Hi Angela
You've got the most important measurements.
The soil OM can be measured by eye :)
No matter what it is (within reason), you still need to replace it
regularly. If your soil looks like the bottom of a peat bog, you don't
need more OM, but I doubt this, given the pH :)
The rabbit offerings are great. Any lawn clippings you can scrounge
and dead leaves are fine.
You don't even need to have a compost heap/bin.
Just spread this stuff lightly around the garden beds and it will
happen directly in the soil. An advantage of this is you don't lose
most of the nutrients that may be in this OM. This OM should supply
all the trace elements you would ever need. You only need a trace :)
As far as ferts go. Forget phosphorus (P)
I would choose urea or ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate, or
whatever gives you the most nitrogen (N) for your buck. Take a
calculator and the first number in the N:P:K is the nitrogen.
Urea is something like 46:0:0, so if this is less than twice the price
per # than something that is 23:0:0, then this is the best buy - you
get the idea?
Similarly with potassium (K for kalium) - it is the last letter in the
three percentages. Potassium chloride or sulfate are OK.
(BTW, the chloride might be called muriate of potash.)
As far as application, I would add a couple of hands full of each in a
watering can and slosh this about your garden every so often.
BTW, add a bit more K for the fruiting/flowering plants, and a bit
more N for the leafy/foliage plants
And keep adding any OM you can lay your hands on.
Good luck Regards John West Oz
On Mon, 24 Jul 2000 21:03:10 -0700, Lagomorph
Quote:
>Hi,
>No, the test only came with the four I mentioned. I guess you can't expect
>much for $3.50 ;)
>I've never composted before, so I'm not sure how to do it. I'll have to
>read up on that. I've got two bunnies that make lots of fertilizer; I've
>had good luck with that before, so I may try that. I've got quite mix out
>there: sunflowers, lavender, rosemary, valarian, jalapenos, mini-roses,
>four tomato plants, daisies, and sage. It's hard to know how to help each.
>Thanks for the advice,
>Angela
>*******************************************
>http://www.wishbonezine.com/
>Gardening section coming soon!
>>Neutral is fine.
>> High phosphorus is fine - don't need anymore.
>> Use the cheapest nitrogen and potassium ferts you can find and apply
>> as per instructions. Little and often is best.
>> Did your analysis mention organic matter (OM) as it should?
>> This needs to be replaced regularly just like any other consumable.
>> Again, the cheapest you can find. Plant trash, sawdust (aged)
>> homebrewed recycled plant waste rotted in situ or in a heap or a bin.
>> Usually called compost although it is so often applied before it
>> really is finished and fully decomposed.
>> Were no other deficiencies mentioned?
>> If not, you should be fine for the future.
>> Just keep topping up the consumables - like a pantry - as you eat
>> them, you must replace them.
>> HTH Regards John Riley West Oz
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