Should I fertilize right now?

[phkc070408]

I live in Zone 7A. I have a new garden bed (new this year) that has Broccoli, Cauliflower, Spinach, and Lettuce.

The soil, which I bought from a composting center, is already excessive with most nutrients, and I don't want to over fertilize. See attached screenshot for exact numbers from a testing center.
The soil is roughly 33/33/33 compost, Top Soil, and a course sand.

What do you experts recommend, if anything? I have some Seaweed liquid concentrate if you feel it's necessary.

Thanks.

 

[Meadowlark]

.... that has Broccoli, Cauliflower, Spinach, and Lettuce.

Each of the above veggies optimal ph is in the 6 to 7 range with 6.5 being ideal. Your test shows a ph of 7.8... not ideal nor optimal for those veggies.

What are the units for the values of P and K and others shown? PPM?

I did not see any value for Total Nitrogen...perhaps I missed it?

I also did not see any value for Boron which is important to growing Brassicas...perhaps I missed it?

 

[phkc070408]

Thanks for the reply. The info I have is all the testing center gave me. I have one of those home testing kits and can set up a nitrogen test, but it will take a few days to do it, since the water will have to settle.

If you think it's worth it, I can add a little sulphur on top and water it in. Garden is 72 square feet.

See attached

 

[phkc070408]

Actually, I did add some already. See attached recommendations from the testing center, which I followed to a T. I did this about 6 weeks ago, about 4 weeks before planting.

 

[Meadowlark]

Actually, I did add some already. See attached recommendations from the testing center, which I followed to a T. I did this about 6 weeks ago, about 4 weeks before planting.

That recommendation will lower ph by about 1 unit bringing your soil to 6.8 ph in the optimal range. Sulfur is notoriously slow acting and you're looking at up to about 6 months to see the full effect...longer if it's a heavy clay soil.

If it was my soil, I would test ph again in three months to see the effect and again in 6 months. I would not add any more pending the results at 6 months.

 

[phkc070408]

Understood. Thanks

 

[MiTmite9]

Thanks for the reply. The info I have is all the testing center gave me. I have one of those home testing kits and can set up a nitrogen test, but it will take a few days to do it, since the water will have to settle.

If you think it's worth it, I can add a little sulphur on top and water it in. Garden is 72 square feet.

See attached

FungiCIDE? So you're not planning on having an organic garden? I am far from being a soil-tester type gardener, but am curious as to why you're adding an herbicide to your soil. Toxins = bad news.

"Fungicides can also disrupt soil microbial communities, which can lead to a decrease in the overall health and productivity of the soil.

Reducing fungicide use is an important part of regenerative agriculture, which focuses on building healthy soils and ecosystems." (source: spornadosampler.com )

I hope your land isn't near to any water sources.

 

[Meadowlark]

FungiCIDE? So you're not planning on having an organic garden? I am far from being a soil-tester type gardener, but am curious as to why you're adding an herbicide to your soil. Toxins = bad news.

The product the Op mentioned is certified for organic gardening. It is 90% sulfur and 10% other inert stuff.

Component	Percentage	Function
Sulfur	90%	Active fungicide & miticide
Other ingredients	10%	Carriers / formulation aids (not individually disclosed)

.
I use sulfur to coat seed potatoes, and it is very effective in naturally preventing disease and rot. It is also very effective in lowering the soil ph, which the Op clearly needs according to the soil test results provided.

 

[Sluggy]

I found the above comments very interesting. But being lazy I just throw over the soil handful of chicken pellet manure and some contents from the compost bin once everything has been removed then plant what ever if it grows great if not too bad.

 

[phkc070408]

Unfortunately I know very little about the chemistry side of gardening, fertilizer, etc. I don't know what's organic and what isn't, etc.

 

[Meadowlark]

You are doing just fine...keep going.

 

[phkc070408]

Thanks Mod!!