Can I feed like this?

[tommy1984]

Hey all, I am using Jacks classic ferts this year witch are supposed to be dissolved in water. But we have had the wettest and coolest summer in a LONG time here in ky and Ive not ad to water at all this summer. So ive been taking the jacks classic and sprinkling it around my hole then turning the top layer of the dirt a little and waiting for rain to water in the nutes, It this ok do do or will the nutes not be effective? Some times when I apply them it might be 2 or 3 days before it rains agian but the soil is never dry enough to apply the nutes like I am supposed to. On a side note my plants this year are SMALLER than they have ever been before, Im not sure if its due to the cool WET summer or the method ive been using to feed them..
tommy

 

[soil margin]

If you aren't using water to disperse nutrients evenly throughout the soil it's going to be more difficult for plants to get access to nutrients as they will be clumped up in certain areas.

I'm sure you CAN feed like that, though I wouldn't make any guarantees on how effective it will be compared to normal feeding.

 

[tommy1984]

Thanks, I try not to put it in one place to keep it from clumping.. I sprinkle it evenly all over then turn the dirt a little.. Im not sure if the nutes would degrade before they get washed into the root system tho.

 

[soil margin]

Yeah I don't think the issue would be nutes degrading so much as the nutes not getting as good of surface area coverage which means its harder for roots to find them.

The only likely effect would be slightly slower growth and maybe some minor nute deficiencies, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[jtk707]

I would pour a gallon or less of water on each plant after the application of the dry ferts . You shouldnt have a problem as long as your plants are established . Young plants might not like ferts applied this way but older ones should be fine / In mo opinion Peace and roots

 

[whiteberrieS]

rain = clouds = no sun = no photosynthesis = small plants. I vote for jtk's idea but I'd go ahead and say dissolve a potent mixture in a spray bottle and spray the top 2x2' of soil around each plant.

 

[frankenstein2]

We've had a real wet year this year too. I used the jack's too. I always dissolve it in water. I mix it at 3/4 strength. Even with all the rain I have still been feeding them. I wait until I think it's gonna rain then I mix my water and only give each one just a little. Then when it rains the rain water pushes the food right to the roots. It's been working really good. I personally wouldn't mix the jack's directly with the soil. To me it sounds like a recipe for disaster. I would worry about making hot spots, or all of it not dissolving, and if I went to add more, making a really hot spot. Just my opinion though, if it's working for ya then rock it, experiments are how I made myself a better grower over time.

 

[Cayenne]

We've had a real wet year this year too. I used the jack's too. I always dissolve it in water. I mix it at 3/4 strength. Even with all the rain I have still been feeding them. I wait until I think it's gonna rain then I mix my water and only give each one just a little. Then when it rains the rain water pushes the food right to the roots. It's been working really good. I personally wouldn't mix the jack's directly with the soil. To me it sounds like a recipe for disaster. I would worry about making hot spots, or all of it not dissolving, and if I went to add more, making a really hot spot. Just my opinion though, if it's working for ya then rock it, experiments are how I made myself a better grower over time.

agreed