this year's fertilizing

[leelanauferg]

I apologize if this has been addressed previously...Last year was my first garden. (Bought my first house, so now I have some land) I built 2 4X12 beds with 2X12s and filled them with composeted horse manure from a friend. I didn't add anything to it and I think I did okay for a first timer. I ended up with lots of whatever grass grows up from within the manure that has a crazy root system. I pulled out all those clumps and now will be getting some more manure to top off the beds. What, in general, should I be adding to the dirt to replenish nutrients lost from last year? Or is the addition of more manure going to be sufficient? I'm thinking maybe some bone meal to help out the seedlings and some blood meal for nitrogen. And does anyone have a rule of thumb as far as fertilizing throughout the growing season? Like once a week, or during flowering, or something? I didn't feed during the season last year except maybe a little fish emulsion for the tomatoes, I can't remember...

(sorry for the long post...)

[crazy1]

First, get the soil tested. You can get an inexpensive one at most gardening stores. Only then can you decide what to add. More manure may not be a bad idea, but other organic compost wouldn't hurt either.
Test the soil and go from there. The results will tell ya what you need.

[hunter63]

Be careful how much fertilizer you use.
Fertilized the water melons last year, the vines grew so fast that the wore out the melons dragging them on the ground before they rippened.
P. S. just kidding.

[leelanauferg]

So ya'll think that those home soil test kits are alright? I used one last year and showed everything to be right in the middle so that's why I didn't mess with fertilizing. Some folks on other forums have said that the home test kits aren't accurate. But I guess for 4 bucks or whatever it's not a big deal if it's off by a little.

[crazy1]

Take a sample to your local county extention office. They can test it for you. It will be much more accurate.
But the home test will tell you if something is way off.
Someone here told me they had great succes foliar feeding with a mist bottle oph compost tea. Used at least once if not twice a week. I'd hold out for Greg's reply, he is the organic guru. Pharmer and Doug also have great wisdom.
Have you also cheked the sub-board on the top oph "soil building"? ph is very important.

[mary]

Last year I bought a bottle of fish emulson and left it out side ,forgot about it and most likely it froze,It doesn't smell as bad as last year , so I'm wondering if it is still good?I talked to my neighbor today and he is going to give me some of his cow manure.Last year was the first time for a garden there. I bought a home soil test, it said my soil PH was 7.0, the N.P.P. didn't change much in color, will the manure help? Wonder forum,so much info and good people.Mary

[Compost Pharmer]

Never had a soil test. I add so much compost to the garden each year, the plants grow like crazy. I got 49 cucs off of just two plants last year. Yes. I folair feed once or twice a week. It seems like the plants do so much beter. Last year my garden was like a jungle. This year I planted the maters about 4 feet apart. Hopefully I will be able to get between the cages to water and pick dem maters.
Going to plant flowers between the rows this year to hopefully keep the critters from stealing my mellons. I would not mind so much, but they wait until they are ripe and eat what they want and leave the rest. They don't even clean up after them selves. Wish they would deposit, what they don't want in the compost bin so I don't have to. Oh well, suppose they have to eat as well. Wish they would leave me a little thank you note for the delicious meal of mellons.

[leelanauferg]

Alright, home soil test showed P & K levels were strong, but N was in the toilet. So i'm thinking fish emulsion &/or blood meal. And pH was showing in the low to mid 6 range.

[Pharmer Phil]

Does your composted horse manure have sawdust in it or wood shavings? If so, that would account for your nitogen being "in the toilet" (i like dat saying)!
I'd go with the blood meal if I had to choose between the two, fish emulsion is fine to fertilize with, but it doesn't have a lasting affect.
If you added only horse manure last year, I would add some other compost, top soil, etc.
The store bought kits do fine, as long as the directions are followed, a more detailed analyses though is derrived from the suggested test from the extension office, that report will tell you what, and how much you need to bring it to the point you are seeking.

[leelanauferg]

Okay-gotcha. Maybe rather than getting another load of manure (which does btw have some sawdust), I'll shell out a couple bucks and get some other stuff. That will help with the texture too I think. It seemed too chunky last year. Better now, but still could use something smoother. Thanks everybody!