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Deer Park, WI

This is my first year using a concentrated Neptune's Harvest Fish/Seaweed extract. How do you all use these types of foliar feed products early season? Tremor says most of the goodies just drain off into the soil. Makes sense. So is it beneficial to apply to the area around the plant, and then water the heck out of it to send it to the roots?

6/18/2003 9:13:04 AM

Cologne / Germany

With my algae juice I prepare 1.5 gal 5% solution with rain water and fill it in my sprayer. Well, that´s more like misting than spraying since I stop right after the leaf surfaces are saturated (like a film). Otherwise it will drain off with the first bigger drops. It´s drying fast so I can repeat it 2 times or so, also from downside the leaves. Just watch out for really fine mist from your sprayer, look at the leaves and have some patience;-)

6/18/2003 9:43:36 AM

Chico, Ca

I apply liquid seaweed through our misting system with a fertilizer injector. Saves me a whole bunch of time.

6/18/2003 10:02:02 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

soaker hoses attached to a siphon mixer.

6/18/2003 10:07:34 AM

Ga.

a question,,would it be better to apply with a hand sprayer like we use to apply fungicides? You'd get a mist,,maybe the leaves would uptake,,or is Joze correct???Apply straight into ground???

6/18/2003 10:36:11 AM

Montoursville, PA

I will be going both ways. When the plants are small they get individual hand sprayer application or small tank sprayer applications. Some run off for sure but not much.
Later I will use whole patch application through the misters or irrigation system or both. The run off does not hurt and may help but the object is to wet the top surface of the leaf where nature has the uptake or intake ability to use your applications.

6/18/2003 10:43:31 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

I use three methods for fish / seaweed.

1) in the fert injector
2) in the hand sprayer primairly leaf application (top and undersides)
3) in the watering can for the drench root application

It all travels the same route for watering (path of least resistance) and don't apply any additional H20 to carry it to the root zone.

6/18/2003 11:45:20 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

foliar, but not to runoff, and drench

6/18/2003 1:27:34 PM

Key West, FL

I think I read on that stuff that it is either 20% or 200%(I think it said 200) more effective when applied foliar.

6/18/2003 2:53:44 PM

Key West, FL

delute and spray it what I'm doing

6/18/2003 2:56:12 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

At this point on the fairly small plants, I'm just using an old fasioned watering can. Triple 20, Bolster Sea Kelp, Gem Fish Emulsion in a loosely combined sort of rotation. Just drenching the foliage & sorrounding soil as generously at time allows. What rolls off the leaves ends up being utilized by the roots. A more significant means of entry for most elements anyway.

Like Kyle said, it's good to note that foliar sprays are generally of lower % concentration. So when drenching the regular macronutrients, the focus should be on even distribution of the area occupied by the roots. This is starting to become difficult here with those big old green elephant ears all over the place!

AG's are much cooler than Big Max or Prizewinner. Amazing.

Steve

6/18/2003 8:11:26 PM

Leicester, NY

Joe,
I apply my fish emulsion and liquid kelp using a Miracle-Gro applicator. At this time of year, I just use the applicator at the end of the hose. When the plants get a little bigger, I put the applicator inline and apply it through my sprinklers. It goes on at a very heavy rate. I alternate applying the various extracts over a period of time; I do a drench 2-3 times and then switch to a foliar feed. My foliar feed consists of first watering the plant and then just hooking up the applicator and running the sprinklers for another minute or so to get the extract on the leaves..Joe P.

6/18/2003 8:46:11 PM

churchville, ny

The directions say 1/8 cup per gallon every 2-3 weeks-is that concentration to use and how often?? Tom

6/18/2003 10:52:17 PM

nanaimo,B.C,Canada

Hey Joe ,doesn't your miracle grow applicator get plugged when you use fish fertilizer through your sprinkler?

Dave

6/19/2003 12:04:53 AM

Deer Park WA

I found (the hard way) that fish emulsion will quickly burn leaves if applied foilarly at to heavy of a concentration. I am still very leary of applying fish emulsion on the leaves during hot/sunny weather. Do you all dilute the fish before putting it in the Miracle Grow sprayer? I have no problems with seaweed....

6/19/2003 12:59:44 AM

Leicester, NY

Dave,
I have never had a problem with the applicator plugging. I fill the 1 pint applicator with 2/3 liquid kelp and 1/3 fish emulsion. Maybe that keeps it thinned down enough to not plug. I apply this 1 pint brew once per week per plant and apply an additional 1 pint of just liquid kelp once per week too..Joe P.

6/19/2003 7:15:15 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

I got a miracle gro applicator last week and have used it once so far and like it.No Neptunes harvest here so I'm using Maxicrop seaweed extract it's made from the same Kelp(from Norway) and plan to mix it with 14.10.27 (Phostrogen)
drenching everything.

6/19/2003 7:51:40 AM

Deer Park, WI

Wow, thanks for all the replies guys. Sure is interesting to see how many different ways this stuff is applied. So lets take this a step further and try to determine the diameter of the root area in relation to plant area. I'd like to hit as much root area with this stuff as possible. Anyone want to volunteer digging up their 845 so we can figger out where the roots are??? Pretty please???

6/19/2003 8:52:22 AM

Utah

Joze-
I would apply to the plant area plus 6 ft in all directions as a minimum.
of course it depends on patch shape, soil type, soil compaction, etc.. etc.. etc..

6/19/2003 9:54:41 AM

porterville,california usa

for liquid fert i use the garden hose method of application. simply screw a regular hose nozzle on the hose end. (be sure it`s in the "off" position) take the other end of the hose up on your rooftop with a funnel and the fert. just pour it into the hose until it`s full. now go get another hose and connect it to the fert hose and your neighbors faucet. spraying from rooftops evenly covers your plant and surrounding area. when your fert has cleared the hose go ahead and wash off your roof, spray the dust off your trees,driveway, cars, etc. and hose out your rain gutters since you`re already up there anyway. while you`re at it,spend 20 minutes hosing out your neighbors chimney for him while he`s at the wal-mart. won`t he be surprised!

6/20/2003 2:56:13 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Yesterday I got three drums of concentrated fish manure slurry from the local high school fish hatchery. Absolutely the nastiest stuff I've ever seen, it's near impossible to get the smell off you.
I plan to use it as a perimeter drench, about 3-4' out around the plants. Water it in from there.

6/20/2003 7:01:46 AM

Montoursville, PA

Water temperature used in leaf application should be at or near ambient. Unless you are really set up with a tempering tank this would be difficult to achieve via hose end sprayer. Thermal stress from watering is a stress factor.

My system is not fully ready to go so we are doing hand watering using water tempered in ten quart buckets as a temporary answer to thermal shock from water.

Do consider tempered water in your future plans.

6/20/2003 8:36:48 AM