Fertilizing Seedlings With Fish Emulsion
 

Hello everyone,

I have just given my three to four inch seedlings Neptunes Harvest Fish Emulsion.
My question is how long to wait prior to giving them another dose of such.

Thanks!! :)

Julia

I usually put some in the dip I use at plant out...don't think they'd need anything before that. Think I remember reading that if you overfeed them early, they attract aphids. kath

Thank you Kath.
I'll be calling you soon! :)


Julia

i fertilize seedlings when they have 2 or 3 sets of leaves but use a very diluted solution. then i fertilize them every 2 weeks same dilute solution. i wouldn't fertilize if you plan on transplanting or after transplanting by 5 days for either case.

tom

Why is that, Tom?

because of the stress of transplanting. if you fertilize and then transplant in a few days i feel it effects the growth the plant is doing. if you transplant and fertilize in a few days the plants are getting over the stress of transplanting and then are trying to absorb nutrients. i don't have any proof of this but i think i read it and if nothing else it makes sense. that is why i say not to fertilize within 5 days on either side of transplanting.

tom

It does make sense. Thanks.

I have heard everything from "wait till you see the first new growth after transplanting, then fertilize" to "fill the hole with Miracle Grow solution and water it in with it, then water with it for the first 3 waterings as well." I have tried both, and both worked with neither trumping the other in results, so I guess the bottom line is tomatoes are pretty flexible.

Thank you everyone for the help!!