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United States

What do you all think of blood meal as a nitrogen source? Anyone use it?

6/16/2023 12:16:19 PM

Grittyville, WA

Excellent for veggies in early spring. But it might have more salts than I'd want if the plants were being subjected to mid summer heat stress??? Blood is as salty as sea water, isnt it?

6/16/2023 1:07:04 PM

Mission Viejo, CA

I use blood meal when balancing my soil before the season starts. This year, I used calcium nitrate (very small amounts) early as the blood meal can take a few weeks to break down and become available to the plant.

My plant seems to have really thrived this year on the combination.

6/16/2023 1:11:18 PM

United States

Isn't the nitrogen in blood meal immediately available?

I thought bone meal (phosphorus), was the thing that takes weeks to break down.

6/16/2023 1:15:20 PM

Western NY

Very little of the N immediately available, but that's ok.

It's good stuff, but usually expensive.

6/16/2023 2:14:27 PM

Grittyville, WA

I have found it to be sufficiently available enough to supply steady growth actually the release is fairly good, mostly released within three months. Its probably a bit faster curve than feathermeal. It doesnt have the allelopathic properties of coffee grounds, but it just adds a bit of sodium chloride so it could maybe burn the leaf tips of sensitive plants. Vegetarians will like the flavor of the veggies grown in it, ha ha.

6/16/2023 2:56:38 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I feel like I don't have the control of my N like I like to when I use to amend bloodmeal. It can stay in the patch all season. At least my patch.:)
And like Andy said, it takes some time to work. By the time you want it to work, its time to start cutting back on the N.

I use other sources of nitrogen if needed.

6/17/2023 1:13:29 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Yeah, good advice from Andy and So.Cal, if and when we use bloodmeal it’s for the calcium and residual phosphorus benefits. Any nitrogen in bonemeal generally won’t be available until 3-4 months after application.

6/17/2023 2:13:46 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Also, same as KC Kevin. We use calcium nitrate and urea for our nitrogen needs

6/17/2023 2:15:22 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Same Northshore, ammonium or nitrate here. Cal nitrate has much less salt then the ammonium.

I think it was Harry from western labs that told me, fusarium loves cal nitrate but dislikes ammonium. I already have high salts because it never rains here so I stick with the cal nitrate in tiny amounts if needed early in the season when the soil is cool. The plants take it up QUICK!

To many things to think about! lol

6/17/2023 10:11:41 PM