Do you use a "pre-plant" fertilizer each time you plant something in your backyard garden? Let us know! GET FIG TREES HERE: lazydogfarm.com/collections/fig-trees 0:00 Intro 0:52 Our Favorite Granular Organic Fertilizer 3:23 Fertilizing Our Raised Bed Garden 8:28 Fertilizing Potatoes with Organic Fertilizer 12:28 The #1 Tip for a Successful Backyard Garden
I watch several gardening videos, and I conclude that I must be the only one that doesn’t have a drip system setup to water the garden but I find it relaxing to grab a coffee and go out and hand water my 6 raised beds
I used to do drip, but I went to raised beds (my native soil is HORRIBLE here in Florida), and watering the plants is what I do every day after work. Nice to take 10-15 mins outside in the garden watering and checking things out.
This was one thing I had to learn. I didn't know how much you needed to fertilize and how big a difference it makes. Once you nail it down, the results are beautiful. I grew some huge pretty onions, very respectable broccoli, and nice potatoes from your advice in the past. 👍
Hey Travis, I live out here in California the only way to get your nature safe is to order it so I did and it cost me $31 for shipping. It was only $37 for 50 pounds. I’m OK with that as long as it works to get my tomatoes I’ll do anything almost
This year I used preplant worm castings also. Testing 3 rows of taters with and 3 without. The three with already need hilling. The 3 without have barely broken the surface. Everything else in the rows is the same.
I put down a balanced organic fertizer 2 to 3 before planting organics need a little time to get processed by the microbes before they are available to the plant
Hey, Travis! Right now, I'm using up what I have on hand: Triple 13, 20-20-20, Agrothrive. My budget is like a tourniquet, so I use what I have. That being said, my chickens are also an important part of my fertilizer program. Kudos to y'all who can afford raised beds, but I"ve got 3500 sq feet of in-ground garden, and at my age, hand watering would give me an upper back ache that would last for days, so not an option. My drip tape system is a real life saver for me, and right now, I'm installing fresh lines that should last for about two years, even in this hot, North Florida sun. The way grocery prices are now, I just can't afford to gamble on whether or not my garden will do well.
Carol, I switched to the thicker tape years back... and I am getting 3-4 years out of it, and you can pull on it pretty hard to take it up. I simply couldn't use the thin stuff, it leaked (poured) all over the place. Had tiny little holes it in... come to find out it was wire worms. No longer an issue on the thicker tape.
@@FloraM44 Rivilus 15Mil drip tape is what I'm currently using, but I'm going to switch to whatever Travis is using or whatever they sell at drip depot... I have personally never been happy with 12 inch spacing. I have more sand than dirt, and the only way it ever fills in all the way between emitters is if I leave it running for 6 to 8 hours... I'm moving to 6 inch spacing, and I've already installed timers... for me it's the only way to go. I can set it and forget it... because otherwise I turn it on and forget it, and waste a bunch of water.
@@michaelmorris1802 thanks that makes a lot of sense. I think 6" would be good for most applications anyway.. unless you're doing a plot of pumpkins or something. I've been debating drip tube and drip tape because honestly drip tube seems more durable, but I'm not sure
Interesting discussion on the pre-plant fertilizer. I've been doing that on tomatoes and squash, (and giant pumpkins). I'm in Idaho, and my approach to planting potatoes is a bit different. I plant them 5 to 6 inches deep and only hill them a small bit. They come up just fine. Generally all your potatoes are going to form between the point where the seed was planted and the top of the soil. Larger space, more room for potatoes. Hilling achieves the same thing as planting deep, and one could even do both. A lot of things I need to fertilize but potatoes seems to be the least. My soil is loaded in P and K, and I think K in particular is important for them. I get potatoes that are HUGE! You are going to have a great crop.
I use Nature’s Safe as a pre planting fertilizer. When I first started my garden, I was not using any. I notice how healthy your plants were so I started using 8-5-5 and 13-0-0. Big difference!
Very important subject matter. Had good success with NatureSafe 8-5-5 and alfalfa pellets for pre-plant last year. I also like the Harmony 5-4-3 + 9% Ca that you used to promote earlier in life. At blossom time on tomatoes and cucurbits, I like to side dress with a little 8-5-5 sweetened with seabird guano (0-11-0) and OMRI listed potassium sulphate (0-0-52+17% Sulfur) to boost the P and K at that critical time. That booster shot is critical for potatoes also.
I usually keep a bag or two of 13-13-13 I put out before we plant, been working plenty good. In the rural area we live no one carries the Natures Safe or anything close to it without having to pay a small fortune for shipping, so we don't mess with it.
I keep empty feed bags for chicken poop every day i clean the coop using the sand method, ready for spread few bags on the garden to till in. I do let i let set in sun to bake, still its few months old poop.
Put my potatoes to bed today... (3/15) they are 18 inches tall, and I hilled them the second time, and side dressed them for the second time (I believe 30 days from plant date)... yep Calandar says planted on Feb 13th. Fastest I've every grown out potatoes, they are on auto-pilot till harvest. So I did pre-plant with 8-5-5, first side dressing was with the same, and today used a custom blend that I make myself, slightly more stout but 18 inch potatoes can take a little extra and I'm done till harvest. You seem to be very lucky... I have to fight with racoons all the dang time digging in my garden after that 8-5-5... if I put it on top of the ground like that no telling how much trouble I would have. On those taters, its' those GMO Taters that do that! :) No Idea obviously... that is very strange. Maybe call that guy you talked to before (in maine) and get the official word, that is some pretty interesting stuff.
I can't find any nature safe around here, can order it on Amazon but you only get like 5 lbs and it's a little expensive. I've got more mater plants than I have room for. I had someone who wanted some so I started extras and they haven't picked up their mater plants and they are outgrowing the pots. Iyaya what to do with these beautiful plants. My Baltic Rose came up looking exactly like yours, I thought it looked a little strange but I've never grown the Baltic Rose before. They have become a normal looking potato plant, just slightly different in color.
And you wanna get MORE chickens! Well! Anyway, I have a couple bags of NS 8-5-5 on order from the local salesperson and I should get a call in a few days. We'll see how it does. I've used AgroThrive for three seasons now and I like it also. Especially when free shipping is involved! Have a cold spell the next two nights, mid 20s. Sweating it out with the onions, spinach, bok choi and cabbage and kale. We'll see. At planting I generally use an organic fertilizer of some sort (Espoma Garden-Tone usually or whatever I can get end of season on sale. This year will be a dose of 8-5-5 too) and some Milorganite. I mineralize ahead of time. This year I did water can in some AgroThrive at transplant time.
I use a balanced preplant organic fertilizer and compost every time I prep a bed for planting by scratching up the top 2 inches of soil, spreading the fertilizer and compost, and mixing it in a week or two before planting.
My mama told me that indeterminate spuds shoot up out of the soil like that when I was a kid and I’ve been hillin’ ever since. I’ve always gotten loads of spuds when I hill ‘em.
Also this year trying on half row using wood ash as pre plant fertilizer. One row spread on top one row spread in forrow with the potatoes and one row of none added
I agree, I love Nature Safe. We started using it after I watched a video of you recommending it. My one caution is, watch your dogs. My dog Max can't resist this fertilizer and will dig up the vegetable beds trying to get at it. Luckily most of our beds are fenced in but he drove us nuts with the one bed still not properly fenced in. Thanks for the great recommendation!
@@gailpetchenik3048 Oh that is so frustrating. They can really try your patience sometimes. 😬 Between the rabbits and our dog we have our gardens locked up tighter than Fort Knox to keep everybody out. 😂
The numbers indicate the percentage of a particular nutrient. But there are many other factors at play there. Synthetic fertilizers are much more volatile and you don't always get every bit of the number on those. Organic fertilizers feed the soil in addition to the plants and tend to stick around longer. There are trade-offs with each.
I noticed you have drip tubing in some raised beds, im going to be adding this to a few of mine. Just not sure, how long for the average water cycle....im thinkin an hour. Also curious, i usually grow yukon gold potatoes, haven't been impressed with production, is the huckleberry gold a decent size, and good producer....?
Yes, you said, the amount of fertilizer is "enough", but the thing that gets me is you use soooo much fertilizer for side dressing. I believe it's good stuff but that seems to be quite a lot for me.
Every soil type is different. I've learned over the years how much it takes in our soil. But for some veggies, I like to fertilize them once and be done with it. So that's why I use the amounts I do.
At the 13:30 mark you mention you don't use pre-plant fertilizer on Okra? What's different with those? I'm having that 8-5-5 shipped to try. Can't get the liquid power stuff yet. Thanks again for doing OMRI certified organic. It's not just a word they stuck on the package.
If you give okra too much fertilizer, it will make all leaves and few pods. From our experiences, it produces better when it's a little nutrient starved.
Hi. First of all, I'm like you I've never seen potatoes stem out like that, kinda curious to watch what they do. 2nd yes we pre plant fertilize, we use Dr Earth and other organic products like bone meal or fish emulsion or kelp, worm casting etc. Depending on plants needs. We have red clay here, so we battle that instead of sand.
I have red clay it is much better than sand. Red clay is very high in iron, it holds on to nutrients very well and it also holds on to moisture. Sand holds on to nothing.
@@autohelix our problem with clay is about late July it bakes hard and when spring rains come in buckets, it's a mess . It does have alot of nutrients and over the past 17 years we have added compost out the wazoo and worked to condition the soil. The soil test done back then originally, the man told us " hon, you can grow rocks in this " it was that pitiful. Over time it has greatly improved, but we have amended soil then let it go fallow to rest. Clay takes alot of work to condition it. I realize sand loses water and nutrients quickly and it's a struggle but where we live that red clay has given us fits to improve. What we ended up doing, is using that garden area as a extra and brought all the gardens in towards the house to take advantage of the topsoil. That has worked so much better. This year , we are bringing back the original garden plot / extra and added in grow bags and pot's.
@@amyschultz8058 I have pure red clay. I understand how it works. Not trying to be rude. The first year I did a garden in it I had very good results. I have many fruit trees, and berry plants. Nice grass and many flowers. Pure red clay zero topsoil.
Travis I think I remember you saying once you had plans for more chickens, still doing that? I’m looking to do a tractor setup like yours with meat birds.
@@LazyDogFarm I just ordered an Omlet chicken tractor….something I can move around on my own. The one my hubby and I built is too heavy for me so I thought I’d just bite the bullet and buy one.
Could I use this item onions, tomatoes, peppers, yellow squash, Cantelope, beats cilantro, carrots, Brussels, garlic in corn? These are the things I have growing. I’m in SW Florida. Zone 10 I think.
Travis, can you please do a video for some of us, backyard, farmers who want to grow and sell organic produce, but do not have the time to slowly improve the soil to feed the plants. This video can cover purchasing nature safe, organic fertilizers do spoon feed lettuce, and tomatoes that can be certified organic. Can you please do this? Thank you.
Sandy soil is brutal. "Not perfect" is a gross understatement. Not only is it devoid of nutrients but it is so difficult to amend especially if you'e in the deep south, because no matter how much organic matter you add it just disappears and you're back to square one. I'm in the Florida panhandle and even though I have improved my sandy soil over the years and continue to do so, I still have to use fertilizer. I don't think there will come a time when I don't have to.
i like local to me stuff called turkey trot 6-4-6 but oh my is it getting expensive, so i got a couple rabbits ( backyard chickens not allowed) to produce some good garden gold pellets lol. Are the ducks still arround?
You generally use Nature safe as a preplant and again as a side dress, about mid way thru the growth cycle of your plant. The nature safe is a slow release fertilizer (granulated fertilizers are the same-slow release) it also helps condition the soil. Agrothrive is a water soluble fertilizer, it's to be applied (generally) weekly after the first four weeks of your initial planting. Water soluble gets taken up into the plant right away to keep it growing at the rate it should & producing blooms. Each type of plant has their own needs, so please take this as general advice. Please look up what plants needs what and when, I would hate to steer you wrong.😬 As you likely know, some plants are pickier than others. I use Espoma Bio-tone as a preplant, along with bone meal powder, not bone meal-granules, powder. And then Agrothrive weekly as a water soluble.
Have you done a video of how to fight off vine borers? They destroy my squash down here in TX and are a serious pain in the butt to fight without heavy pesticides.
We don't really have many vine borers. We get squash bugs and leaf-footed bugs, but no vine borers. Not sure if that's because of our location or our rotation plan.
@@LazyDogFarm lucky. They are savage. Absolute destroyers. I hate them. Has to be location because I put a garden in a new location and they found my crops. My parents did the same about 30 minutes from me and they found him too. He doesn't mind spraying seven constantly on his crops to fight them but I am an organic gardener. Seems basically impossible to keep up with them organically 😥.
Have you tried planting later in the summer? Also tromboncino squash is more resistant to vine bores and VERY prolific. Massive squash if you grow on a trellis. I use cattle panel for trellises, they hold up well for heavier squash. Tromboncino can be picked early for as a summer squash or picked later for as a storing squash. GREAT for those wanting to store them for themselves and or your animals for winter. Look them up. I also plant come July or August for squash, helps a lot with bugs taking them out.
@@milliethemillinator3154 I'll try those. They also won't touch lemon squash but just growing those sucks lol. I tried fall squash but bores were killing them into October (granted, we had a brutally hot summer last year that lasted from like May to October).
Fertilizers like nature safe, are they expensive? From a dollar and cents standpoint, should a small farm look at commercial 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 for better economy?
I will stick to no-dig and adding only 1 inch of compost every year to the initial 6 inches of compost. Every year the results are improving. The initial 6 inches of compost needed were the big hurdle for which I had to use external sources. Nowadays kitchen scraps and garden waste cover the needed amount of compost. But I'm in Holland, way cooler than your environment
If you give okra too much fertilizer, it will just make all leaves and no pods -- especially with the heirloom types. We've found it will start producing sooner if it's a little nutrient-starved.
@@LazyDogFarm I just came back here to check my question. Thanks for the reply. I'm about to put a lot of okra in the ground, so the advice is appreciated. Also, I can't believe you understood my question. It reads like I was drinking when I typed it out. Thanks again.
It's just about impossible to find Nature Safe fertilizer in Texas, at least anywhere close to me near Austin. The closest is in San Antonio and they won't sell to the public. They must not want to get their product out there very badly. Travis, any suggestions for something similar?? Or a way to get ahold of the company to ask them to make it more available to your audience??
I wish they had a better distribution network because they have a great product. My only suggestion would be to go to their website, find the sales rep closest to you, and contact them as to where you might find some locally.
@@LazyDogFarm Come to find out, it's not sold in the state of Texas unless it's for commercial purposes, I would have to be a licensed business. Now I understand why it's impossible to find! 🤦♀️🤪🤣
I'd love any thoughts you have about using rabbit manure as fertilizer. We're a single income family trying to garden on budget. I've made compost tea as well as used it as is as a pre-plant amendment. I've found some information on the subject but a lot of conflicting information as well. Such as how much to use to amend a space, how often or how long to brew a compost tea. I'd really like to know if this is a viable option to support the needs of our garden alone or if it's just organic matter to be used in conjunction with a purchased fertilizer.
Rabbit manure is a great fertilizer. Best to allow it to compost a bit as with any manure. You can also make alfalfa tea by soaking 2 cups alfalfa pellets in 5 gallons of water. Allow to ferment 7-10 days then dilute that mix 50/50 water/tea and water the plants with it.
I dislike all weeds in my garden, but I HATE pigweed!! (and purslane, and chickweed, and ragweed, and.....) I always happen to wonder how many people are totally confused by the "Dawgs bucket" references?! Yep, folks, that's how you spell it! 😂
Seven Springs Farm online has lots of different options. 50 lb bags are expensive because of shipping, but I believe they have some smaller bags of some brands.
@@KevinCasey64 Jobes and espoma are two brands that are available at many stores. Lowe's, home depot and Walmart. Walmart also has a store brand organic fertilizer. Espoma is my favorite they have a ton of different products.
According to my soil test the only nutrient I need is nitrogen. PH is in the acceptable range as well as P and K. I side dress my sweet corn, but I still struggle with the proper way to apply N to my tomatoes, peppers, cantaloupes, and seedless watermelons.
To add a bit of Nitrogen to tomatoes, peppers etc. I use Alaska fish emulsion. Mix as instructed then set a routine of every few weeks or once a month , using liquid fertilizer instead of a watering. A old Native way , is burying a fish about 5 or 6 inches under a transplant or seed but fish emulsion works just as good.
Preplant fertiliser especially phosphate is a bad idea as it prevents the plants from forming the strongest relationships with beneficial microbes. A tiny amt of nitrogen is ok. But its better to wait at least a week after planting before you give fertiliser.
QUESTION - NATURE'S SAFE FERTZ. IS NOT AVAILABLE TO ME IN SO. FLORIDA. WITH THAT SAID, IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE PRE-FERTILIZER YOU RECOMMENT AND/OR CAN YOU RECOMMEND A ONLINE RESOURCE FOR ORDERING ON LINE? THANKS!
Do you use a "pre-plant" fertilizer each time you plant something in your backyard garden? Let us know!
GET FIG TREES HERE: lazydogfarm.com/collections/fig-trees
0:00 Intro
0:52 Our Favorite Granular Organic Fertilizer
3:23 Fertilizing Our Raised Bed Garden
8:28 Fertilizing Potatoes with Organic Fertilizer
12:28 The #1 Tip for a Successful Backyard Garden
I watch several gardening videos, and I conclude that I must be the only one that doesn’t have a drip system setup to water the garden but I find it relaxing to grab a coffee and go out and hand water my 6 raised beds
I gave up on the drip and now I'm out there with coffee in the mornings. I much prefer it
I used to do drip, but I went to raised beds (my native soil is HORRIBLE here in Florida), and watering the plants is what I do every day after work. Nice to take 10-15 mins outside in the garden watering and checking things out.
I don't either. I enjoy watering my garden.
Me too. Love watering my garden and coffee for me too. Gives you a way to check on them.
I get it completely, but sometimes watering just escapes the schedule. Great source for a back up. Life happens.
This was one thing I had to learn. I didn't know how much you needed to fertilize and how big a difference it makes. Once you nail it down, the results are beautiful.
I grew some huge pretty onions, very respectable broccoli, and nice potatoes from your advice in the past. 👍
I use Espoma Garden Tone as a preplant fertilizer for everything. I seem to have pretty good luck with it. It's organic and fairly cheap online.
Hey Travis. Great video! I am expecting one of your fig trees to arrive in the mail today 🙌🏼 Super excited! Thanks for all the great info
Thanks for sharing real life gardening with your chicken feed and children helping.So Funny.
i'm proud of you, showing off your green bay packer bucket. hell, yeah.
Ohhhhhhj hell na. I know you didnt.
Grove (Oklahoma) Ridgerunners uses the same logo on their buckets!
Yep, I did and nobody compares to the packers. They're second to none, even though they had a crappy season
Awesome content and advise
Hey Travis, I live out here in California the only way to get your nature safe is to order it so I did and it cost me $31 for shipping. It was only $37 for 50 pounds. I’m OK with that as long as it works to get my tomatoes I’ll do anything almost
Thanks for the reminder. Fertilizer, the good kind is so important.
This year I used preplant worm castings also. Testing 3 rows of taters with and 3 without. The three with already need hilling. The 3 without have barely broken the surface. Everything else in the rows is the same.
I put down a balanced organic fertizer 2 to 3 before planting organics need a little time to get processed by the microbes before they are available to the plant
I use 10-10-10 or 13-13-13 and have no issues. Thanks so much for sharing your great wealth of knowledge ❤❤❤
Hey, Travis! Right now, I'm using up what I have on hand: Triple 13, 20-20-20, Agrothrive. My budget is like a tourniquet, so I use what I have. That being said, my chickens are also an important part of my fertilizer program. Kudos to y'all who can afford raised beds, but I"ve got 3500 sq feet of in-ground garden, and at my age, hand watering would give me an upper back ache that would last for days, so not an option. My drip tape system is a real life saver for me, and right now, I'm installing fresh lines that should last for about two years, even in this hot, North Florida sun. The way grocery prices are now, I just can't afford to gamble on whether or not my garden will do well.
Carol, I switched to the thicker tape years back... and I am getting 3-4 years out of it, and you can pull on it pretty hard to take it up. I simply couldn't use the thin stuff, it leaked (poured) all over the place. Had tiny little holes it in... come to find out it was wire worms. No longer an issue on the thicker tape.
@@michaelmorris1802 very curious what brand you use? We're going to be getting some for the first time this year for our 35x40' garden
@@FloraM44 Rivilus 15Mil drip tape is what I'm currently using, but I'm going to switch to whatever Travis is using or whatever they sell at drip depot... I have personally never been happy with 12 inch spacing. I have more sand than dirt, and the only way it ever fills in all the way between emitters is if I leave it running for 6 to 8 hours... I'm moving to 6 inch spacing, and I've already installed timers... for me it's the only way to go. I can set it and forget it... because otherwise I turn it on and forget it, and waste a bunch of water.
@@michaelmorris1802 thanks that makes a lot of sense. I think 6" would be good for most applications anyway.. unless you're doing a plot of pumpkins or something. I've been debating drip tube and drip tape because honestly drip tube seems more durable, but I'm not sure
@@FloraM44 I have not actually looked at drip tube... maybe before I place an order I will do so. I really have no idea what it is.
Sheep manure is the best fertilizer I have ever used
Interesting discussion on the pre-plant fertilizer. I've been doing that on tomatoes and squash, (and giant pumpkins). I'm in Idaho, and my approach to planting potatoes is a bit different. I plant them 5 to 6 inches deep and only hill them a small bit. They come up just fine. Generally all your potatoes are going to form between the point where the seed was planted and the top of the soil. Larger space, more room for potatoes. Hilling achieves the same thing as planting deep, and one could even do both. A lot of things I need to fertilize but potatoes seems to be the least. My soil is loaded in P and K, and I think K in particular is important for them. I get potatoes that are HUGE! You are going to have a great crop.
I use Nature’s Safe as a pre planting fertilizer. When I first started my garden, I was not using any. I notice how healthy your plants were so I started using 8-5-5 and 13-0-0. Big difference!
Hey Travis there ain’t no hogs to be washed around here. Keep on doing what you do 🇱🇷😎
Very important subject matter. Had good success with NatureSafe 8-5-5 and alfalfa pellets for pre-plant last year. I also like the Harmony 5-4-3 + 9% Ca that you used to promote earlier in life. At blossom time on tomatoes and cucurbits, I like to side dress with a little 8-5-5 sweetened with seabird guano (0-11-0) and OMRI listed potassium sulphate (0-0-52+17% Sulfur) to boost the P and K at that critical time. That booster shot is critical for potatoes also.
I usually keep a bag or two of 13-13-13 I put out before we plant, been working plenty good. In the rural area we live no one carries the Natures Safe or anything close to it without having to pay a small fortune for shipping, so we don't mess with it.
I use13-13-13 non organic on everything, the rate will vary of course!
I keep empty feed bags for chicken poop every day i clean the coop using the sand method, ready for spread few bags on the garden to till in. I do let i let set in sun to bake, still its few months old poop.
Put my potatoes to bed today... (3/15) they are 18 inches tall, and I hilled them the second time, and side dressed them for the second time (I believe 30 days from plant date)... yep Calandar says planted on Feb 13th. Fastest I've every grown out potatoes, they are on auto-pilot till harvest. So I did pre-plant with 8-5-5, first side dressing was with the same, and today used a custom blend that I make myself, slightly more stout but 18 inch potatoes can take a little extra and I'm done till harvest. You seem to be very lucky... I have to fight with racoons all the dang time digging in my garden after that 8-5-5... if I put it on top of the ground like that no telling how much trouble I would have.
On those taters, its' those GMO Taters that do that! :) No Idea obviously... that is very strange. Maybe call that guy you talked to before (in maine) and get the official word, that is some pretty interesting stuff.
I can't find any nature safe around here, can order it on Amazon but you only get like 5 lbs and it's a little expensive. I've got more mater plants than I have room for. I had someone who wanted some so I started extras and they haven't picked up their mater plants and they are outgrowing the pots. Iyaya what to do with these beautiful plants.
My Baltic Rose came up looking exactly like yours, I thought it looked a little strange but I've never grown the Baltic Rose before. They have become a normal looking potato plant, just slightly different in color.
I have seen it in some of my potatoes.
My caribe did the same thing a remained leggy until I pulled them last week...zone 9b/10 planted in December
And you wanna get MORE chickens! Well! Anyway, I have a couple bags of NS 8-5-5 on order from the local salesperson and I should get a call in a few days. We'll see how it does. I've used AgroThrive for three seasons now and I like it also. Especially when free shipping is involved! Have a cold spell the next two nights, mid 20s. Sweating it out with the onions, spinach, bok choi and cabbage and kale. We'll see.
At planting I generally use an organic fertilizer of some sort (Espoma Garden-Tone usually or whatever I can get end of season on sale. This year will be a dose of 8-5-5 too) and some Milorganite. I mineralize ahead of time. This year I did water can in some AgroThrive at transplant time.
I use a balanced preplant organic fertilizer and compost every time I prep a bed for planting by scratching up the top 2 inches of soil, spreading the fertilizer and compost, and mixing it in a week or two before planting.
My mama told me that indeterminate spuds shoot up out of the soil like that when I was a kid and I’ve been hillin’ ever since. I’ve always gotten loads of spuds when I hill ‘em.
Also this year trying on half row using wood ash as pre plant fertilizer. One row spread on top one row spread in forrow with the potatoes and one row of none added
I agree, I love Nature Safe. We started using it after I watched a video of you recommending it. My one caution is, watch your dogs. My dog Max can't resist this fertilizer and will dig up the vegetable beds trying to get at it. Luckily most of our beds are fenced in but he drove us nuts with the one bed still not properly fenced in. Thanks for the great recommendation!
I had the same problem with one of my dogs. The other dog dug up all my tomatoes, which I put egg shells under🤬
@@gailpetchenik3048 Oh that is so frustrating. They can really try your patience sometimes. 😬 Between the rabbits and our dog we have our gardens locked up tighter than Fort Knox to keep everybody out. 😂
My potatoes are doing the same thing this year sprouting tall
I use espoma and agrothrive fertilizer.
@Lazy Dog Farm - should you use this when you plant seeds or wait until they sprout?
If direct-seeding, I'll bury the fertilizer in the planting furrow and then plant on top of the buried fertilizer.
Hey Trav, do the lower numbers on organic fertilizers mean "less potent" than higher numbers on synthetic? Thank you for everything!
The numbers indicate the percentage of a particular nutrient. But there are many other factors at play there. Synthetic fertilizers are much more volatile and you don't always get every bit of the number on those. Organic fertilizers feed the soil in addition to the plants and tend to stick around longer. There are trade-offs with each.
That fertilizer chicken poop must have been realllllyyy good
I use Microlife 6-2-4 . Would like to try the nature safe but isn’t available in central Texas. Would cost a fortune to get it shipped to me.
I noticed you have drip tubing in some raised beds, im going to be adding this to a few of mine. Just not sure, how long for the average water cycle....im thinkin an hour.
Also curious, i usually grow yukon gold potatoes, haven't been impressed with production, is the huckleberry gold a decent size, and good producer....?
Huckleberry is a good producer and the taste is phenomenal.
I use a preplant fert. It's usually anything I have on hand.
Yes, you said, the amount of fertilizer is "enough", but the thing that gets me is you use soooo much fertilizer for side dressing. I believe it's good stuff but that seems to be quite a lot for me.
Every soil type is different. I've learned over the years how much it takes in our soil. But for some veggies, I like to fertilize them once and be done with it. So that's why I use the amounts I do.
Thank you for the visit,
how is that new worm bed doing?
Doing great so far!
At the 13:30 mark you mention you don't use pre-plant fertilizer on Okra? What's different with those? I'm having that 8-5-5 shipped to try. Can't get the liquid power stuff yet. Thanks again for doing OMRI certified organic. It's not just a word they stuck on the package.
If you give okra too much fertilizer, it will make all leaves and few pods. From our experiences, it produces better when it's a little nutrient starved.
Thanks
Hi. First of all, I'm like you I've never seen potatoes stem out like that, kinda curious to watch what they do.
2nd yes we pre plant fertilize, we use Dr Earth and other organic products like bone meal or fish emulsion or kelp, worm casting etc. Depending on plants needs. We have red clay here, so we battle that instead of sand.
I have red clay it is much better than sand. Red clay is very high in iron, it holds on to nutrients very well and it also holds on to moisture. Sand holds on to nothing.
@@autohelix our problem with clay is about late July it bakes hard and when spring rains come in buckets, it's a mess . It does have alot of nutrients and over the past 17 years we have added compost out the wazoo and worked to condition the soil. The soil test done back then originally, the man told us " hon, you can grow rocks in this " it was that pitiful. Over time it has greatly improved, but we have amended soil then let it go fallow to rest. Clay takes alot of work to condition it.
I realize sand loses water and nutrients quickly and it's a struggle but where we live that red clay has given us fits to improve. What we ended up doing, is using that garden area as a extra and brought all the gardens in towards the house to take advantage of the topsoil. That has worked so much better. This year , we are bringing back the original garden plot / extra and added in grow bags and pot's.
@@amyschultz8058 I have pure red clay. I understand how it works. Not trying to be rude. The first year I did a garden in it I had very good results. I have many fruit trees, and berry plants. Nice grass and many flowers. Pure red clay zero topsoil.
I have 10/10 fertilizer hanging around. Can I use that to prepare the spring garden?
Sure!
Travis I think I remember you saying once you had plans for more chickens, still doing that? I’m looking to do a tractor setup like yours with meat birds.
Yeah I'd eventually like to get another tractor for some meat birds.
@@LazyDogFarm I just ordered an Omlet chicken tractor….something I can move around on my own. The one my hubby and I built is too heavy for me so I thought I’d just bite the bullet and buy one.
I use rabbit manure just like you use that nature safe 8-5-5 , my boss has a farm and I get it from him😊
Great results by the way 😅
Could I use this item onions, tomatoes, peppers, yellow squash, Cantelope, beats cilantro, carrots, Brussels, garlic in corn? These are the things I have growing. I’m in SW Florida. Zone 10 I think.
Yes you could use it for all of those.
@@LazyDogFarm Thank you!!
Travis, can you please do a video for some of us, backyard, farmers who want to grow and sell organic produce, but do not have the time to slowly improve the soil to feed the plants. This video can cover purchasing nature safe, organic fertilizers do spoon feed lettuce, and tomatoes that can be certified organic. Can you please do this? Thank you.
I would think that with your sandy soil, smaller applications more often (spoon feeding) may have better results for you.
That seems to be the case with synthetics. But the releasing action of the organic fertilizers seems to correspond better with how we do it now.
Where can I buy nature safe 855 in NC because I’d like to buy in bulk?
Seven Springs Farm online has it in bulk.
Sandy soil is brutal. "Not perfect" is a gross understatement. Not only is it devoid of nutrients but it is so difficult to amend especially if you'e in the deep south, because no matter how much organic matter you add it just disappears and you're back to square one. I'm in the Florida panhandle and even though I have improved my sandy soil over the years and continue to do so, I still have to use fertilizer. I don't think there will come a time when I don't have to.
i like local to me stuff called turkey trot 6-4-6 but oh my is it getting expensive, so i got a couple rabbits ( backyard chickens not allowed) to produce some good garden gold pellets lol. Are the ducks still arround?
Yeah they are. They took a break during the winter, but they've been hanging around a lot lately.
Hey Travis, I’m a little confused on when you use Nature 8-5-5 vs Agri Thrive…help! Thanks
You generally use Nature safe as a preplant and again as a side dress, about mid way thru the growth cycle of your plant. The nature safe is a slow release fertilizer (granulated fertilizers are the same-slow release) it also helps condition the soil. Agrothrive is a water soluble fertilizer, it's to be applied (generally) weekly after the first four weeks of your initial planting. Water soluble gets taken up into the plant right away to keep it growing at the rate it should & producing blooms. Each type of plant has their own needs, so please take this as general advice. Please look up what plants needs what and when, I would hate to steer you wrong.😬 As you likely know, some plants are pickier than others. I use Espoma Bio-tone as a preplant, along with bone meal powder, not bone meal-granules, powder. And then Agrothrive weekly as a water soluble.
I may have missed it, but why don't you add the fertilizer to okra?
If you over-fertilize okra, you'll get all leaves and no pods. It seems to make more pods when it is nutrient starved.
I use trifecta plus from Migardener
Have you done a video of how to fight off vine borers? They destroy my squash down here in TX and are a serious pain in the butt to fight without heavy pesticides.
We don't really have many vine borers. We get squash bugs and leaf-footed bugs, but no vine borers. Not sure if that's because of our location or our rotation plan.
@@LazyDogFarm lucky. They are savage. Absolute destroyers. I hate them. Has to be location because I put a garden in a new location and they found my crops. My parents did the same about 30 minutes from me and they found him too. He doesn't mind spraying seven constantly on his crops to fight them but I am an organic gardener. Seems basically impossible to keep up with them organically 😥.
Have you tried planting later in the summer? Also tromboncino squash is more resistant to vine bores and VERY prolific. Massive squash if you grow on a trellis. I use cattle panel for trellises, they hold up well for heavier squash. Tromboncino can be picked early for as a summer squash or picked later for as a storing squash. GREAT for those wanting to store them for themselves and or your animals for winter. Look them up. I also plant come July or August for squash, helps a lot with bugs taking them out.
@@milliethemillinator3154 I'll try those. They also won't touch lemon squash but just growing those sucks lol. I tried fall squash but bores were killing them into October (granted, we had a brutally hot summer last year that lasted from like May to October).
Fertilizers like nature safe, are they expensive? From a dollar and cents standpoint, should a small farm look at commercial 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 for better economy?
I think we paid about $30 for a 50 lb bag. Been a while since I bought any 10-10-10, so not sure how it compared.
I also thought it was chicken feed when I saw the thumbnail 😂
About time for a new "Dawgs" bucket. Pink is not very becoming for UGA pride.
I will stick to no-dig and adding only 1 inch of compost every year to the initial 6 inches of compost. Every year the results are improving. The initial 6 inches of compost needed were the big hurdle for which I had to use external sources. Nowadays kitchen scraps and garden waste cover the needed amount of compost. But I'm in Holland, way cooler than your environment
Why don't you use pre the can't fertilizers with Okra?
If you give okra too much fertilizer, it will just make all leaves and no pods -- especially with the heirloom types. We've found it will start producing sooner if it's a little nutrient-starved.
@@LazyDogFarm I just came back here to check my question. Thanks for the reply. I'm about to put a lot of okra in the ground, so the advice is appreciated. Also, I can't believe you understood my question. It reads like I was drinking when I typed it out. Thanks again.
Do you get dollar weed or pennywort? It drives me crazy, but in some areas, they love it and eat it.
How keep cukes warm at this time of year
I put some Agribon row cover over mine last night.
Is this good for tomatoes?
Yes!
It's just about impossible to find Nature Safe fertilizer in Texas, at least anywhere close to me near Austin. The closest is in San Antonio and they won't sell to the public. They must not want to get their product out there very badly. Travis, any suggestions for something similar?? Or a way to get ahold of the company to ask them to make it more available to your audience??
I wish they had a better distribution network because they have a great product. My only suggestion would be to go to their website, find the sales rep closest to you, and contact them as to where you might find some locally.
@@LazyDogFarm Come to find out, it's not sold in the state of Texas unless it's for commercial purposes, I would have to be a licensed business. Now I understand why it's impossible to find! 🤦♀️🤪🤣
Nature save sponsor the channel man just sold pallets for you! Bet those chicks had super poop when they ate that
Double yolkers!
I'd love any thoughts you have about using rabbit manure as fertilizer. We're a single income family trying to garden on budget. I've made compost tea as well as used it as is as a pre-plant amendment. I've found some information on the subject but a lot of conflicting information as well. Such as how much to use to amend a space, how often or how long to brew a compost tea. I'd really like to know if this is a viable option to support the needs of our garden alone or if it's just organic matter to be used in conjunction with a purchased fertilizer.
Rabbit manure is a great fertilizer. Best to allow it to compost a bit as with any manure. You can also make alfalfa tea by soaking 2 cups alfalfa pellets in 5 gallons of water. Allow to ferment 7-10 days then dilute that mix 50/50 water/tea and water the plants with it.
I dislike all weeds in my garden, but I HATE pigweed!! (and purslane, and chickweed, and ragweed, and.....) I always happen to wonder how many people are totally confused by the "Dawgs bucket" references?! Yep, folks, that's how you spell it! 😂
Seven Springs Farm online has lots of different options. 50 lb bags are expensive because of shipping, but I believe they have some smaller bags of some brands.
Travis I have never seen nature safe in my area
Yeah it's not the easiest stuff to find. Just use something relatively balanced and you should be fine.
Is there something that is similar to this that wont burn because I cant get this in my area and to have it shipped cost as much as the fertilizer?
You can use any balanced organic fertilizer tons of different products to choose from.
@@autohelix Thank you
@@KevinCasey64 Jobes and espoma are two brands that are available at many stores. Lowe's, home depot and Walmart. Walmart also has a store brand organic fertilizer. Espoma is my favorite they have a ton of different products.
@@autohelix Thanks
Have you ever used trifecta + by Migardener? If so thoughts
I have not, but same concept as far as using a balanced fertilizer for preplant.
Do I need to soak my peas
You can but I usually don't.
We have snow again .
👍🏽
Why no fertilizer for okra?
Too much nitrogen on okra can result in all leaves and no pods. We've found it produces better when it's a little nutrient-starved.
I would love to see your beautiful baby girl😊
Same thing as smoking some good bbq. How long does it take? Until it’s done, lol.
No Sugarcane patch?
I've never grown any sugarcane, but I do like to eat it!
Nc been too cold to plant
The bug love underutilized plants they will less to bother
Do alot of yall use chicken manure in the garden???
We let our chickens graze cover crops in our plot, so we get some addition of chicken manure that way.
You started any of those Giant Cucumbers yet?
I have not. I'd have to find somewhere to squeeze them in.
Why doesn’t okra need any? Go dawgs!
If you give okra too much fertilizer, it will just make a bunch of leaves and not pods.
That fertilizer looks exactly like Chicken Feed.
If you use Cotton gin trash. You will introduce more weed seeds to your weed bank.
If it hasn't been properly composted, you certainly will.
@@LazyDogFarm That is the trouble. How do you tell it has composted enough?
It’s chicken poop. Is it really that safe to stick your hand into?
Pig weed os good eating!
I mixed up a bucket of Mircle-gro and saw my cat drinking it, she's still alive.
😱😱😱😱
@@leahness3588 Now, I cover the bucket, when I step away
I caught it out the corner of my eye, just a few sips, until I stopped it.
Did kitty get any bigger or bushier?
@@markware4933 The ears grew a little bigger and the tail a little longer
There are determinate and indeterminate potatoes. I have a feeling that the one that is shooting up in your garden is an indeterminate.
According to my soil test the only nutrient I need is nitrogen. PH is in the acceptable range as well as P and K. I side dress my sweet corn, but I still struggle with the proper way to apply N to my tomatoes, peppers, cantaloupes, and seedless watermelons.
To add a bit of Nitrogen to tomatoes, peppers etc. I use Alaska fish emulsion. Mix as instructed then set a routine of every few weeks or once a month , using liquid fertilizer instead of a watering. A old Native way , is burying a fish about 5 or 6 inches under a transplant or seed but fish emulsion works just as good.
Preplant fertiliser especially phosphate is a bad idea as it prevents the plants from forming the strongest relationships with beneficial microbes. A tiny amt of nitrogen is ok. But its better to wait at least a week after planting before you give fertiliser.
That un fertilized plants.
QUESTION - NATURE'S SAFE FERTZ. IS NOT AVAILABLE TO ME IN SO. FLORIDA. WITH THAT SAID, IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE PRE-FERTILIZER YOU RECOMMENT AND/OR CAN YOU RECOMMEND A ONLINE RESOURCE FOR ORDERING ON LINE? THANKS!
My dog got some wicked trots from grazing behind me as i fertilized my fruit trees. It was a hot mess i dont recommend organic fertilizer as dog food.
lol poor pup