Fruit Fuel - Page 4

Richard · 05-27-2014, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy banana

Richard, I remembered that you were using the Dosatron products. I am just fine with my 5 gallon water bucket and measuring out my fruit fuel with a measure cup.

Having been to your house, I would say that method is a good match to the number of plants you are feeding.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy banana

However, one neighbor was walking by and suggesting to use something like the Miracle Gro garden feeder. I personally think that would not be that precise than my more work intensive water bucket, but would like to get your input on this.

The Miracle Gro Marketing Corp. actually has two dispenser products, one made for their Miracle Gro fertilizer packets and the other labeled "Ortho Dial N' Spray". The latter is a good product for dispensing liquids (I use it for pesticides) but otherwise a pain-in-the-calculator for your application.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy banana

My newly planted fruit trees and the banana pups I got from you last fall are getting half of what my big established banana mats get (one bucket vs two for the mats)but I strongly feel that the mats could use even more....Sure it would be nice to make it less labor intensive, but so far my labor has always paid of compared to the neighbors yard

But a Dosatron is out of my budget.

Yes, the Dosatron is an investment in infrastructure. You could consider the Grow More fertilizer injector (requires investment in a 5+ gallon bucket): Grow More 1:15 Siphon Mixer, 0.75-inch shrink wrap. I use this inline for my Vacciniums and Orchids.

crazy banana · 05-27-2014, 12:54 AM

Well, no investment needed in another 5 gallon water bucket....
For now, I think I will stick with it, but next time I stock up on my fruit fuel, I will check back with you on the Siphon Mixer....
Btw: my new trees and the banana plants love the fruit fuel.

CGameProgrammer · 05-27-2014, 05:42 PM

Sorry if I missed it but what do you charge for this fertilizer and how often or in what quantity do you recommend it to be applied?

Richard · 05-27-2014, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGameProgrammer

Sorry if I missed it but what do you charge for this fertilizer and how often or in what quantity do you recommend it to be applied?

Here's the details

Water-soluble version (recommended): Grow More 16-8-24 Fruit Fuel, 5-pound bag

Organic gardening version: Grow More Organic Fruit Fuel, 4.5-pound pail

CGameProgrammer · 06-04-2014, 11:58 AM

I opened my newly-received bag of this fertilizer yesterday but it was clumped together like hard clay; obviously a lot of moisture had got in. Is it worthless or should it still be capable of doing its job? The clumps can be broken up by hand and most of the tablespoon I used dissolved in a gallon of cold water without any stirring. The color when dissolved in water was brown.

Richard · 06-04-2014, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGameProgrammer

I opened my newly-received bag of this fertilizer yesterday but it was clumped together like hard clay; obviously a lot of moisture had got in. Is it worthless or should it still be capable of doing its job? The clumps can be broken up by hand and most of the tablespoon I used dissolved in a gallon of cold water without any stirring. The color when dissolved in water was brown.

Actually, the only water in the bag was from the manufacturing process. The Calcium content in the fertilizer causes it to set. There is nothing wrong with the product, and as you noticed it is easily reduced to powder. The initial color of the product is grey, but will color the water brown due to the iron content.

Abnshrek · 06-04-2014, 01:44 PM

Mine looked black almost in my auto-feeder, but I'm sure it works just as well as blue (Banana Fuel).. :^)

CGameProgrammer · 06-04-2014, 01:45 PM

That's a relief! Thanks. I got concerned because I have a different Grow-More soluble fertilizer that is truly a powder so I assumed they all would be.

Abnshrek · 06-04-2014, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGameProgrammer

That's a relief! Thanks. I got concerned because I have a different Grow-More soluble fertilizer that is truly a powder so I assumed they all would be.

Banana Fuel did the same thing except got alot harder, but reduces in water really well.. :^)

austinl01 · 06-04-2014, 11:06 PM

Just wondering why the fuel wasn't made as granular as well?

Richard · 06-05-2014, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinl01

Just wondering why the fuel wasn't made as granular as well?

The Organic Fruit Fuel is in granular form.

Worm_Farmer · 06-28-2014, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

The Organic Fruit Fuel is in granular form.

Will the Organic be available in a bigger bag soon?

Richard · 06-28-2014, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worm_Farmer

Will the Organic be available in a bigger bag soon?

Grow More would typically package granular in 15-lb and 50-lb bags. I am considering 20-lb. Do you have a preference?

GreenFin · 06-28-2014, 04:16 PM

I think we should add Fruit Fuel to the list of "Nursery Fertilizers" on the wiki: Info:Fertilizer - Bananas Wiki

On a more general note, is it ok to fertilize transplanted bananas before they start actively growing again? Or is it better to wait for them to resume growth before adding the fertilizer?

Richard · 06-28-2014, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenFin

... is it ok to fertilize transplanted bananas before they start actively growing again? Or is it better to wait for them to resume growth before adding the fertilizer?

If they have roots, yes -- provided the dosage is appropriate for the plant size and season.

Worm_Farmer · 06-28-2014, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Grow More would typically package granular in 15-lb and 50-lb bags. I am considering 20-lb. Do you have a preference?

IDK what shipping would cost on 50lb, but I could use 50lb a year. And that is not even on the bananas.

Richard · 06-30-2014, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worm_Farmer

IDK what shipping would cost on 50lb, but I could use 50lb a year. And that is not even on the bananas.

In terms of nutrients that plants receive: 50 lbs of 4-4-7 Organic Fruit Fuel is equal to 12.5 lbs of water-soluble 16-8-24 Fruit Fuel. (Aside: the 4-4-7 has higher proportion of P and K because a portion of these will be bound up in the soil in a granular application.)

So in your situation, a 25-lb bag of 16-8-24 would be sufficient for your entire garden for a year. This ships anywhere in the U.S. by USPS LFRB (large flat rate box) for $15.80.

Worm_Farmer · 07-04-2014, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

In terms of nutrients that plants receive: 50 lbs of 4-4-7 Organic Fruit Fuel is equal to 12.5 lbs of water-soluble 16-8-24 Fruit Fuel. (Aside: the 4-4-7 has higher proportion of P and K because a portion of these will be bound up in the soil in a granular application.)

So in your situation, a 25-lb bag of 16-8-24 would be sufficient for your entire garden for a year. This ships anywhere in the U.S. by USPS LFRB (large flat rate box) for $15.80.

I was assuming I would use the granular 2 - 3 times a year. I prefer soil building over liquid. Mostly because Liquid needs to be reapplied every 1 - 2 weeks and I just havent had the time for that. Granular is just a easy way for me to be a little lazy.

Richard · 07-04-2014, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worm_Farmer

I was assuming I would use the granular 2 - 3 times a year.

That's how most people use the water-soluble.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worm_Farmer

I prefer soil building over liquid.

Once a garden patch has been inoculated with soil microbes it is good for 7-10 years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worm_Farmer

Mostly because Liquid needs to be reapplied every 1 - 2 weeks

That's not true. The dosage is per month, which can be doubled or tripled and applied every 2 or 3 months during the growing season. People who apply more frequently to a large garden do so because they have an injection system.

For injection systems, the EZ-Flo is very expensive and very poorly rated (except by company advertisers). The Dosatron systems are about 2/3 the cost of EZ-Flo, used professionally for decades, and for a large garden will pay for themselves over the cost of organic granular vs. complete water-soluble in 1 to 2 years. For smaller gardens a siphon mixer with a 5 gallon bucket is the way to go.

Worm_Farmer · 07-04-2014, 04:28 PM

I have been using a 55 gal Barrel as my mix batch and pumping it throught my sprinklers. I was using it quite often. Now that my sprinklers are not working correctly I was going to do 1 cup per 5 gal bucket per plant or matt.

Quote:

Once a garden patch has been inoculated with soil microbes it is good for 7-10 years.

Should be, but with City water, plant feeding, leechin gout and if I use other chemical fertlizer I like to always replace. I notice a difference so I do like to go that route still.

I am one of "Those" that are trying to push off "Chemical" based fertlizers.

05-27-2014, 12:54 AM	#62 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,494 BananaBucks : 1,178 Feedback: 59 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,751 Times Was Thanked 2,623 Times in 1,007 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,401 Times	Re: Fruit Fuel Well, no investment needed in another 5 gallon water bucket.... For now, I think I will stick with it, but next time I stock up on my fruit fuel, I will check back with you on the Siphon Mixer.... Btw: my new trees and the banana plants love the fruit fuel. Last edited by crazy banana : 05-27-2014 at 12:59 AM.

05-27-2014, 05:42 PM	#63 (permalink)
CGameProgrammer Location: San Diego, CA Zone: 10b Name: Ed Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 40 BananaBucks : 5,458 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 41 Times in 15 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Fruit Fuel Sorry if I missed it but what do you charge for this fertilizer and how often or in what quantity do you recommend it to be applied?

06-04-2014, 11:58 AM	#65 (permalink)
CGameProgrammer Location: San Diego, CA Zone: 10b Name: Ed Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 40 BananaBucks : 5,458 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 41 Times in 15 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Fruit Fuel I opened my newly-received bag of this fertilizer yesterday but it was clumped together like hard clay; obviously a lot of moisture had got in. Is it worthless or should it still be capable of doing its job? The clumps can be broken up by hand and most of the tablespoon I used dissolved in a gallon of cold water without any stirring. The color when dissolved in water was brown.

06-04-2014, 01:44 PM	#67 (permalink)
Abnshrek Yo BananaHead Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Haughton, LA Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,477 BananaBucks : 103,841 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,370 Times Was Thanked 16,242 Times in 5,169 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,278 Times	Re: Fruit Fuel Mine looked black almost in my auto-feeder, but I'm sure it works just as well as blue (Banana Fuel).. :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

06-04-2014, 01:45 PM	#68 (permalink)
CGameProgrammer Location: San Diego, CA Zone: 10b Name: Ed Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 40 BananaBucks : 5,458 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 41 Times in 15 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Fruit Fuel That's a relief! Thanks. I got concerned because I have a different Grow-More soluble fertilizer that is truly a powder so I assumed they all would be.

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06-04-2014, 11:06 PM	#70 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 88,292 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 883 Times in 390 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Fruit Fuel Just wondering why the fuel wasn't made as granular as well? __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

06-28-2014, 04:16 PM	#74 (permalink)
GreenFin Location: Kansas Zone: 6a Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 595 BananaBucks : 55,186 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,396 Times Was Thanked 922 Times in 330 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 44 Times	Re: Fruit Fuel I think we should add Fruit Fuel to the list of "Nursery Fertilizers" on the wiki: Info:Fertilizer - Bananas Wiki On a more general note, is it ok to fertilize transplanted bananas before they start actively growing again? Or is it better to wait for them to resume growth before adding the fertilizer? __________________ Set out runnin', but I'll take my time; a friend of bananas is a friend of mine. www.GreenFinGardens.com

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