From

Location

Message

Date Posted

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

What is Urea and what how does it help the garden? How does black strap molasses help the garden and compost? Thanks.

4/2/2005 8:17:00 AM

San Diego, Ca.

Rootbeer,
Urea is a potent nitrogen fertilizer (46-0-0)
Nitrogen is responsible for vegetative growth. Be careful if you use it...don't over-do it!

4/2/2005 11:47:15 AM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Thanks Gourdzilla (very inventive name). My soil analysis said to add 0.3 lbs/100 sq ft. I believe that I am not going to add it to the patch. I am no authority on growing giant pumpkins but I think that I can find other means of adding nitrogen to thhe soil. Besides I thought that I read somewhere, and I could be wrong here, that nitrogen can be washed out of the soil from overwatering like the rain that we are having today. This is second heavy rain we had this week. the puddles still remain from the last rain we had. So if that is so, then wouldn't smaller amopunts more frequently be better? Just wondering.

4/2/2005 1:51:33 PM

Montoursville, PA

Organic products that do not wash out would be a great choice unless you flood and have running water to take away the soil.

Many nitrogen needs are based on known or expected losses from leaching. Many soil tests make no consideration for your humus and what available nitrogen is stored there.

4/2/2005 2:15:58 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

So then it may not even be necessary to add Nitrogen? Even if I did add Urea, it still may leach out? Am I correct in saying that I can add Nitrogen by other means? I have read the soil test results and the only thing that it says about Nitrogen is: "There is no reliable test for the amount of Nitrogen in soild that is available to crops over the growing season. The Nitrogen recommended is based on the actual Nitrogen that needs to be supplied annually to ensure optimum crop growth."
This test only knows that I am growing pumpkins. It does not know that I am growing Giant Atlantic pumpkins and does not actually know how much Nitrogen will be used. Since I will be adding Nitrogen through the season, what I have and what I will add, should be enough?

4/2/2005 3:35:49 PM

[email protected]

Nitrogen is one of the more abundant elements on Earth & makes up 78% of our atmosphere. Urea is made by combining anhydrous ammonia (NH3) & carbon dioxide (CO2) under heat (350*) & pressure (3000 psi). To suggest that it is only manufactured near a source of cheap Natural Gas in an understatement.

Urea's 46% N is all soluble & is subject to both leaching & volatilization (gassing off). In the real world under poor growing conditions, about 30% of the N that is applied from Urea will benefit the targetted plant. The rest will either gass off or be consumed by bacteria.

More later

4/2/2005 3:57:49 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Has anyone used Urea in their pumpkin patch? Wouldn't adding nitrogen at the proper times at smaller amounts be more benificial than adding Urea?

4/2/2005 8:39:21 PM

[email protected]

Urea is Nitrogen. There are other synthetic forms of soluble N such as Ammonium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrate, Calcium Nitrate etc.....It all depends on the soil test results & the goal at the time of application.

Soils that are high in Organic Matter don't need much supplemental Nitrogen except for early in the year when bacteria are still snoozing due to cold temperatures.

But once a high OM soil warms up the need for soluble N is greatly reduced & could be real trouble if over used.

4/2/2005 10:25:55 PM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Urea is in urine... it is nitrogen waiste for animals and great ferilizer for plants. I use it sometimes too, usually after several beers...

4/3/2005 11:54:03 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Application of Nitrogen throughout the growing season should be cautioned...application during fruit set could cause early aborts and explosions! Leaves and sawdust might be tying up your nitrogen so it may be necessary to get some in but to much and it will be a long time to fruit set.

4/3/2005 12:21:30 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

So even though this the first year for this garden, adding urea is not necessary, as long as I apply it properly correct?

4/3/2005 1:12:57 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

If this is a first year garden, and you tilled in a lot of sod, you will probably need to add at least a little nitrogen. As the sod decomposes, it will tie up a lot of nitrogen in the soil. If you plants look a sickly yellow, that is a good sign of nitrogen deficiency

4/4/2005 1:22:12 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Iowegian, that is a very good point. The plants will tell if there is enough nitrogen or not. They will tell any mineral is sufficient or not. Once applied how long does the Nitrogen take to replenish the soil?

4/4/2005 6:13:59 PM

[email protected]

Urea is pretty fast at 7-10 days. Nitrate forms are faster & more predictable at cooler soil temps but harder to obtain (bombs).

Once a soil is operating in peak organic matter fashion, then only a trace of soluble Nitrogen need be applied early when the N liberating bacteria are still snoozing.

Last year I applied 2 ounces of Urea per 16 foot square mound to get the vines running. Shortly afterwards my tissue analysis showed a Nitrogen surplus with an 19% organic matter content. Needless to say no new manures were added this fall. Just leaves & older compost.

4/4/2005 11:40:35 PM

Manitowoc

I've used 46-0-0 inn my garden and my giant pumpkins love it. I apply 100-150#/ acre. Broadcast. Mixed with 0-62-0. From my co-op. I till it in 2-3 weeks before planting. Plus side dressing twice through the growing session. Just at a lesser application. I till to a depth of about 14 inches. I've had vines as big around as my wrist and leaves as big as 27 inches across. Blossoms everywhere no issues.

3/7/2018 11:23:21 AM

Manitowoc

follow up to that. I spend the money on a very extensive soil test. And find out numbers on over 16 essential nutrients in my soil. And try keeping my calcium for example upwards of 1500+ppm. I've gone much higher but that's usually my base line

3/7/2018 11:27:28 AM