20pm

Kristi, I do use fish emulsion and it is kind of pricey but does seem helpful and I just made my first batch of aerated compost tea and am planning to try to keep some of that going too and see how that does. Don't have a lot of compost right now but working on getting some more in a week or so and have some cooking that should be ready for spring planting.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Byers on November 27, 2009 at 5:40pm

Manure of all kinds seems to work well in over 50 years of gardening. The other one that is easy to do and very native is placing a couple of dead fish under the hill of beans, corn, squash or whatever. Do need a supply of dead fish but it works really well when you do.

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Permalink Reply by Judy on November 27, 2009 at 5:45pm

Thanks Chris, I do work manure into the beds before planting, I have winter squash that are looking pretty yellowish, guess some fish emulsion may help, I don't have a supply of dead fish on hand. I'd probably have the dog trying to dig them up anyway.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Byers on November 28, 2009 at 9:18am

For the yellowish squash this may not be a problem with enough nutrients in the soil, rather a problem with ph of the soil. When you have too high a ph 8 or higher, it is common for plants to not be able to get the nutrients out of the soil.
I have been using a vinegar water mixture for my garden and have very green healthy plants. I am using 1/4 cup of vinegar per 5 gallon bucket of water every two to three weeks. If I see water stress starting to show up or if I see some lessening of the good green color I give it the vinegar treatment. In a few days I have less water needs and greener leaves.
I am using a mix of regular dirt out of the yard with some manure from a bag. Nothing special but by controlling the ph of the soil, it allows the nature fertility of the native soil to come out. The soil over all in Arizona is very good just different from what most people are use to having. So many think it is not very good when in fact it is very good soil with a tiny bit of help.

I am raising very nice tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and radishes at this time. I have few weeds, and seldom do anything to the garden. I have no bugs to speak of, a few leaf miners, which I pick off and once in awhile I find a leaf that has some chew marks. My attack lizard, deals with most of the evil bugs and the only thing I have had problems with is birds stealing my tomatoes and some of the young squash. Bird netting has taken care of most of this.

My big garden for my next planting will have some compost and lots of wood chips, manure, ground sulfur and not much else. I will work this material into the soil being more concerned with tilth than anything else, this will enable me to grow nice beets, radishes, and maybe carrots. Lots of tomatoes, okra, eggplant, potatoes and figs, grapes, blackberries, boysenberries.

The tomato plants are right at 4 foot tall and about 3 foot wide. The photo is one group of dozens on the plant.

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Permalink Reply by Judy on November 28, 2009 at 9:54am

Chris, those are some great looking tomatoes and will try the vinegar treatment for the ph. Right now I have nice looking turnip greens and kale which look very healthy and still getting some green beans and peppers it's just the squash that needs something and maybe this will help, thanks for all the information. It helps to have input from others and encouraging to know that we can have successful gardens here, just a matter of getting the soil into shape and staying on top of pests.

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