Organic Growing: An Introductory Guide

Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
Jubilant said:
I feel ya on that everyone has their own way and the more time all the ingredients spend together to more synergistic the biology will develop. I would prefer to do to that way myself if possible but we'll see how this one goes :p So the grow store I went to hard no information on neem cake unfortunately. Is this something I should look into for top dressing?
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Yeah unfortunately most grow stores are behind on opening themselves to the awesomeness that is neem cake. Neem seed meal is what down to earth brand labels theirs. www.neemresource.com is a good site if you order offline.

I love neem cake and I wouldnt grow without it. The ingredients you're already going for should more or less take care of you. Neem is the icing on the cake. It's got a full compliment of micro nutrients and prevents nitrogen from leaving the soil, making it available in your soil for longer. Its a good way to fill any holes in what your plant needs. And soil pests don't like the smell.
 
Vnsmkr

Vnsmkr

Well-Known Member
Jubilant said:
I feel ya on that everyone has their own way and the more time all the ingredients spend together to more synergistic the biology will develop. I would prefer to do to that way myself if possible but we'll see how this one goes :p So the grow store I went to hard no information on neem cake unfortunately. Is this something I should look into for top dressing?
Click to expand...
I like neem cake pellets for bug control and also the micro nutrients. I would not go without it here
 
Jubilant

Jubilant

Well-Known Member
Rasta Roy said:
Yeah unfortunately most grow stores are behind on opening themselves to the awesomeness that is neem cake. Neem seed meal is what down to earth brand labels theirs. www.neemresource.com is a good site if you order offline.

I love neem cake and I wouldnt grow without it. The ingredients you're already going for should more or less take care of you. Neem is the icing on the cake. It's got a full compliment of micro nutrients and prevents nitrogen from leaving the soil, making it available in your soil for longer. Its a good way to fill any holes in what your plant needs. And soil pests don't like the smell.
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Vnsmkr said:
I like neem cake pellets for bug control and also the micro nutrients. I would not go without it here
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So how do you guys apply your Neem? Just top dress it?
 
Jubilant

Jubilant

Well-Known Member
I was doing some reading and I think I want to mix it in, how much do you recommend for about 31 gallons of soil?
 
Jubilant

Jubilant

Well-Known Member
So I dumped my tea in the soil about 2.5 gallons worth the soil was kind of moist still we mixed it in a trash can we poked holes in the bottom and a ring around the outter wall of. My question is the soil is VERY wet now and will take a while I am guessing to dry up as in a 60 degree garage. No plants obviously in it so do I have anything to worry about with the soil being so saturated?
 
Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
Jubilant said:
So I dumped my tea in the soil about 2.5 gallons worth the soil was kind of moist still we mixed it in a trash can we poked holes in the bottom and a ring around the outter wall of. My question is the soil is VERY wet now and will take a while I am guessing to dry up as in a 60 degree garage. No plants obviously in it so do I have anything to worry about with the soil being so saturated?
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You definitely don't want it over moist. It should feel how a wet sponge feels after you wring it out. Damp, but when you squeeze it you shouldn't be pushing out water.

As long as you got air and drainage holes, mix it up every couple days, you'll be fine.
 
Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
List of Organic amendments from the textbook Growing Fruits and Vegetables, Organically

Alfalfa Meal (2.7-0.6-2.2)
Other Nutrients: 0.2%Sulfur, micro-nutrients
C/N Ratio: 15
Contains growth stimulants

Blood Meal (13-2-0)
Other Nutrients: not a significant source of other nutrients
C/N Ratio: 3
Rapidly available N, stimulates microbes

Bone Meal (3-15-0.5)
Other Nutrients: 24% Calcium
Rapidly available P source, mildly increases pH

Compost (homemade) (1-0.5-1) to (2-1-2)
Other Nutrients: 0.4% sulfur, 0.2% calcium, 0.1%magnesium
C/N Ratio: 10-17
Balanced, slow release. good choice for busy gardeners.

Compost (commercial, dry) (1-0.8-1)
Other Nutrients: 0.4% sulfur, 0.2% calcium, 0.1%magnesium
C/N Ratio: 10-17
Balanced, slow release. good choice for busy gardeners.

Cottonseed Meal (6-2-2)
C/N Ratio: 7
Rapidly available N source. May contain pesticides.

Egg Shells (1.2-0.4-0.1)
Other Nutrients: 0.4% calcium; micronutrients
Should be crushed, good compost addition

Epsom Salts (0-0-0)
Other Nutrients: 13% Sulfur, 10% Magnesium
Rapidly available S and Mg source

Feather Meal (11-0-0)
C/N Ratio: 4
Rapidly available N source

Fish Emulsion (5-2-2)
Other Nutrients: 5% Sulfur
C/N Ratio: 4
Rapidly available N source

Fish Meal (10-4-4)
C/N ratio: 4
Rapidly available N source

Grass Clippings (fresh) (0.7-0.3-0.2)
Other Nutrients: 0.1%Sulfur, 0.2%calcium, 0.1%mg
C/N Ratio: 33
Balanced, slow release

Greensand (0-0-7)
Other Nutrients: micro-nutrients, silicate
Very slowly available source of K. Use to build reserves.

Gypsum (0-0-0)
Other Nutrients: 17%sulfur, 22%calcium
Slowly available source of S and Ca. Does not affect pH. Improves soil structure. Increase plant growth in acidic soils.

Kelp Meal (1-0.2-2)
Other Nutrients: 3%Sulfur, micro-nutrients
Slow release of K and micro-nutrients, contains growth stimulants.

Oyster Shell Flour (0-0-0)
Other Nutrients: 38%calcium, 1%magnesium
Slow release of Calcium, used to increase pH

Lime (dolomitic) (0-0-0)
Other Nutrients: 20%calcium, 10%magnesium
Slow release of Calcium and magnesium. Used to increase pH.

Limestone (high-Ca) (0-0-0)
Other Nutrients: 26-36%Calcium, 2-7%magnesium
Slow release of calcium, used to increase pH.

Manure (cow, dry) (2-1-2.4)
Other Nutrients: 0.5%sulfur, 0.2%calcium, micro-nutrients
C/N Ratio: 18
Best when composted.

Manure (horse) (2-1-2.5)
Other Nutrients: 1%sulfer, 0.2%calcium, micro-nutrients
C/N Ratio: 22
Slow release when dry, rapid release when fresh

Manure (poultry, dry) (4-3-1)
Other Nutrients: 0.2%Sulfur, 0.2%calcium, 0.3%magnesium
C/N Ratio: 7
Very rapidly available N and P. Should be composted. fresh manure will burn plants.

Oak Leaves (0.8-0.4-0.1)
Micro-nutrients
Very slow release, improves soil structure

Orchard Grass (Hay) (2-0.6-2.7)
Other Nutrients: 0.3%Sulfur
C/N Ratio: 24
Balanced, slow release. May need rapidly available N source added.

Rock Phosphate (0-[15]-0)
Other Nutrients: [33]%calcium, micro-nutrients
Slowly available P and Ca. Will increase pH. Used to build reserves.

Sawdust (0.2-0.2-0.3)
C/N Ratio: very high
Use only when well rotted. Add a rapidly available N source. good soil conditioner and mulch for acid loving plants.

Soybean Meal (6-1-2)
Other Nutrients: 0.8%magnesium, micro-nutrients
C/N Ratio; 7
Rapidly available N

Sul-Po-Mag (Langbeinite) (0-0-22)
Other Nutrients: 19%sulfur, 10%magnesium
Rapidly available K and Mg. Don't use with dolomitic lime.

Wheat Straw (0.6-0.2-1)
Other Nutrients: 0.2%sulfur, 0.2%calcium, 0.05%magnesium, micro-nutrients
C/N Ratio: 78
Very slow release, used to improve soil structure. Should be applied with a rapidly available N source

Wood Ashes (0-1.6-5)
Other Nutrients: 15%calcium, micro-nutrients
Low P content. but rapidly available. Good source of K and Ca. Will increase pH. Can injure microorganisms. do not use more than 1/2-3/4 lb per 100 square feet.

 
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Vnsmkr

Vnsmkr

Well-Known Member
Rasta Roy said:
List of Organic amendments from the textbook Growing Fruits and Vegetables, Organically

Alfalfa Meal (2.7-0.6-2.2)
Other Nutrients: 0.2%Sulfur, micro-nutrients
C/N Ratio: 15
Contains growth stimulants

Blood Meal (13-2-0)
Other Nutrients: not a significant source of other nutrients
C/N Ratio: 3
Rapidly available N, stimulates microbes

Bone Meal (3-15-0.5)
Other Nutrients: 24% Calcium
Rapidly available P source, mildly increases pH

Compost (homemade) (1-0.5-1) to (2-1-2)
Other Nutrients: 0.4% sulfur, 0.2% calcium, 0.1%magnesium
C/N Ratio: 10-17
Balanced, slow release. good choice for busy gardeners.

Compost (commercial, dry) (1-0.8-1)
Other Nutrients: 0.4% sulfur, 0.2% calcium, 0.1%magnesium
C/N Ratio: 10-17
Balanced, slow release. good choice for busy gardeners.

Cottonseed Meal (6-2-2)
C/N Ratio: 7
Rapidly available N source. May contain pesticides.

Egg Shells (1.2-0.4-0.1)
Other Nutrients: 0.4% calcium; micronutrients
Should be crushed, good compost addition

Epsom Salts (0-0-0)
Other Nutrients: 13% Sulfur, 10% Magnesium
Rapidly available S and Mg source

Feather Meal (11-0-0)
C/N Ratio: 4
Rapidly available N source

Fish Emulsion (5-2-2)
Other Nutrients: 5% Sulfur
C/N Ratio: 4
Rapidly available N source

Fish Meal (10-4-4)
C/N ratio: 4
Rapidly available N source

Grass Clippings (fresh) (0.7-0.3-0.8)
Other Nutrients: 0.1%Sulfur, 0.2%calcium, 0.1%mg
C/N Ratio: 33
Balanced, slow release

Greensand (0-0-7)
Other Nutrients: micro-nutrients, silicate
Very slowly available source of K. Use to build reserves.

Gypsum (0-0-0)
Other Nutrients: 17%sulfur, 22%calcium
Slowly available source of S and Ca. Does not affect pH. Improves soil structure. Increase plant growth in acidic soils.

Kelp Meal (1-0.2-2)
Other Nutrients: 3%Sulfur, micro-nutrients
Slow release of K and micro-nutrients, contains growth stimulants.

Oyster Shell Flour (0-0-0)
Other Nutrients: 38%calcium, 1%magnesium
Slow release of Calcium, used to increase pH

Lime (dolomitic) (0-0-0)
Other Nutrients: 20%calcium, 10%magnesium
Slow release of Calcium and magnesium. Used to increase pH.

Limestone (high-Ca) (0-0-0)
Other Nutrients: 26-36%Calcium, 2-7%magnesium
Slow release of calcium, used to increase pH.

Manure (cow, dry) (2-1-2.4)
Other Nutrients: 0.5%sulfur, 0.2%calcium, micro-nutrients
C/N Ratio: 18
Best when composted.

Manure (horse) (2-1-2.5)
Other Nutrients: 1%sulfer, 0.2%calcium, micro-nutrients
C/N Ratio: 22
Slow release when dry, rapid release when fresh

Manure (poultry, dry) (4-3-1)
Other Nutrients: 0.2%Sulfur, 0.2%calcium, 0.3%magnesium
C/N Ratio: 7
Very rapidly available N and P. Should be composted. fresh manure will burn plants.

Oak Leaves (0.8-0.4-0.1)
Micro-nutrients
Very slow release, improves soil structure

Orchard Grass (Hay) (2-0.6-2.7)
Other Nutrients: 0.3%Sulfur
C/N Ratio: 24
Balanced, slow release. May need rapidly available N source added.

Rock Phosphate (0-[15]-0)
Other Nutrients: [33]%calcium, micro-nutrients
Slowly available P and Ca. Will increase pH. Used to build reserves.

Sawdust (0.2-0.2-0.3)
C/N Ratio: very high
Use only when well rotted. Add a rapidly available N source. good soil conditioner and mulch for acid loving plants.

Soybean Meal (6-1-2)
Other Nutrients: 0.8%magnesium, micro-nutrients
C/N Ratio; 7
Rapidly available N

Sul-Po-Mag (Langbeinite) (0-0-22)
Other Nutrients: 19%sulfur, 10%magnesium
Rapidly available K and Mg. Don't use with dolomitic lime.

Wheat Straw (0.6-0.2-1)
Other Nutrients: 0.2%sulfur, 0.2%calcium, 0.05%magnesium, micro-nutrients
C/N Ratio: 78
Very slow release, used to improve soil structure. Should be applied with a rapidly available N source

Wood Ashes (0-1.6-5)
Other Nutrients: 15%calcium, micro-nutrients
Low P content. but rapidly available. Good source of K and Ca. Will increase pH. Can injure microorganisms. do not use more than 1/2-3/4 lb per 100 square feet.
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Heres another good one
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/douglas/sites/default/files/documents/lf/orgfertval.pdf
 
iHearAll

iHearAll

Well-Known Member
i add some noticeable amount of meat to my fermented kitchen garbage as a phosphorus source. idk if this is a vegan thread.. but yea. obviously i dont feed my worms any meat but it composts nicely
 
Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
iHearAll said:
i add some noticeable amount of meat to my fermented kitchen garbage as a phosphorus source. idk if this is a vegan thread.. but yea. obviously i dont feed my worms any meat but it composts nicely
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Organic, not vegan. While I do believe there should be cruelty reforms to mass agriculture, I believe animal husbandry is necessary for sustainable agriculture.
 
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