need help with heavy feeders!

aimeruni · April 28, 2014

Basically I am wondering what the best way to fertilize them is.

When I say heavy feeders I'm referring to corn, cukes, zukes, winter squash, and melons.

The soilless mix I use is listed below (I make it in large batches, each large batch makes 30 gallons per batch).

2-3 cubic feet pine bark mulch
5 gallons spaghnum peat moss
5 gallons perlite
2 cups fertilizer (designed for container gardening....like Osmocote)

I was considering using a combination of compost and slow release fertilizer since they are heavy feeders.

Since I would be using both compost and a slow release container fertilizer (like Osmocote) should I reduce the amount of the container fertilizer by cutting it in half?

If I kept it at 2 cups (with the slow release fertilizer, i.e. Osmocote) per 30 gallon batch and used it in combination with the compost, would I be using too much fertilizer or would it be okay?

The amount of compost I would be using would be small 5-7 gallons per 30 gallon batch.

April 28, 2014	#1
aimeruni Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brooksville FL, zone 9a Posts: 67	need help with heavy feeders! Basically I am wondering what the best way to fertilize them is. When I say heavy feeders I'm referring to corn, cukes, zukes, winter squash, and melons. The soilless mix I use is listed below (I make it in large batches, each large batch makes 30 gallons per batch). 2-3 cubic feet pine bark mulch 5 gallons spaghnum peat moss 5 gallons perlite 2 cups fertilizer (designed for container gardening....like Osmocote) I was considering using a combination of compost and slow release fertilizer since they are heavy feeders. Since I would be using both compost and a slow release container fertilizer (like Osmocote) should I reduce the amount of the container fertilizer by cutting it in half? If I kept it at 2 cups (with the slow release fertilizer, i.e. Osmocote) per 30 gallon batch and used it in combination with the compost, would I be using too much fertilizer or would it be okay? The amount of compost I would be using would be small 5-7 gallons per 30 gallon batch. Last edited by aimeruni; April 28, 2014 at 08:25 PM.