If you enjoyed this video, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😀TIMESTAMPS here: 0:00 All About Blood Meal Fertilizer 3:28 When To Use Blood Meal 5:38 Plants That Love Blood Meal 7:24 How Blood Meal Works 8:22 How Blood Meal Repels Pests 9:35 How To Apply Blood Meal 13:57 Adventures With Dale
I have flowers planted around my patio on a hill just had a soil test done and found that there is no nitrogen in the soil so my perennials are not growing what can I do to amend?
I have said it before, will say it again...this is the FINEST gardener on UA-cam. He nails the details on every topic he covers. I am in the process of hardening my sweet potatoes as he taught, works like a charm. My last years potatoes lasted a whole year! And I tripled my output this year. Bravo Mr. M.G.! Here is a tip for you, to say thanks for all you do. Dice your orange Sweet potatoes into half inch cubes or so. Then fry them in oil, medium heat, don't want to burn them, but they need to have some heat to develop those crispy bits...about half way through the cooking process, add diced walnuts, similar in size to the potatoes or a little bigger. They don't take as long. I season with salt, onion power and garlic powder, but add your own favs. Once the nuts and potatoes take on some color and crisp up a bit they are done. It's my go to quick meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Satisfying, savory, sweet and delicious. The simplest things in life really are the best. Enjoy!
We have chickens that we use as a food source, what we tend to do is have a 5 gallon bucket with some water in it for the fluid to drain into. Afterwards we top it off with water and use that watered down from the source to feed our fruit trees and add to the garden's irrigation ditches when watering. Usually the culling is done at the beginning of the spring or autumn season so it's usually at the beginning stages after the seeds have sprouted or before the tree goes to flower. We've had great results, as did my father before me, I was raised to never waste anything. Every part of the chicken that we do not eat goes back into the garden someway or another. Same goes for the occasional deer or rabbit that we hunt.
Thank you so much I looked through so many videos trying to figure out how to apply the blood meal to my peppers because they are lacking nitrogen and this is the only video that throughly explained how to add the blood meal to my plants
I use bonemeal and blood meal. Also used liquid fish fertilizer for nitrogen. I try and find sales or buy in bulk because I noticed the 3lb. bags are pricey. I love Espoma products and they have a great all around fertilizer called Gardentone if the others are too confusing. With drought in many areas I’m thinking that if a garden isn’t doing well it will be more likely the plants are not staying hydrated enough to use nutrients. Drip emitter irrigation has changed A Lot in my garden. Saved time, money and a HUGE change in plant growth especially root crops. Highly advise. Now, my experience with blood meal is, yes, it stinks. I noticed after applying instantly there were these strange flies that came out of nowhere. It is also pricey. And my experience with fish emulsion is I had instant raccoon visits. I almost bought more blood meal, but then remembered we just got chickens again this year and the manure has plenty of nitrogen 👏🏼👏🏼 and phosphorus. I do love the bonemeal and it does have some nitrogen as well. I’ve seen how it brought back to life some rhubarb that was close to dead. The roots were like jelly and there wasn’t much left, but I threw in a handful of bonemeal and moved the poor plants away from encroaching trees and they recovered beautifully. It really was amazing. So for new gardeners I highly suggest irrigation if your area is dry and throw all the organic material you can at the garden. Don’t worry about separate amendments for now and get an organic all purpose fertilizer like Espoma Gardentone. I have been gardening for years and just realized some issues in the garden were fixed with irrigation and some root crops were Finally successful by planting in shade.🙄. Radishes and beets! Who would have thought, but we are sandy and dry and the severe drought in WI didn’t help. I use granular fertilizer on our sandy soil unless a plant needs a quick boost. Granular stays in the soil longer. Organic fertilizers are not quick acting so think ahead.
The duplex I've been living in for the last 17 years was sold and the new owners want to live in my side. _(That's what I get for taking such good care of this side)_ It looks like I'm going to end up living in an apartment. I *HATE* the thought of not being able to plant anything in the ground, and hope I can at least use grow bags on a deck.
I always include blood meal and bone meal in my grow bags, along with worm castings, compost if I have some, and some slow-release organic fertilizer. I first started using blood meal to repel rabbits in my in-ground gardens back in the 80s, worked great. I don't overdo any of them, that could be problematic. I find most of your videos very useful, I especially liked your sweet potato curing chamber, I use that rig now myself. Keepup the good work!
An interesting thing ive noticed is that radishes typically dont need much nitrogen, but giving it to them will allow you to use the leaves as a good salad mix as well as the root crop itself
Nitrogen will have profound effects on plants. If you give them an abundance, it will direct their energy into green growth. if you're growing radishes, beets or carrots, this can actually harm them since you want the roots and not the greens. However, if you want the greens, it will work to a degree. Fertilizing radishes with nitrogen may yield smaller radishes.
I’m an engineer by trade, and I use far more science in my garden than my actual design engineering job. I truly mean that. Farmers are mad scientists.
I don’t use blood or bone meal but rather alfalfa pellets I buy in a 40 lb bag. I soak in water first and add it to the soil. Found this substitute on Rusted Gardener.
My broccoli and cauliflowers suffered damage because of the recent freeze, I will get some bloodmeal and hope they recover soon. Thanks for a very informative video.
I'm thinking of using some of this in my cold frame for my broccoli since it's actually pretty inexpensive! I just remembered another video with tomato plants that survived heat under an overhang today because I have a bunch of cherry tomatoes that survived a dip into the upper 20s last week and are still ripening up some fruit! I have them under a south facing, clear plastic overhang that I built to enjoy the winter sun with my layers on! Apparently it's created quite an impressive microclimate!
Great video. The other thing about blood meal is if you don't get it buried, it smells awful. I use Urea (46% nitrogen). It takes less of the product and doesn't have the same issue with smells. Lettuces, kale, cabbage love it.
I don't detect much of an odor. The Espoma brand doesn't smell like much. Maybe it has a bit of an iron smell, but since it's blood, that would make sense. It's nothing like fish emulsion. Urea is a water soluble fertilizer that is typically synthesized out of anhydrous ammonia, so it is a refined chemical and will not benefit your soil. It will feed the plant, and I use it to condition my straw bales, but it isn't like blood meal. Blood meal builds healthy soil by feeding the soil microbiome, whereas urea is a salt-based chemical.
Bloodmeal and worm castings, the franks hot suace of gardeners. I had to learn the hard way. I now use your method of providing individual nutrients based on the plants stage. Works fantastical. Especially for the giant tomatoes.
I use mostly all purpose fertilizers in my garden, but I do add specific things at certain times. For example, when my tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers start to flower, I give them bone meal. When my sweet potatoes and potatoes start to tuber, I give them bone meal. when my onions top out on growth and it's clear bulbing is imminent, I give them bone meal. When my cabbage, lettuce and broccoli start to head, I give them blood meal. You can target specific macro-nutrients when it's clear your plants are going through changes that need them. Using all purpose fertilizer at all times may give them too much of another nutrient that could have an undesirable effect.
@TheMillennialGardener I had a lot of bad habits as far as gardening goes. I'm blessed to have found your channel great content. This is my first year back in the gardening scene but next spring I'm adding sweetcorn and cucumbers
We call this product "Blood and Bone" here in Australia. When added to rock minerals and Phosphorus this is a hell of a nutrient boost. I suggest to be very light on the does with Blood meal it can be surprisingly harsh on plants. I use it when building a new bed or thrown into my compost to sit for some time before using on my plants and trees.
Well thank you very much for this great info. Will be trying this next year. Because here in Pennsylvania we have had two really hard frost already and 40s and 50s during the day. Dale looks really happy to gave that cone off! I bet he feels absolutely fantastic. ❤❤❤bto Dale 😊
If you're still growing food, you can still apply fertilizer. Decomposition slows in the winter, but it never stops. If it's warm enough to grow, it's warm enough to decompose. If you don't grow in the heart of winter, I would recommend buying the blood meal soon, because they tend to raise the prices toward spring. It stores for a long time in a cool, dry place, so it's better to get it now while it's cheap. The small bag I linked in the video is $8.99 currently, which isn't bad. Dale's doing really well. He was pulling hard to get out of the vet's office, so he was hyperventilating a bit.
Great information! I have been sharing this trick for years! People asked me, "How do I keep herbivores away from my garden?" This was always my answer.! Thanks
THANK YOU for this video! I get so overwhelmed by all of the products & how/when to use them! So much so that i usually do nothing & my plants suffer as a result.
Sometimes just making sure plants have good water is all that’s needed if you add other compostables to the soil. Without water the plant can’t use any nutrients. Espoma makes an excellent all around fertilizer called Gardentone that would be sufficient.
Thank you for another great video! This comes at a fantastic time because I just recently started using blood meal in my garden. I have a key lime, a Persian lime, and a Meyer lemon tree that have been giving me issues. The Persian lime lasted in the garage very well in a container with minimal stress. However the key lime and the Meyer lemon really suffered a lot of damage and Branch death. I have trimmed out all of the damage on both of them, and put everybody outside. I am very glad to report that my key lime is sprouting leaves like absolute crazy. I'm going to focus on the vegetative growth this year and not so much their fruit bearing. I really want them to recover and my Meyer lemon finally is starting to show buds that she might be trying to grow leaves. I live in zone 8 and I'm considering leaving them outside this winter. They really did not handle life in the garage very well and their containers even though I had a grow light on them changing the hours from 6 hours a day to 12 hours a day interchangeably to give them different lighting.
Love your channel & I learn so much. Just now getting back into gardening but in 2 different styles of the greenstalks & 1 raised bed 4x8. I’ll be doing the sq ft gardening method in that for max production. Also less work & more bang for the buck. Keep these videos coming!!!
It's tough to stay on schedule. What I find easiest is to just dedicate an afternoon and do it all at once. If you can get a nice sunny Sunday or Saturday, spend an hour or two catching some sun and doing some easy work.
Hello, I watched your favorite 3 peppers video. I went to Tomatoe Growers and purchased them to add to my garden for the spring.. thanks for the recommendation 😊
Love your content ! Thank you ! I was wondering if I could add a little tiny bit to my seedling babies before transplanting ? I know you had mentioned being able to do for transplanting but they are not ready to be put into the garden quite yet so is it still to early ? Should I wait until they go into the ground ?
Thank you so much for all your videos! They’re very informative! I actually have a question that I hope someone could take the time to answer? I’m not a gardener yet, but I’ll be getting an opportunity to garden soon. I’m looking to plant some bare-root strawberries sometime in early September in a raised bed, and I was wondering if it would be wise to add some blood meal to help them get better established before next year’s cropping? To give more context to my plans in hopes of getting a more accurate answer; In the same bed, I would be aiming to plant onions in spring, and maybe a borage plant. I also live in the UK, but the bed I have in mind would come with a sort of… greenhouse shelter top, so the plants wouldn’t get exposed to rain when I wouldn’t want them to. Should I apply bloodmeal at the time of planting the bare roots? Should I wait? Or should I not apply it at all? Thank you so much for your time!
Informative as usual! So I understand that Onions are heavy nitrogen feeders (not sure). If that's the case, would you recommend blood meal and bone meal because it's also a root plant?
I am a new subscriber and I am so happy to find you. Thank you so much for the way you explain, I learn today the proper way to use the blood meal. Love your channel. I am looking forward to learn more from your videos.
House plant thrive with blood meal. I was wondering about artichoke, blueberry bushes and strawberry plants??? Just starting my edible garden and already have blood meal but couldn’t find information on these 3 particular plants.
2 questions... 1) how does this compare to neem seed meal? I used neem seed meal in one of my beds this summer that I felt had quite a lot of ants. I don't freak out too bad over ants, but there seemed to be quite a lot. I felt like the neem seed meal deterred them a bit. 2) how would this do in a mixed bed? In other words what if you had both flowering and fruiting plants as well as greens close to each other? Would you just find an alternative? Maybe use more of an instantly accessible nitrogen for the greens temporally so as not to over fertilize the fruiting plants?
I tried bloodmeal years ago, spreading it across the garden during summer every fly within miles appeared, it was so gross. I never used it again. I'm willing to try during winter now that you've hyped it up. I'm curious to see if this is the right time of year to apply!
Espoma Blood Meal is one of the best fertilizers for the money. Unfortunately, early this spring we had a number of seedlings dug up and destroyed in our community garden in Boston by animals overnight. We can't be certain, but given the area we think it was done by racoons, who are carnivores. Garden is surrounded by a chain link fence. Next year we will be doing cameras. And some online sites say blood meal repels racoons while others say it attracts?!?!?
While blood meal can repel some animals, it could attract others. Fencing is a gardener's best friend, and it's one of the best investments I've ever made. It may not be possible since you're in a community garden, but if you could cover your plot somehow with things like row covers or chicken wire, it could be worth the time.
I always use Bone meal I drizzled a bite in my plants or seeds when I throw them in the ground and pots. Works wonder!! Same size bag as yours at Walmart for 5 bucks will last me 1 year lol
Bone meal is quite different. It contains little to no nitrogen, so it's going to have an entirely different effect on the plant. Bone meal is a concentrated source of phosphorus and calcium, which predominantly supports flower and root development. I have a video on that here: ua-cam.com/video/TQgR0Ql0yXA/v-deo.htmlsi=f0ix1xvAM9kXfc4N
Blood meal is an extended feeder verses fish emulsion that’s needs to be reapplied several times during the growing season. A lot of gardeners just add blood meal to the soil in the spring and that’s the only extra nitrogen they give.
Blood meal is great when you need nitrogen and iron the downside is the potential to burn if you are not careful with your applications. I use it in my vineyard for quick nitrogen to help grapes bloom out early in the season when they use a lot of nitrogen. I prefer feather meal for a heavier application as it breaks down so slow i can put it down in the fall and it wont leach out by spring and then add some blood meal on top of it. Its great for onions provided you supply sulfur with it ammonium sulfate really is the best nitrogen for onions even if it is synthetic because it has nitrogen and sulfur both of which onions really like and none of the organic sources really have what you want.
I don’t know what I would do without you! Left my home state of CA almost 3 years ago & landed in TX. Just bought 5 acres of land in NE Texas. I have had to relearn how to garden. It’s been a gigantic undertaking for me. You & a couple others on here, help me so much. You don’t realize how invaluable you are for me. I also belong to the Dallas Garden Club (invaluable) & take as many classes as possible. This past summer I had my most successful garden EVER! In the tinyiest backyard you can imagine! I had a jungle & so much beautiful food. I was canning like a madwoman 😂. You, & those like you, inspire me & I love the whole process. I was hoping your new property in FL would be different soil than that in NC only because I went from the best soil in CA to a nightmare of clay. But…I’m not giving up!! I wish I could send you more, but times are hard right now & it’s the best I can offer. Just want you to know how appreciative I am of you. Thank you so very much. -👩🏻🌾Meems
Woohoo! Congrats on your abundance of land! Texas certainly has its challenges, but you can defeat them. The most important tip I can give you: shade cloth, shade cloth, shade cloth! Do everything you can to cover things in shade cloth during the summer. Texas sun and drought is absolutely brutal, and unprotected things will not do well in many summers. However, shade cloth makes anything possible. Anything you can do to build hoop house structures or erect posts/trellises to string shade cloth above will be a lifesaver, literally! Thank you so much for your support and donation. I really appreciate it, and I'm happy to hear the videos are helpful and inspiring. That's why I do all this. If it weren't for the people and their thanks, I wouldn't have the energy. The motivation means everything!
The shade cloths saved my tomato plants this past summer. 59 straight days of 100°+. Pickling cucumbers went crazy on me. Got hundreds. As well as tomatoes (celebrity, romas, beef stake, red cherry tomatoes & golden cherry tomatoes (we ate the golden’s like grapes). Gosh they were delicious. I forgot…I failed at Kennebec potatoes. I was crushed. Already have my order in for my onions & leeks as well as potatoes, rhubarb & asparagus oh & horseradish. I’m used to growing Peach, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Cherry, & Apple trees. NONE grow where I’m at. I actually stradle zone 7 & 8. I’m close to LA, AR & OK. I’ve ordered bare root Persimmons, blackberries, Mayhaw’s & chicksaw plums. I guess I can grow pears but Texas pears are hard & native Texans like their pears hard & well that just makes my stomach say no thanks. Figs & Loquats are for spring planting. Now, mind you I have never heard of any of these fruits before! Obviously blackberries & raspberries I grew in CA but can’t grow raspberries here. 😢 This is my first year growing a winter garden. Brassicas are in. But they need Blood meal…leaves turning yellow. My garlic needs weeding & bloodmeal asap. Every clove I planted came up…all 225 of them. Hard & Soft. We shall see how they turn out. Keep doing what you are doing! You bring joy & inspiration to so many, especially me & my husband. And we thank you kindly. 🌱🌿🪴🥬🥦
I have one on bone meal here: ua-cam.com/video/TQgR0Ql0yXA/v-deo.htmlsi=g77w4HVE7DxNf04H I just purchased a few bags of different types of potash. I intend to put together another video like this on potash, so I'll have guides on the 'N,' 'P,' and 'K.'
Great info, thanks. I’m noticing as the weather gets more hot and humid in FL the birds are biting into my tomatoes probably for the water. Although I don’t mind sharing some I am wondering if you have any suggestions on providing a bird bath or water feature that doesn’t require electricity (pump) to circulate the water for the birds to drink but not host mosquitoes.
You're welcome! Dale was very anxious because we just left the vet. He was pulling really hard to get out of there after they took his sutures out, so he was a big ball of anxiety and hyperventilating. As soon as we pulled out of the parking lot, he calmed down.
I've never used feather meal. It's not something I've seen in-stores. For whatever reason, I'm guessing blood meal is more common. Blood meal is fairly acidic, and most fruits and vegetables like slightly acidic pH, so it works well for me.
Many years ago I was required to suit up and measure up for a stainless steel new chute below the kill floor while it was in full operation. Was an interestingly quick but still very bloody time had by both of us.
So great that you posted on just this one topic in greater depth and i love how clear you are with your information, reference chapters and visual diagrams, without being too overwhelming with data. I am just disappointed that you are not over 1mil subs by now.... Animal blood is used in a lot of things as a by product and i am so glad that it doesn't get wasted. They use dried blood in making black pudding and mix it with cereals and fat. Haggis also uses things that some people might turn their nose up but i actually quite like it. Some other countries and cultures where meat is rare in a diet, they often have it raw in dishes as an iron supplement and they use every part of an animal. I am a bit miffed that they stopped putting the giblets back in the whole chickens here in the UK. A lot of the stuff we no longer get is often used in dog and cat food. Even Cumberland sausages still use intestines for the traditional casing, instead of the other generic stuff on regular sausages. If i could afford steak, i like it to be cooked enough that it doesn't walk off my plate. ie rare- med rare but it needs to be rested on a separate plate before serving. We save those juices for the gravy too. I have decided not to amend my main bed with blood meal until maybe next spring. I use worm casting from my wormery and we use a lot of home made organic matter on the beds. I noticed that some of our ball roots have bolted. Our left bed is almost clear and removed the radishes today, where the garlic normally is interplanted with the tomatoes. We just have the beetroot and turnips to remove before resetting tomorrow and getting it ready for this years garlic. The right side has sugar snap peas and runner beans, so doesn't need any amending for the other stuff we grow there. We found a dug up patch where the tomatoes were on the left side of the bed and i think it was a squirrel as i saw one the other morning being all jolly finding places to bury his nuts in some of our containers by the house. So lovely to see him and he was even washing his face on the wet grass after! Our back bed growing sprouts hasn't done so well this year due to the lack of sun here in the UK. These are growing in native clay soil so i have put a bit of blood, fish and bone down and i think i will add the home made compost again in this year. We covered them with small netting to keep the birds off as they have taken a liking to the brassica leaves this year. No amendments else where but using organic matter and worm castings. I just kinda eye ball what my plants are doing now with no dig but it does take time to work out what is doing what in your own garden. I am just surprised that even with a 1c night mid Oct and 2 storms that our courgettes/zucchinis are still alive. The irony is that they have either been producing all males or all females all year and now we just get a mix! Typical! lol Still happy with the 40 kgs of tomatoes we processed this year (not including the lunchtime snacks!). We did pretty well with runner beans too. We currently have one bean left on the plant, waiting to go to seed before cutting it back. Going to try the Liz Zorab approach and try to over winter them. Will renew the tomato frame horizontal bars and then finally get to cover it all for winter and spring. Dale is such a happy boy again being cone free! Glad his paw is all sorted now! Did you get to keep the cone? If so, i would line it with foil and out it around a plant that you are trying to overwinter and see if it makes a difference? Anyway, best wishes from London!
Straighten me out--I had thought that blood meal was my best friend for cabbage and broccoli. But I was reading lately that it's p&k that cause them to head. What are your thoughts?
Nitrogen will help boost a plant's development of leaves. However, too much of any single nutrient in overabundance will have undesirable effects, because every living creature needs a proper balance of nutrients. Phosphorus is necessary for healthy root development. Potassium is necessary for cellular division and regulation of a plant's metabolism. If you give them too much nitrogen without enough phosphorus and potassium to regulate root development and the plant's overall metabolic health, you may create unbalanced plants that won't grow or head correctly. Blood meal is excellent to boost leafy greens, but it can't be all you give them. Think of it like feeding a person only sugar with no protein or fat. Sugar will provide energy, but if you don't provide the other nutrients people need to develop and sustain their life processes, it won't end well. I give my plants blood meal when they're smaller and going through their growth phase. I also give blood meal to my leafy greens if I cut them back and want them to re-grow (like cut-and-come-again gardening). Something like a tomato plant, I'll give them bone meal when they just begin to flower for the additional phosphorus. Something like onions, I'll give them blood meal when they're young and growing greens, but when they reach maximum height, I stop blood meal and switch to bone meal, since that's the time you want them to develop the bulb and too much nitrogen will harm bulb development. Concentrated sources of a single macro-nutrient, like blood meal, bone meal and potassium are extremely beneficial when used in a targeted way, but it can't be all you give the plants. Fertilizing with them is a little more advanced than using an all purpose fertilizer, so you need to understand when to apply them.
If you enjoyed this video, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😀TIMESTAMPS here:
0:00 All About Blood Meal Fertilizer
3:28 When To Use Blood Meal
5:38 Plants That Love Blood Meal
7:24 How Blood Meal Works
8:22 How Blood Meal Repels Pests
9:35 How To Apply Blood Meal
13:57 Adventures With Dale
@TheMillennialGardner
My band wants to donate some music to you free for your show. We love it.
I have flowers planted around my patio on a hill just had a soil test done and found that there is no nitrogen in the soil so my perennials are not growing what can I do to amend?
I have said it before, will say it again...this is the FINEST gardener on UA-cam. He nails the details on every topic he covers. I am in the process of hardening my sweet potatoes as he taught, works like a charm. My last years potatoes lasted a whole year! And I tripled my output this year. Bravo Mr. M.G.! Here is a tip for you, to say thanks for all you do. Dice your orange Sweet potatoes into half inch cubes or so. Then fry them in oil, medium heat, don't want to burn them, but they need to have some heat to develop those crispy bits...about half way through the cooking process, add diced walnuts, similar in size to the potatoes or a little bigger. They don't take as long. I season with salt, onion power and garlic powder, but add your own favs. Once the nuts and potatoes take on some color and crisp up a bit they are done. It's my go to quick meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Satisfying, savory, sweet and delicious. The simplest things in life really are the best. Enjoy!
He's pretty great 👍 😅
I don't like playing favorites, but this dudes up there for sure..
I completely agree 🎉
Absolutely. Love his videos bc he is detailed and concise. I’m trying new things because of him!
We have chickens that we use as a food source, what we tend to do is have a 5 gallon bucket with some water in it for the fluid to drain into. Afterwards we top it off with water and use that watered down from the source to feed our fruit trees and add to the garden's irrigation ditches when watering. Usually the culling is done at the beginning of the spring or autumn season so it's usually at the beginning stages after the seeds have sprouted or before the tree goes to flower. We've had great results, as did my father before me, I was raised to never waste anything. Every part of the chicken that we do not eat goes back into the garden someway or another. Same goes for the occasional deer or rabbit that we hunt.
I do that same thing even with fish that I catch when fishing
Thank you so much I looked through so many videos trying to figure out how to apply the blood meal to my peppers because they are lacking nitrogen and this is the only video that throughly explained how to add the blood meal to my plants
Thank you! I've gardened for over 50 years and have never used blood or bone meal until recently. This makes it simple HOW to use it.
I use bonemeal and blood meal. Also used liquid fish fertilizer for nitrogen. I try and find sales or buy in bulk because I noticed the 3lb. bags are pricey. I love Espoma products and they have a great all around fertilizer called Gardentone if the others are too confusing.
With drought in many areas I’m thinking that if a garden isn’t doing well it will be more likely the plants are not staying hydrated enough to use nutrients. Drip emitter irrigation has changed A Lot in my garden. Saved time, money and a HUGE change in plant growth especially root crops. Highly advise.
Now, my experience with blood meal is, yes, it stinks. I noticed after applying instantly there were these strange flies that came out of nowhere. It is also pricey. And my experience with fish emulsion is I had instant raccoon visits.
I almost bought more blood meal, but then remembered we just got chickens again this year and the manure has plenty of nitrogen 👏🏼👏🏼 and phosphorus.
I do love the bonemeal and it does have some nitrogen as well. I’ve seen how it brought back to life some rhubarb that was close to dead. The roots were like jelly and there wasn’t much left, but I threw in a handful of bonemeal and moved the poor plants away from encroaching trees and they recovered beautifully. It really was amazing.
So for new gardeners I highly suggest irrigation if your area is dry and throw all the organic material you can at the garden. Don’t worry about separate amendments for now and get an organic all purpose fertilizer like Espoma Gardentone. I have been gardening for years and just realized some issues in the garden were fixed with irrigation and some root crops were Finally successful by planting in shade.🙄. Radishes and beets! Who would have thought, but we are sandy and dry and the severe drought in WI didn’t help.
I use granular fertilizer on our sandy soil unless a plant needs a quick boost. Granular stays in the soil longer. Organic fertilizers are not quick acting so think ahead.
The duplex I've been living in for the last 17 years was sold and the new owners want to live in my side. _(That's what I get for taking such good care of this side)_
It looks like I'm going to end up living in an apartment. I *HATE* the thought of not being able to plant anything in the ground, and hope I can at least use grow bags on a deck.
I always include blood meal and bone meal in my grow bags, along with worm castings, compost if I have some, and some slow-release organic fertilizer. I first started using blood meal to repel rabbits in my in-ground gardens back in the 80s, worked great. I don't overdo any of them, that could be problematic. I find most of your videos very useful, I especially liked your sweet potato curing chamber, I use that rig now myself. Keepup the good work!
An interesting thing ive noticed is that radishes typically dont need much nitrogen, but giving it to them will allow you to use the leaves as a good salad mix as well as the root crop itself
Nitrogen will have profound effects on plants. If you give them an abundance, it will direct their energy into green growth. if you're growing radishes, beets or carrots, this can actually harm them since you want the roots and not the greens. However, if you want the greens, it will work to a degree. Fertilizing radishes with nitrogen may yield smaller radishes.
You make growing into a science in a way that no one else does. It's truly amazing.
I’m an engineer by trade, and I use far more science in my garden than my actual design engineering job. I truly mean that. Farmers are mad scientists.
@@TheMillennialGardener I agree. I've learned so much from you!
I don’t use blood or bone meal but rather alfalfa pellets I buy in a 40 lb bag. I soak in water first and add it to the soil. Found this substitute on Rusted Gardener.
My broccoli and cauliflowers suffered damage because of the recent freeze, I will get some bloodmeal and hope they recover soon. Thanks for a very informative video.
I'm thinking of using some of this in my cold frame for my broccoli since it's actually pretty inexpensive! I just remembered another video with tomato plants that survived heat under an overhang today because I have a bunch of cherry tomatoes that survived a dip into the upper 20s last week and are still ripening up some fruit! I have them under a south facing, clear plastic overhang that I built to enjoy the winter sun with my layers on! Apparently it's created quite an impressive microclimate!
Thank you for sharing your video on Blood Meal. I saw it the store and always been wondering what’s it for in the garden. ❤
Just bought some more of that for my fall brassicas. Great job as usual!
Thank you! It works great on brassicas.
Love this, please do videos for all nutrients
I have a video on bone meal here: ua-cam.com/video/TQgR0Ql0yXA/v-deo.htmlsi=f0ix1xvAM9kXfc4N
Got some blood meal for $1.70 a bag at home Depot early this year on blowout. Awesome stuff, especially when imget it for cheap!
W00t! Now that's a deal! My Home Depot was clearing them out at a similar price a couple years ago and I bought a whole row. I still have a few bags.
Perfect timing. I just bought a bag. Thanks
You're very welcome!
THANK YOU!! Just the tutorial I needed for my current fall garden. This is the best detailed info I have found to date. 👏👏
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you for educating us.
Great video. The other thing about blood meal is if you don't get it buried, it smells awful. I use Urea (46% nitrogen). It takes less of the product and doesn't have the same issue with smells. Lettuces, kale, cabbage love it.
I don't detect much of an odor. The Espoma brand doesn't smell like much. Maybe it has a bit of an iron smell, but since it's blood, that would make sense. It's nothing like fish emulsion. Urea is a water soluble fertilizer that is typically synthesized out of anhydrous ammonia, so it is a refined chemical and will not benefit your soil. It will feed the plant, and I use it to condition my straw bales, but it isn't like blood meal. Blood meal builds healthy soil by feeding the soil microbiome, whereas urea is a salt-based chemical.
I LOVED this explanation of Blood Meal. Thank you! 👩🏻🌾
You're welcome!
Bloodmeal and worm castings, the franks hot suace of gardeners. I had to learn the hard way. I now use your method of providing individual nutrients based on the plants stage. Works fantastical. Especially for the giant tomatoes.
I use mostly all purpose fertilizers in my garden, but I do add specific things at certain times. For example, when my tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers start to flower, I give them bone meal. When my sweet potatoes and potatoes start to tuber, I give them bone meal. when my onions top out on growth and it's clear bulbing is imminent, I give them bone meal. When my cabbage, lettuce and broccoli start to head, I give them blood meal. You can target specific macro-nutrients when it's clear your plants are going through changes that need them. Using all purpose fertilizer at all times may give them too much of another nutrient that could have an undesirable effect.
@TheMillennialGardener I had a lot of bad habits as far as gardening goes. I'm blessed to have found your channel great content. This is my first year back in the gardening scene but next spring I'm adding sweetcorn and cucumbers
Gonna use the blood meal i bought during a sale you pointed out. Have lettuce it could be used on now. Timely video, thx!
We call this product "Blood and Bone" here in Australia. When added to rock minerals and Phosphorus this is a hell of a nutrient boost. I suggest to be very light on the does with Blood meal it can be surprisingly harsh on plants. I use it when building a new bed or thrown into my compost to sit for some time before using on my plants and trees.
Another great video. Thanks for the information!
Well thank you very much for this great info. Will be trying this next year. Because here in Pennsylvania we have had two really hard frost already and 40s and 50s during the day. Dale looks really happy to gave that cone off! I bet he feels absolutely fantastic. ❤❤❤bto Dale 😊
If you're still growing food, you can still apply fertilizer. Decomposition slows in the winter, but it never stops. If it's warm enough to grow, it's warm enough to decompose. If you don't grow in the heart of winter, I would recommend buying the blood meal soon, because they tend to raise the prices toward spring. It stores for a long time in a cool, dry place, so it's better to get it now while it's cheap. The small bag I linked in the video is $8.99 currently, which isn't bad. Dale's doing really well. He was pulling hard to get out of the vet's office, so he was hyperventilating a bit.
Wooow. You are the BEST and you are very generous with the real info you share. Thank youuu ❤️🙏🏻🥰❤️🙏🏻
Great information! I have been sharing this trick for years! People asked me, "How do I keep herbivores away from my garden?" This was always my answer.! Thanks
THANK YOU for this video! I get so overwhelmed by all of the products & how/when to use them! So much so that i usually do nothing & my plants suffer as a result.
Sometimes just making sure plants have good water is all that’s needed if you add other compostables to the soil. Without water the plant can’t use any nutrients.
Espoma makes an excellent all around fertilizer called Gardentone that would be sufficient.
@dustyflats3832 thank you so much!
I have been considering this just foe the pest deterrence elements alone. After watching this video, I may get some for some super green greens 👊🏻🌻👊🏻
Perfect timing. I was just looking at this in the store and wondering how/when/where to use it
Thank you for another great video! This comes at a fantastic time because I just recently started using blood meal in my garden. I have a key lime, a Persian lime, and a Meyer lemon tree that have been giving me issues. The Persian lime lasted in the garage very well in a container with minimal stress. However the key lime and the Meyer lemon really suffered a lot of damage and Branch death. I have trimmed out all of the damage on both of them, and put everybody outside. I am very glad to report that my key lime is sprouting leaves like absolute crazy. I'm going to focus on the vegetative growth this year and not so much their fruit bearing. I really want them to recover and my Meyer lemon finally is starting to show buds that she might be trying to grow leaves. I live in zone 8 and I'm considering leaving them outside this winter. They really did not handle life in the garage very well and their containers even though I had a grow light on them changing the hours from 6 hours a day to 12 hours a day interchangeably to give them different lighting.
Love your channel & I learn so much. Just now getting back into gardening but in 2 different styles of the greenstalks & 1 raised bed 4x8. I’ll be doing the sq ft gardening method in that for max production. Also less work & more bang for the buck. Keep these videos coming!!!
Always time well spent. Thank you for the education. I appreciate you efforts.
What gardening book would you recommend? I watch your channel regularly (fantastic videos), but I want a resource on my bookshelf as well. Thank you!
Happy for you Dale
He's happy, too!
Excellent information. I really need to supplement with fertilizers like this. I'm really bad about not fertilizing! (Bad plant momma!)
It's tough to stay on schedule. What I find easiest is to just dedicate an afternoon and do it all at once. If you can get a nice sunny Sunday or Saturday, spend an hour or two catching some sun and doing some easy work.
I have chickens and they are a perfect complement to my garden
Hello,
I watched your favorite 3 peppers video. I went to Tomatoe Growers and purchased them to add to my garden for the spring.. thanks for the recommendation 😊
Awesome! I just got my 2024 Tomato Growers seed catalog yesterday. I'll be reading it at lunch today!
Love your content ! Thank you ! I was wondering if I could add a little tiny bit to my seedling babies before transplanting ? I know you had mentioned being able to do for transplanting but they are not ready to be put into the garden quite yet so is it still to early ? Should I wait until they go into the ground ?
Awesome video! Packed with information and very detailed. Excellent presentation! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you so much for all your videos! They’re very informative!
I actually have a question that I hope someone could take the time to answer?
I’m not a gardener yet, but I’ll be getting an opportunity to garden soon. I’m looking to plant some bare-root strawberries sometime in early September in a raised bed, and I was wondering if it would be wise to add some blood meal to help them get better established before next year’s cropping? To give more context to my plans in hopes of getting a more accurate answer;
In the same bed, I would be aiming to plant onions in spring, and maybe a borage plant. I also live in the UK, but the bed I have in mind would come with a sort of… greenhouse shelter top, so the plants wouldn’t get exposed to rain when I wouldn’t want them to. Should I apply bloodmeal at the time of planting the bare roots? Should I wait? Or should I not apply it at all?
Thank you so much for your time!
This video is so informative, thanks.
You’re welcome!
Thanks always helpful
You're welcome!
Informative as usual! So I understand that Onions are heavy nitrogen feeders (not sure). If that's the case, would you recommend blood meal and bone meal because it's also a root plant?
I am a new subscriber and I am so happy to find you. Thank you so much for the way you explain, I learn today the proper way to use the blood meal. Love your channel. I am looking forward to learn more from your videos.
Thanks for subscribing! I’m glad the videos are helpful!
Thank you very helpful information have a blessed day
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
thank you! super informative! im going to try to grow some leafy greens. i love your channel and straightforward explanations!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Great video, thank you
You're welcome!
Amazing fertilizer sir
I appreciate it! Thanks for watching!
Great video. And helpful.
I appreciate it! Thanks for watching!
Ty, your explanation on use and why is the best❤
Works really well with collards and kale.
Definitely! Anything we harvest for the leaves, blood meal tends to work very well.
Thank you for the great info MG! 😊👍
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
House plant thrive with blood meal.
I was wondering about artichoke, blueberry bushes and strawberry plants???
Just starting my edible garden and already have blood meal but couldn’t find information on these 3 particular plants.
2 questions...
1) how does this compare to neem seed meal? I used neem seed meal in one of my beds this summer that I felt had quite a lot of ants. I don't freak out too bad over ants, but there seemed to be quite a lot. I felt like the neem seed meal deterred them a bit.
2) how would this do in a mixed bed? In other words what if you had both flowering and fruiting plants as well as greens close to each other? Would you just find an alternative? Maybe use more of an instantly accessible nitrogen for the greens temporally so as not to over fertilize the fruiting plants?
I tried bloodmeal years ago, spreading it across the garden during summer every fly within miles appeared, it was so gross. I never used it again. I'm willing to try during winter now that you've hyped it up. I'm curious to see if this is the right time of year to apply!
Espoma Blood Meal is one of the best fertilizers for the money. Unfortunately, early this spring we had a number of seedlings dug up and destroyed in our community garden in Boston by animals overnight. We can't be certain, but given the area we think it was done by racoons, who are carnivores. Garden is surrounded by a chain link fence. Next year we will be doing cameras. And some online sites say blood meal repels racoons while others say it attracts?!?!?
In Boston nah criminals dug it up they sold it
While blood meal can repel some animals, it could attract others. Fencing is a gardener's best friend, and it's one of the best investments I've ever made. It may not be possible since you're in a community garden, but if you could cover your plot somehow with things like row covers or chicken wire, it could be worth the time.
Great Video very informative.
I appreciate it! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for all the information you give us. It comes in handy.
I always use Bone meal I drizzled a bite in my plants or seeds when I throw them in the ground and pots. Works wonder!! Same size bag as yours at Walmart for 5 bucks will last me 1 year lol
Bone meal is quite different. It contains little to no nitrogen, so it's going to have an entirely different effect on the plant. Bone meal is a concentrated source of phosphorus and calcium, which predominantly supports flower and root development. I have a video on that here: ua-cam.com/video/TQgR0Ql0yXA/v-deo.htmlsi=f0ix1xvAM9kXfc4N
I agree! He's the best!!!
When would you choose blood meal over fish emulsion (which is what I usually use to feed leafly plants)?
Blood meal is an extended feeder verses fish emulsion that’s needs to be reapplied several times during the growing season. A lot of gardeners just add blood meal to the soil in the spring and that’s the only extra nitrogen they give.
Thanks dude
Works great for sweet corn
I learned a lot!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
I use it!
Outstanding!
Great video, very informative. Yay Dale, goodbye cone!
Thank you! Dale is thrilled to be out of it. He's back to his old self.
Blood meal is great when you need nitrogen and iron the downside is the potential to burn if you are not careful with your applications. I use it in my vineyard for quick nitrogen to help grapes bloom out early in the season when they use a lot of nitrogen. I prefer feather meal for a heavier application as it breaks down so slow i can put it down in the fall and it wont leach out by spring and then add some blood meal on top of it.
Its great for onions provided you supply sulfur with it ammonium sulfate really is the best nitrogen for onions even if it is synthetic because it has nitrogen and sulfur both of which onions really like and none of the organic sources really have what you want.
Very informative as always. Thank you! I hope you will do the same for bone meal?
I have a video on bone meal here: ua-cam.com/video/TQgR0Ql0yXA/v-deo.htmlsi=lDiQpA4VPlRARUux
For my small garden I the blood meal in a seasoning container. And sprinkle it out
Great information on bloodmeal
Hi could you possibly do a video on bunching onions. I'm struggling with mine. They are super thin and scraggly. 😢
Thank you so much!
Corn is a heavy nitrogen feeder, right? Would blood meal be beneficial for corn crops?
I don’t know what I would do without you!
Left my home state of CA almost 3 years ago & landed in TX. Just bought 5 acres of land in NE Texas. I have had to relearn how to garden. It’s been a gigantic undertaking for me. You & a couple others on here, help me so much. You don’t realize how invaluable you are for me. I also belong to the Dallas Garden Club (invaluable) & take as many classes as possible.
This past summer I had my most successful garden EVER! In the tinyiest backyard you can imagine! I had a jungle & so much beautiful food. I was canning like a madwoman 😂.
You, & those like you, inspire me & I love the whole process. I was hoping your new property in FL would be different soil than that in NC only because I went from the best soil in CA to a nightmare of clay. But…I’m not giving up!!
I wish I could send you more, but times are hard right now & it’s the best I can offer. Just want you to know how appreciative I am of you. Thank you so very much. -👩🏻🌾Meems
Woohoo! Congrats on your abundance of land! Texas certainly has its challenges, but you can defeat them. The most important tip I can give you: shade cloth, shade cloth, shade cloth! Do everything you can to cover things in shade cloth during the summer. Texas sun and drought is absolutely brutal, and unprotected things will not do well in many summers. However, shade cloth makes anything possible. Anything you can do to build hoop house structures or erect posts/trellises to string shade cloth above will be a lifesaver, literally! Thank you so much for your support and donation. I really appreciate it, and I'm happy to hear the videos are helpful and inspiring. That's why I do all this. If it weren't for the people and their thanks, I wouldn't have the energy. The motivation means everything!
The shade cloths saved my tomato plants this past summer. 59 straight days of 100°+. Pickling cucumbers went crazy on me. Got hundreds. As well as tomatoes (celebrity, romas, beef stake, red cherry tomatoes & golden cherry tomatoes (we ate the golden’s like grapes). Gosh they were delicious.
I forgot…I failed at Kennebec potatoes. I was crushed. Already have my order in for my onions & leeks as well as potatoes, rhubarb & asparagus oh & horseradish.
I’m used to growing Peach, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Cherry, & Apple trees. NONE grow where I’m at. I actually stradle zone 7 & 8. I’m close to LA, AR & OK. I’ve ordered bare root Persimmons, blackberries, Mayhaw’s & chicksaw plums. I guess I can grow pears but Texas pears are hard & native Texans like their pears hard & well that just makes my stomach say no thanks. Figs & Loquats are for spring planting. Now, mind you I have never heard of any of these fruits before! Obviously blackberries & raspberries I grew in CA but can’t grow raspberries here. 😢
This is my first year growing a winter garden. Brassicas are in. But they need Blood meal…leaves turning yellow. My garlic needs weeding & bloodmeal asap. Every clove I planted came up…all 225 of them. Hard & Soft. We shall see how they turn out.
Keep doing what you are doing! You bring joy & inspiration to so many, especially me & my husband. And we thank you kindly. 🌱🌿🪴🥬🥦
Thanku very informative
You're welcome!
Loved it can you do more like liquid all in one, worm casting.
I have one on bone meal here: ua-cam.com/video/TQgR0Ql0yXA/v-deo.htmlsi=g77w4HVE7DxNf04H
I just purchased a few bags of different types of potash. I intend to put together another video like this on potash, so I'll have guides on the 'N,' 'P,' and 'K.'
Great video 😊
My love to Dale ❤
Thank you! Dale sends his love 🐶
Great info, thanks.
I’m noticing as the weather gets more hot and humid in FL the birds are biting into my tomatoes probably for the water. Although I don’t mind sharing some I am wondering if you have any suggestions on providing a bird bath or water feature that doesn’t require electricity (pump) to circulate the water for the birds to drink but not host mosquitoes.
thank you
Great as usual, thanks
Great info bro, thanks
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
I have blood meal and use it pretty regularly bc of nitrogen content. I never knew how it was made
I’ve been looking for a video like this thank you!!
Thank you for that great information!
In Australia we have Blood & Bone powder with added potassium - dont gett on leaves or close to stem as can burn
Love this, thanks 🙏
Thanks, MG! Great information!👍
Dale looked pretty nervous about the car ride. Hopefully, he got to celebrate with a pup cup!🐕😄
You're welcome! Dale was very anxious because we just left the vet. He was pulling really hard to get out of there after they took his sutures out, so he was a big ball of anxiety and hyperventilating. As soon as we pulled out of the parking lot, he calmed down.
Funny I was googling about the best use of blood meal and bone meal, and this popped up in my feed.
Nice video! Thanks! 😊
Question: how would you compare boold meal to feather meal?
Both are charged in Nitrogen
I've never used feather meal. It's not something I've seen in-stores. For whatever reason, I'm guessing blood meal is more common. Blood meal is fairly acidic, and most fruits and vegetables like slightly acidic pH, so it works well for me.
@@TheMillennialGardener Good to know! Thank you! 😄
Many years ago I was required to suit up and measure up for a stainless steel new chute below the kill floor while it was in full operation. Was an interestingly quick but still very bloody time had by both of us.
Thanks
So great that you posted on just this one topic in greater depth and i love how clear you are with your information, reference chapters and visual diagrams, without being too overwhelming with data. I am just disappointed that you are not over 1mil subs by now....
Animal blood is used in a lot of things as a by product and i am so glad that it doesn't get wasted. They use dried blood in making black pudding and mix it with cereals and fat. Haggis also uses things that some people might turn their nose up but i actually quite like it.
Some other countries and cultures where meat is rare in a diet, they often have it raw in dishes as an iron supplement and they use every part of an animal.
I am a bit miffed that they stopped putting the giblets back in the whole chickens here in the UK. A lot of the stuff we no longer get is often used in dog and cat food.
Even Cumberland sausages still use intestines for the traditional casing, instead of the other generic stuff on regular sausages.
If i could afford steak, i like it to be cooked enough that it doesn't walk off my plate. ie rare- med rare but it needs to be rested on a separate plate before serving. We save those juices for the gravy too.
I have decided not to amend my main bed with blood meal until maybe next spring. I use worm casting from my wormery and we use a lot of home made organic matter on the beds. I noticed that some of our ball roots have bolted. Our left bed is almost clear and removed the radishes today, where the garlic normally is interplanted with the tomatoes. We just have the beetroot and turnips to remove before resetting tomorrow and getting it ready for this years garlic.
The right side has sugar snap peas and runner beans, so doesn't need any amending for the other stuff we grow there.
We found a dug up patch where the tomatoes were on the left side of the bed and i think it was a squirrel as i saw one the other morning being all jolly finding places to bury his nuts in some of our containers by the house. So lovely to see him and he was even washing his face on the wet grass after!
Our back bed growing sprouts hasn't done so well this year due to the lack of sun here in the UK. These are growing in native clay soil so i have put a bit of blood, fish and bone down and i think i will add the home made compost again in this year. We covered them with small netting to keep the birds off as they have taken a liking to the brassica leaves this year.
No amendments else where but using organic matter and worm castings. I just kinda eye ball what my plants are doing now with no dig but it does take time to work out what is doing what in your own garden.
I am just surprised that even with a 1c night mid Oct and 2 storms that our courgettes/zucchinis are still alive. The irony is that they have either been producing all males or all females all year and now we just get a mix! Typical! lol
Still happy with the 40 kgs of tomatoes we processed this year (not including the lunchtime snacks!). We did pretty well with runner beans too. We currently have one bean left on the plant, waiting to go to seed before cutting it back. Going to try the Liz Zorab approach and try to over winter them. Will renew the tomato frame horizontal bars and then finally get to cover it all for winter and spring.
Dale is such a happy boy again being cone free! Glad his paw is all sorted now! Did you get to keep the cone? If so, i would line it with foil and out it around a plant that you are trying to overwinter and see if it makes a difference?
Anyway, best wishes from London!
Great , easy to understand explanations. Can Bone and Blood meal be used together? N and P needs?
Hey Dashing Dale❤❤❤So happy you feel better❤❤❤❤
He feels much better!
Makes sense, thanks
What if the cows were grazing in a field that was sprayed with a herbicide, is it still organic?
Straighten me out--I had thought that blood meal was my best friend for cabbage and broccoli. But I was reading lately that it's p&k that cause them to head. What are your thoughts?
Bloodmeal is great when the plant is young and growing When it start to flower back off bloodmeal use more bonemeal
Nitrogen will help boost a plant's development of leaves. However, too much of any single nutrient in overabundance will have undesirable effects, because every living creature needs a proper balance of nutrients. Phosphorus is necessary for healthy root development. Potassium is necessary for cellular division and regulation of a plant's metabolism. If you give them too much nitrogen without enough phosphorus and potassium to regulate root development and the plant's overall metabolic health, you may create unbalanced plants that won't grow or head correctly. Blood meal is excellent to boost leafy greens, but it can't be all you give them.
Think of it like feeding a person only sugar with no protein or fat. Sugar will provide energy, but if you don't provide the other nutrients people need to develop and sustain their life processes, it won't end well.
I give my plants blood meal when they're smaller and going through their growth phase. I also give blood meal to my leafy greens if I cut them back and want them to re-grow (like cut-and-come-again gardening). Something like a tomato plant, I'll give them bone meal when they just begin to flower for the additional phosphorus. Something like onions, I'll give them blood meal when they're young and growing greens, but when they reach maximum height, I stop blood meal and switch to bone meal, since that's the time you want them to develop the bulb and too much nitrogen will harm bulb development. Concentrated sources of a single macro-nutrient, like blood meal, bone meal and potassium are extremely beneficial when used in a targeted way, but it can't be all you give the plants. Fertilizing with them is a little more advanced than using an all purpose fertilizer, so you need to understand when to apply them.