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Western PA

organic fertilizers seem to be what all the pros are using, but they are also pretty expensive. Not to sound to cheap, but when is comes to non organic fertilizers is there any out there that have worked good for other growers out there that are cost effective? Now I am not looking to grow the next world record, but i am looking to get a big one. Does anybody know of a heavy hitter that uses non organic ferts?

Thanks alot for the help!

3/30/2008 9:24:55 PM

Minnesota

Hi, I don't have much money myself, I'm using free horse manure from the local race track, free compost from a city site. I do know of someone who is a heavy hitter and uses a weak solution of miracle grow. Go to the LINKS on the main menue [on the home page(1st page)], click on LINKS, go to the 4th from the bottom, Jim Beauchemin pumpkin Jim.com, click on "How I Did It". I was thinking of using a weak solution myself.

3/30/2008 11:12:19 PM

Sheridan . NY

ok just comparson---a gallon of general feed [sustainable non organic fertilizer > meaning- low salt and chloride ->10 8 8 is $9.50-- a gallon of organic certfied 5 2 2 fish is $ 9.50 --both are mixed at 1oz to the gallon in out feeding program-- which will make 128 gallons of feeding mix there are heavy hitters useing both--

3/31/2008 9:07:32 AM

Seattle, WA

I like the idea of free compost and other means of getting biological activity to promote nutrient cycling (cuts back on fertilizer needs). The biggest thing is to avoid high salt content, as this will kill the biology in the soil. Therefore, for typical plants (pumpkins may be different, you guys are the experts) you want an organic fertilizer that is below 10-10-10 NPK, which most are. I think you may be shooting yourself in the foot to a certain extent if you try and grow organically and are also using chemical fertilizers, as they feed the plant through entirely different means (one through biology cycling the nutrients, and the other from putting down high amounts of nitrates).

3/31/2008 12:28:34 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Craig sums up the synthetic debate here very well. Of the Heavy Hitters who use synthetics, most are going VERY LIGHT & FREQUENT to fill in the gaps. However ALL are also using compost/manures to improve biology & soil tilth.

$9.50/gallon is a bargain compared to the cost of seeds (auction) especially considering what can happen if gobs of poor quality ag-grade (salty) fertilizers damage the plants or soil biology.

If we use synthetics, then greenhouse grade or other low biuret urea (low salt) based materials should be sought out.

I don't think that any serious growers are depending on either discipline exclusively.

3/31/2008 3:18:08 PM

Somers, CT

My budget is limited. I use manuer wherever I can get it. Compost this year from the dump. Looks good. Agway organic fert is $14 a bag. I will invest in some good fish and seaweed. If you get powder and mix it yourself you can save. Also look into teaming with others if possible. I would stay away from chemical ferts where you can. If you buy a gallon of one good component such as calcium or micronutrients each year it will not hurt much. Also compost yourself.

3/31/2008 4:16:29 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Lowes had some 10-10-10 and 16-16-16 on sale for like 4 bucks a 20 pound bag so I picked up a bag, spread it out to help break down the leaves .

I had to quit drinking beer for a while to save up to buy fertilizer.lol Hard choice but well worth it come october

4/2/2008 2:11:14 PM

Somers, CT

Captain, you do not have to give up beer. You just have to visit the neighbor and raid his fridge.

4/2/2008 4:08:48 PM

Somers, CT

I have a ferts wholesaler next town over. They service the large-scale greenhouses. I can get almost anything chemical I want in granular or soluable in 50# bags. The only things they do not have is kelp meal, fish and seaweed.

4/2/2008 4:11:35 PM

Pembroke, New Hampshire

Or drink lots of beer and pee in the patch...lots of organic nitrogen there!!!!

4/2/2008 5:30:21 PM

California High Desert CinnamintStick@msn.com

I went shopping yesterday at my local hardware store, grocery store, drug store and Home Depot. They all had a nice selection of organic fertilizers (even out in the sticks). I didn't notice any difference in price. I read alot of labels and the organic seemed to be the better products. Even with all the manure I have I did end up buying a few bags. My grocery store sold 1 cubic foot bags of organic compost for $2.50. My hardware store sold 3 cubic foot bags of compost with Mycorrizae, forest humus, chicken manure, worm castings, bat guano, gypsum, kelp meal, oyster shell, lime and dolomite limes (PH adjusters) for 7.99. In fact they had 3 times more organic products than chemical fertilizer and compost. My drug store sold Bio Tone Plus http://www.espoma.com/content.aspx?type=p&id=37&intCategoryID=2 for $6 and some change. I even seen worm poop in a recyled spray bottle.

4/7/2008 5:28:11 PM

Columbus,ohio

I am saving up to start my own vermincomposting system(worm composting). A family friend had plants that where only supposed to be 6 inches tall. When she used worm poo the plants where 2 feet tall. If you know some one that has a worm compoter look at theirs and make one with a steal drum.

6/14/2008 6:09:39 PM