Worm_Farmer

I forgot, but I thought there was an easy / cheap source of 0-0-30. Then we can sub the rest with compost and Fishmeal

sputinc7

Just natural, not chemical. Chemical fertilizers are like drugs for plants. When they run out they have nasty withdrawal because there is no half life, and organically grown foods usually have a better flavor. Not to mention the unknown chemicals in chemical fertilizers. I try to grow things as organic as possible... Best I have found is potash. 2 kinds. One with chlorine, one without. The one without sounds better, as the microscopic beings are very good for plants.

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If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win.

https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc

Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel.
What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

Richard

You're really confused.

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Doodling along at tangentvectors.org

sputinc7

Not confused. Maybe a bit nutty, though.
I am talking about by products, things that are not good for you mixed in either as part of the process of producing the chemicals or from the initial ingredients. (Such an human waste sludge being a source, sometimes. Think of all the chemicals we flush and dump down our drains.) Are the chemicals in Miracle Gro naturally occurring? I have never seen a Miracle Gro bush or tree. The chemical forms found in those are usually not the ones found in nature, thus the name "chemical fertilizers"
Compost, manure, blood and bone meal, etc. Things that occur naturally, with all the scores of natural micronutrients and microscopic life forms which the plant does better with and which chemical fertilizers lack.
My thinking is this: "Organic is better. So I do it that way whenever I can." At least on my food crops.

__________________

If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win.

https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc

Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel.
What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

Botanical_Bryce

Chemical fertilizers are mineral salts. Well water can have the same salts in it. Certain beneficial nitrogen fixing microbes actually respond positive to mineral salts. Some organic methods contain arsenic so in cultivation there is no magic solution. When working depleted soils proper management practice can be good for environment and human health. Fulvic acid and humates are a chemical fertilizer that increases bioactivity and can be used on foliage. I use heavy mulch and biochar mainly. I have no problem using chemical fertilizers after I have done my product reasearch. If I need to do so I go back later with innoculants.

Lrogers37

THANKS!! DiamondR is the place. 50lbs for less than $20 including the tax. I got some fert for my mangoes while I was there. That was $12 and change. If you live close to FtPierce. Go to Diamond R. Bonus was the vine ripe cantaloupes sold next to the road close by for $1 each.

Thanks for the DiamondR recommendation.

merce3

What formula did you get for your mangoes?

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Lrogers37

8-4-8. Recommended by 2 folks at DiamondR

merce3

Hmmm... I go with 8-3-9 per recommendations for south FL fruit tree growers but that is almost the same as 8-4-8. I wonder if there is any difference other than the slight ratio difference. Anyway I have been really happy with their stuff and the folks are really cool and know what they're talking about since they serve mostly commercial growers.

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sputinc7

OK. Got me 5 lb potassium sulphate. No directions on how much or how often anywhere, so I again turn to the experts on here... Help, please... :-D

__________________

If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win.

https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc

Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel.
What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

Jamie p

Not sure on potassium alone , but there is a product called Sul po mag . I like to sprinkle a small handful around the base of my plants and they seem to love it. I would be gentle with potassium alone.

scottu

Richard,
You had this mess all taken care of,
all we had to do was order more banana fuel and go to bed peacefully with no worries.
Now it all starts again!
I Guess we need to figure it out for ourselves after all!
your path will be followed, or at least wandered!

Enjoy your well earned peaceful slumber into the night!
Thanks
Scottu

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Viva La Banana

sputinc7

I use a lot of compost and manure, so no worries on not enough other nutrients. My biggest worry is it's water solubility and how quickly daily watering will push it past the root zone. The best application instructions I could find was to put 300-500 kg per hectare per year for bananas. Way more than all the other plants listed. I went easy on it the first time, just in case, but wanted to ask here to be safe... For instance, my Brazilian mat has 4 major PS growing with a few small pups. I put about 4-5 tablespoons around it and lightly watered it in...I guess I will find out.

__________________

If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win.

https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc

Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel.
What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

Worm_Farmer

I prefer, granular fertilizer! I hate staining my hands or pants blue. And I hate having to remember to do it every week. Just throw down a few cups and worry later.

sputinc7

This is a white powder. Dissolves quickly. Says it is 0-0-60.

__________________

If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win.

https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc

Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel.
What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

Caline

That's the one I got. It has the ratio recommended by U of Florida extension for banana growing and follows their recommendation to use slow release fertilizer.

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Goin' bananas

Richard

For use in the Florida peninsula. Elsewhere in the continental U.S. it is not a good recommendation.

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Doodling along at tangentvectors.org

Island Brah

Richard,

I know you are retired but hopefully you can answer one question for me please. I live in the atlanta area. What fertilizer do you recommend? Your Fruit Fuel or something else?

I've already sent Crazy Banana a PM about purchasing some of your Fruit Fuel.

Thanks so much for your help!!

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Growing: Basjoo, Blue Java (The Real One), FHIA-01 American Goldfinger, Manzano, Tall Orinoco, Raja Puri (USDA TARS), Veinte Cohol (USDA TARS), Patupi, & SH-3640 High Noon (USDA TARS)

RoundRockMan

What would be the best fertilizer/ratio for Texas? I will have in-ground & large pots. Any other Texas growers in the Austin area?

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edwmax

Look at the forum WiKi above for info on Fertilizer. Info:Fertilizer - Bananas Wiki

Knowing mature plants need 1 lb of nitrogen and 1.5 lbs potassium, it is easy to calculate how much fertilizer is needed when knowing the NPK. Example, 10-10-10 fertilizer: 1 lb/10% = 10lbs (nitrogen & potassium) plus a supplement of 3/4 to 1 lb (.5 lb/ %) of potassium sulphate. Divided thru the growing session.

Now you have grown banana plants in pots (???) or just young plants? Young plants need 1/4 to 1/2 the amount of fertilizer as that of mature plants.

Now you can use what ever fertilizer that is on sale or estimated the quantities of manure or compost to use.

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