Fertilizer Recommends for raised beds?

16 years ago

I've done a soil test and learned (as suspected) that I need to fertilize more. Anyone have advice on how often and which good fertilizers to use for raised garden beds? I prefer organic if possible and use Vegetable and Tomato alive from Garden's alive at planting. However, since I seem to need more it seems a liquid fertilizer would be good throughout the plants growing time.

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Comments (4)

whgille
16 years ago
Hi Elizabeth

First thing we need more info to help you in a better way. Let's start from the beginning. How did you made your raised bed? In sandy soils we need to add a lot of organic matter to the soil to be able to grow veggies that gives a good harvest.

My raised beds are continually replenishing what is used, I add a well composted manure, fertilizer and whatever else I have available.

If you are buying garden supplies from the mentioned place, products are good but very expensive. The best place to get organic additions to the soil would be your local feed store. I usually get kelp and other things there.

Depending on your soil test maybe you can ask them for advice there. Also a lot of people with sandy soils have problem with nematodes. The only way to tell is looking at the roots of the veggies, if they are not thriving.

Silvia
palmcityfl
16 years ago
Here in Martin County composted horse manure is plentiful and free. Horse ranchers will sometimes even load your truck or trailer for you. I've hauled truckloads to my yard and my palms love it.
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organic_elizabeth_b
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you Silvia and "palmcityfl",

I started my raised beds last Jan. I used inexpensive bagged organic potting soil and organic compost. It was the cheap stuff but I figured since I had no idea what junk may have been dumped in the soil in my back yard (by prev owners) it was an ok choice.

I continue to add mushroom compost and home made compost and bone meal.

Maybe I just need to add more?

Elizabeth
whgille
16 years ago
Elizabeth

It should be fine, make sure anything that you add is well composted.

Only after I harvest, I add new ingredients like black cow manure or plain potting soil.

If you think you need fertilizer, use a slow release fertilizer. I use 13-13-13 Nutracote is also sold as Dynamite in HD. I use this in my tomatoes for containers.

Try to rotate the crops in your bed, for example after you grow greens, put a root crop, follow by beans, not exactly in this order but your preference.

I have a bed with 4 squares, 2 have cabbage family veggies and 2 have lettuces. I harvested all the bed during this week and last week. After putting more organic materials I changed the crops where they were the lettuce now is cabbage family crops.

This is the bed

Silvia