Nitrogen additive??

My Foot Smells · January 31, 2018

Once again I did not do a cover crop or add anything over the winter - matter o' fact, still got the cages up.

Thinking about adding Urea - but have never used before. + / -

How long does this stuff last in the soil for uptake?

Looking for a quick fix that doesn't attract rummaging animals and can make it through the growing season with one application.

I might add a layer of "super soil" (compost/dirt mix).........

Rajun Gardener · January 31, 2018

Have you considered using cotton seed meal? I have friends that swear by it. They till it in about this time of year to plant in March.

You should be able to get a 50# bag at any feed store, I think I paid $18.
https://www.bettervegetablegardening...seed-meal.html

My Foot Smells · January 31, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajun Gardener

Have you considered using cotton seed meal? I have friends that swear by it. They till it in about this time of year to plant in March.

You should be able to get a 50# bag at any feed store, I think I paid $18.
https://www.bettervegetablegardening...seed-meal.html

I have used CSM before that I got in a 50# bag from farmer coop, but think that is a real small % of nitrogen comparatively speaking in relation to urea. It's hard for me to say how well the CSM worked, but the plants didn't die.

My soil test recommended Urea for nitrogen supplement. I am not opposed to another round of the CSM, but the plants weren't that super green color and topped out at 6 feet.

Got some time before April to throw some stuff down, so asking now. I've still got major cleanup in the garden from LY, but it's been rather cold here & windy, which makes me not want to get out there.

Worth1 · January 31, 2018

Ironite and 13-13-13.
Worth

brownrexx · January 31, 2018

I don't add any nitrogen to my own garden so I am no expert but I just recently read an article in Mother Earth News about nutrition in modern vegetables compared to those grown in past decades and they stated that modern commercial farmers add too much nitrogen to get quicker growth and that the plants put more into the leaves than the fruits leading to less nutrition and possibly flavor in the fruits.

Maybe having super green leaves is not something to strive for.

I did decide to try adding some blood meal last year around my tomatoes as a side dressing and I ended up having skunks digging up the area so I won't do that again.

My Foot Smells · January 31, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Ironite and 13-13-13.
Worth

Thanks. I will check into that.

Worth1 · January 31, 2018

Don't take what I say as gospel but it works for me.
Worth

My Foot Smells · January 31, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownrexx

I don't add any nitrogen to my own garden so I am no expert but I just recently read an article in Mother Earth News about nutrition in modern vegetables compared to those grown in past decades and they stated that modern commercial farmers add too much nitrogen to get quicker growth and that the plants put more into the leaves than the fruits leading to less nutrition and possibly flavor in the fruits.

Maybe having super green leaves is not something to strive for.

I did decide to try adding some blood meal last year around my tomatoes as a side dressing and I ended up having skunks digging up the area so I won't do that again.

Have tried blood meal on some potted plants, but my beagle mix hit all the spots too & BM was expensive - at least the stuff I used.

Not striving for "super green," but just a more healthy appearance. "Seemed" like the plants were more prone to disease and "ugliness" w/o the proper balanced diet. My soil test had over the top P & K, but was well below rec on N.

I don't have a huge field, just about 1500 sq ft. - mostly large raised beds on top of clay soil.

Worth1 · January 31, 2018

Over the top p and k you might consider just urea nitrate that is all triple 13 has plus the other two.

Worth

bower · January 31, 2018

Nitrogen is generally the most soluble nutrient. That's why it has to be reapplied because high precip or watering will wash it out of the soil. The best things to apply in fall or winter are composts or compostable organic materials such as leaves, kelp or seed meals that break down rather slowly. They also condition your soil so that the fertilizer you apply in spring is more easily retained instead of washing out. Applying a very soluble nitrogen such as urea in the winter season would be a bit of a waste IMO, likely to run off and judgement call, depends on your situation if runoff is a contamination issue or whether you get enough precip to worry about that. Horse manure is something I would consider applying in fall and letting it rot and condition the soil for a few months before planting. By the time you plant though it would be a fairly neutral compost afaik, so you may still want to use another N source at planting time.

Worth1 · January 31, 2018

I was looking at where he is at in Arkansas.
Plantin time is just around the corner.

Chicken guano would be a very good choice if done sparingly.

bower · January 31, 2018

There you are...

I knew someone down there would have a better idea of the 'when'.

Also the warmer it is, the faster a fresh manure will break down and be safe for the plants. And the winter wet weather may be over for the year.

Worth1 · January 31, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by bower

There you are...

I knew someone down there would have a better idea of the 'when'.

Also the warmer it is, the faster a fresh manure will break down and be safe for the plants. And the winter wet weather may be over for the year.

Well I am one heck of a lot farther south than he is but I was raised in the same area he is now.
For some time 60 miles east of Springfield MO and across the border in Oklahoma in the .Ouachita mountains.

Worth

Rajun Gardener · January 31, 2018

You can sprinkle calcium nitrate around the plant and water it in every 3 weeks. It will make the plant lush green. Don't worry about too much nitrogen using CN, I had great results and mega yields. It works great on peppers too.

BigVanVader · January 31, 2018

you have a few of options if your wanting to stay "natural" and/or "organic"

http://www.7springsfarm.com/allganic...-15-0-2-50-lb/

http://www.7springsfarm.com/feather-meal-13-0-0-50-lb/

and then chicken manure is a good one as well. The pelleted works best. If you combine alfalfa pellets with chicken litter you will have all the nutrients you need.

January 31, 2018	#1
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	Nitrogen additive?? Once again I did not do a cover crop or add anything over the winter - matter o' fact, still got the cages up. Thinking about adding Urea - but have never used before. + / - How long does this stuff last in the soil for uptake? Looking for a quick fix that doesn't attract rummaging animals and can make it through the growing season with one application. I might add a layer of "super soil" (compost/dirt mix).........

January 31, 2018	#2
Rajun Gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tomato Cornhole Posts: 2,550	Have you considered using cotton seed meal? I have friends that swear by it. They till it in about this time of year to plant in March. You should be able to get a 50# bag at any feed store, I think I paid $18. https://www.bettervegetablegardening...seed-meal.html

January 31, 2018	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Ironite and 13-13-13. Worth

January 31, 2018	#5
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	I don't add any nitrogen to my own garden so I am no expert but I just recently read an article in Mother Earth News about nutrition in modern vegetables compared to those grown in past decades and they stated that modern commercial farmers add too much nitrogen to get quicker growth and that the plants put more into the leaves than the fruits leading to less nutrition and possibly flavor in the fruits. Maybe having super green leaves is not something to strive for. I did decide to try adding some blood meal last year around my tomatoes as a side dressing and I ended up having skunks digging up the area so I won't do that again.

January 31, 2018	#10
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	Nitrogen is generally the most soluble nutrient. That's why it has to be reapplied because high precip or watering will wash it out of the soil. The best things to apply in fall or winter are composts or compostable organic materials such as leaves, kelp or seed meals that break down rather slowly. They also condition your soil so that the fertilizer you apply in spring is more easily retained instead of washing out. Applying a very soluble nitrogen such as urea in the winter season would be a bit of a waste IMO, likely to run off and judgement call, depends on your situation if runoff is a contamination issue or whether you get enough precip to worry about that. Horse manure is something I would consider applying in fall and letting it rot and condition the soil for a few months before planting. By the time you plant though it would be a fairly neutral compost afaik, so you may still want to use another N source at planting time.

January 31, 2018	#12
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	There you are... I knew someone down there would have a better idea of the 'when'. Also the warmer it is, the faster a fresh manure will break down and be safe for the plants. And the winter wet weather may be over for the year.

January 31, 2018	#15
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	you have a few of options if your wanting to stay "natural" and/or "organic" http://www.7springsfarm.com/allganic...-15-0-2-50-lb/ http://www.7springsfarm.com/feather-meal-13-0-0-50-lb/ and then chicken manure is a good one as well. The pelleted works best. If you combine alfalfa pellets with chicken litter you will have all the nutrients you need.