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North Of The Border

I am planing on spending 50-60$ on vermiculite to put in planting spots for next year, but was wondering if it would be better to spend that on more manure, or mycorohizae, or fertilizer, input is appreciated

6/8/2020 4:57:12 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Like Hobbit said in a previous post, buy a bag of Ureamate and start using that. Same post jake recommended getting some 10-10-10.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=14&p=682807

6/8/2020 7:31:27 PM

South Dakota

Vermiculite really holds alot of water. Too much leads to problems. If you are trying to loosen your soil, perlite is much better choice. Natural organic matter is the best bang for the buck.

6/8/2020 9:11:44 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Before you spend money on fertilizer, get a soil test. Without a test you will over apply some stuff and under apply others. Check and see if you can get some good, municipal compost. Often it is free or cheap. Just make sure it is well broken down. Also consider a cover crop of mustard to knock out diseases. Once it flowers, mow it, till it under, pack lightly and water. Wait 3 or 4 weeks before any more tillage to give the mustard juice time to work.

6/8/2020 9:22:58 PM

North Of The Border

I have a sandy soil, so adding water holding capacity is good, i have 30 kg, or 65 lbs, of triple 16 granular, and about 15 kg, or 33 lbs, or each triple 20, and 4-32-37 water soluble, so i am set for the fertilizer basics, and wanted to know if the vermiculite would be better, or if more of a fertilizer would be ebtter.

6/9/2020 9:11:15 AM

stoughton WI

You would be better off adding a good compost instead of vermiculite

6/9/2020 10:02:33 AM

North Of The Border

Okay, i will try to gey my hands on a bunch of good compost.

6/9/2020 11:18:43 AM

Syracuse, NY

somewhere along the weigh, inoculate your ENTIRE growing areas with Mycorrhizae. till it in at at least a pound per thousand square feet, as much as you can afford. no one else will recommend it - i and Joel Holland will, and not because he sells it. it will also help your plants through droughts and so forth---eg

6/10/2020 9:02:41 AM

Bloomington, IN USA

Vermiculite sequesters your fertilizer.
I don’t recommend it.
Old time Ag people explain it this way....the first time you fertilize, it goes to the vermiculite, the second time the plants get it.
Which is counter to what you would think...everybody sells vermiculite, it’s got to be good! Nope!

6/13/2020 11:19:18 PM

North Of The Border

Okay, thanks. Will try to get some mycorrhizae to put in the patch. Wont fo the vermiculite then. I thought it stored the nutrients for later use, but i hadnt done mich reading on it.

6/14/2020 7:01:40 AM

Syracuse, NY

my latest goal is to incorporate a cover crop of Dutch White Clover on my main patch now and the others as well if it works well to employ the Myco until the plants grow in - i threw down a 50-pound bag of wheat on an out-back patch; it rained the next day and then FROZE that night; it never sprouted. not one grain over a 70' X 70' area. a few days ago i did apply the DWC and we have not had any appreciable rain in nearly a week now. i keep checking and see little grey granules still - (lol (not)). i hope i'm smart today and get my watering 'system' going; gotta do the 2'-high lawn first. o m G! eg

6/14/2020 11:51:57 AM