I have some triple super phosphate i want to use around my
established fruit trees to help them harden off for the winter. There
aren't any application rates mentioned on the bag so i don't know how
much to use. Most fertilizer app. rates are calculated by using x
amount based on the diameter of the trunk measured about 2 feet above
the soil line,but not sure if this also applies to triple super
phosphate. I live in Southern Calif. where soils are on the alkaline
side. How much can i use w/o over doing it? Thanks.

wrote in message
ps.com...
I have some triple super phosphate i want to use around my
established fruit trees to help them harden off for the winter. There
aren't any application rates mentioned on the bag so i don't know how
much to use. Most fertilizer app. rates are calculated by using x
amount based on the diameter of the trunk measured about 2 feet above
the soil line,but not sure if this also applies to triple super
phosphate. I live in Southern Calif. where soils are on the alkaline
side. How much can i use w/o over doing it? Thanks.


What sort of fruit trees are they? What is your winter like? When will
that be? Can you explain how adding phosphate helps a fruit tree harden for
winter?

David

On Oct 8, 7:51 pm, "David Hare-Scott" wrote:
wrote in message

ps.com...

I have some triple super phosphate i want to use around my
established fruit trees to help them harden off for the winter. There
aren't any application rates mentioned on the bag so i don't know how
much to use. Most fertilizer app. rates are calculated by using x
amount based on the diameter of the trunk measured about 2 feet above
the soil line,but not sure if this also applies to triple super
phosphate. I live in Southern Calif. where soils are on the alkaline
side. How much can i use w/o over doing it? Thanks.

What sort of fruit trees are they? What is your winter like? When will
that be? Can you explain how adding phosphate helps a fruit tree harden for
winter?

David

I have citrus(oranges, lemon,several different mandarins, pummelos,
kaffir limes, bearss lime) cherimoya, persimmons, plums, apples,
jujubes. I would say i am in zone 9. We occasionally get into the 30's,
(December-February) but not often. Phosphate takes about 8 weeks to
work so i want to apply before the winter rains. From what i remember
from my soil and fertilizer class in college, phosphorus is
responsible for flower/fruit development,hastening maturity of the
plant, enhancing root development,and increasing cold hardiness.

On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 08:32:39 -0700, "
wrote:

On Oct 8, 7:51 pm, "David Hare-Scott" wrote:
wrote in message

ps.com...

I have some triple super phosphate i want to use around my
established fruit trees to help them harden off for the winter. There
aren't any application rates mentioned on the bag so i don't know how
much to use. Most fertilizer app. rates are calculated by using x
amount based on the diameter of the trunk measured about 2 feet above
the soil line,but not sure if this also applies to triple super
phosphate. I live in Southern Calif. where soils are on the alkaline
side. How much can i use w/o over doing it? Thanks.

What sort of fruit trees are they? What is your winter like? When will
that be? Can you explain how adding phosphate helps a fruit tree harden for
winter?

David

I have citrus(oranges, lemon,several different mandarins, pummelos,
kaffir limes, bearss lime) cherimoya, persimmons, plums, apples,
jujubes. I would say i am in zone 9. We occasionally get into the 30's,
(December-February) but not often. Phosphate takes about 8 weeks to
work so i want to apply before the winter rains. From what i remember
from my soil and fertilizer class in college, phosphorus is
responsible for flower/fruit development,hastening maturity of the
plant, enhancing root development,and increasing cold hardiness.


I'm also in So. Cal.

The commercial citrus growers around here don't add anything beyond
urea to the soil. I spoke with a county Ag guy about fertilizer some
time ago, he said that if he were asked to show a site with inadequate
phosphate that he would not have any idea where to find one. Check
the phone directory for the county advisor, you can get some localized
information from them.

"
wrote:

I have some triple super phosphate i want to use around my
established fruit trees to help them harden off for the winter. There
aren't any application rates mentioned on the bag so i don't know how
much to use. Most fertilizer app. rates are calculated by using x
amount based on the diameter of the trunk measured about 2 feet above
the soil line,but not sure if this also applies to triple super
phosphate. I live in Southern Calif. where soils are on the alkaline
side. How much can i use w/o over doing it? Thanks.

Phosphorus is one chemical that plants just take up as they need it. It
is hard to use too much. However it is very wasteful to use too much
and it does build up in the soil. For plants that are in good health
and producing fruit, the application can be on the light side. For
plants in poor health and not producing fruit, the dose should be
heavier. The only way to optimize your rate is to take a soil sample
and send it with the type of crop you are raising to your county agent.
One of the best indicators for phosphorus is carrots. If you are
deficient in phosphorus, you won't be able to grow good carrots.
--
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Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA Zone 6

On 10/8/2007 3:32 PM, wrote:
I have some triple super phosphate i want to use around my
established fruit trees to help them harden off for the winter. There
aren't any application rates mentioned on the bag so i don't know how
much to use. Most fertilizer app. rates are calculated by using x
amount based on the diameter of the trunk measured about 2 feet above
the soil line,but not sure if this also applies to triple super
phosphate. I live in Southern Calif. where soils are on the alkaline
side. How much can i use w/o over doing it? Thanks.


You don't really need phosphorus for winter hardening.

If fruit production seems reduced, it could be that phosphorus in the
root zone has been depleated. Phosphorus does not leach through the
soil, so applying on the surface in anticipation of winter rain won't
work. (In any case, it seems that there won't be any appreciable rain
this winter.) Instead, the phosphorus must be injected into the root
zone. For my fruit trees, I take a 2-foot length of steel rebar and
poke holes in a circle just inside the "drip zone", the area where rain
would drip from the outermost branches. Then, with a funnel, I fill the
holes with super-phosphate.

Citrus requires more than merely nitrogen. They require an acidic
fertilizer with iron and zinc. Most commercial citrus foods are acidic
and contain iron but lack zinc. I have an old sack of zinc sulfate that
I use, applying only a small amount to each tree. Frequent (twice a
month) light feeding from the end of March to the beginning of September
is better than only one or two heavy feedings in the spring. ]

Don't feed later than two months before the first expected frost;
feeding promotes tender new growth that will be killed by frost. This
is a good rule for all subtropical fruits, not just citrus.

I'm not familiar with the care for your other fruit trees. However,
plums require care similar to peaches but with less pruning. My peach
tree gets a spring feeding, using generic lawn food broadcast in its
drip zone.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/

On Oct 9, 10:58 am, "David E. Ross" wrote:
On 10/8/2007 3:32 PM, wrote:

I have some triple super phosphate i want to use around my
established fruit trees to help them harden off for the winter. There
aren't any application rates mentioned on the bag so i don't know how
much to use. Most fertilizer app. rates are calculated by using x
amount based on the diameter of the trunk measured about 2 feet above
the soil line,but not sure if this also applies to triple super
phosphate. I live in Southern Calif. where soils are on the alkaline
side. How much can i use w/o over doing it? Thanks.

You don't really need phosphorus for winter hardening.

If fruit production seems reduced, it could be that phosphorus in the
root zone has been depleated. Phosphorus does not leach through the
soil, so applying on the surface in anticipation of winter rain won't
work. (In any case, it seems that there won't be any appreciable rain
this winter.) Instead, the phosphorus must be injected into the root
zone. For my fruit trees, I take a 2-foot length of steel rebar and
poke holes in a circle just inside the "drip zone", the area where rain
would drip from the outermost branches. Then, with a funnel, I fill the
holes with super-phosphate.

Citrus requires more than merely nitrogen. They require an acidic
fertilizer with iron and zinc. Most commercial citrus foods are acidic
and contain iron but lack zinc. I have an old sack of zinc sulfate that
I use, applying only a small amount to each tree. Frequent (twice a
month) light feeding from the end of March to the beginning of September
is better than only one or two heavy feedings in the spring. ]

Don't feed later than two months before the first expected frost;
feeding promotes tender new growth that will be killed by frost. This
is a good rule for all subtropical fruits, not just citrus.

I'm not familiar with the care for your other fruit trees. However,
plums require care similar to peaches but with less pruning. My peach
tree gets a spring feeding, using generic lawn food broadcast in its
drip zone.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/

I used to live in Santa Monica, now i live in San Gabriel Valley. It's
colder here. Actually i don't know if the soil is deficient in P. I
thought my teacher said to apply it in winter to help harden the tress
off a bit. This class was 25 years ago, so i'm sure i've forgotten
some of the details.

wrote in message
ps.com...
On Oct 8, 7:51 pm, "David Hare-Scott" wrote:
wrote in message

ps.com...

I have some triple super phosphate i want to use around my
established fruit trees to help them harden off for the winter. There
aren't any application rates mentioned on the bag so i don't know how
much to use. Most fertilizer app. rates are calculated by using x
amount based on the diameter of the trunk measured about 2 feet above
the soil line,but not sure if this also applies to triple super
phosphate. I live in Southern Calif. where soils are on the alkaline
side. How much can i use w/o over doing it? Thanks.

What sort of fruit trees are they? What is your winter like? When will
that be? Can you explain how adding phosphate helps a fruit tree harden
for
winter?

David

I have citrus(oranges, lemon,several different mandarins, pummelos,
kaffir limes, bearss lime) cherimoya, persimmons, plums, apples,
jujubes. I would say i am in zone 9. We occasionally get into the 30's,
(December-February) but not often.

Sounds very much like my orchard and my climate, although it gets down
to -4C (23F if my sums are right) sometimes , except for being Southern
hemisphere.

Phosphate takes about 8 weeks to
work so i want to apply before the winter rains. From what i remember
from my soil and fertilizer class in college, phosphorus is
responsible for flower/fruit development,hastening maturity of the
plant, enhancing root development,and increasing cold hardiness.


My concern is that if your soil isn't P deficient it won't make much
difference but if it is you are encouraging growth as the season slows down.
Here those new shoots would be frost targets. If you don't get frosts why
attempt to harden the plants? My regime is to fertilise the fruit trees
spring and summer not autumn or winter.

David

On Oct 8, 6:32 pm, "
wrote:
I have some triple super phosphate i want to use around my
established fruit trees to help them harden off for the winter. There
aren't any application rates mentioned on the bag so i don't know how
much to use. Most fertilizer app. rates are calculated by using x
amount based on the diameter of the trunk measured about 2 feet above
the soil line,but not sure if this also applies to triple super
phosphate. I live in Southern Calif. where soils are on the alkaline
side. How much can i use w/o over doing it? Thanks.

Apply at the rate suggested by the results of your soil test. Contact
your extension center, soil tests are generally very inexpensive.

Otherwise you are just guessing.