|
Did I Do The Right Thing?
About six weeks ago, a gardener friend of mine gave me 2 tomato seedlings.
The next day, i got called upon at work to go abroad for a time, so i never had the time to pot them on. When i returned i repotted the plants into bigger pots and watered them. While they never died, they aren't exactly flourishing either, so i thought it best to take a look at what was happening, and lifted them. I saw that the roots were in a ball - all growing anywhere but the right place. How i remedied this was to wash all the soil away from the rootball and THEN repot them again. Was this the right course of action, or will i now lose them? Its early days i know, as i just did this about an hour ago, but any advice would be gratefully recieved. One other thing is i have never fed these, as i dont like using chemicals on stuff. Is there any organic feed i8 could buy? -- |
The message
from "Teleman" contains these words: About six weeks ago, a gardener friend of mine gave me 2 tomato seedlings. The next day, i got called upon at work to go abroad for a time, so i never had the time to pot them on. When i returned i repotted the plants into bigger pots and watered them. While they never died, they aren't exactly flourishing either, so i thought it best to take a look at what was happening, and lifted them. I saw that the roots were in a ball - all growing anywhere but the right place. How i remedied this was to wash all the soil away from the rootball and THEN repot them again. Was this the right course of action, or will i now lose them? Its early days i know, as i just did this about an hour ago, but any advice would be gratefully recieved. They should be OK as long as you've got plenty of contact between root filaments and soil. One other thing is i have never fed these, as i dont like using chemicals on stuff. Is there any organic feed i8 could buy? Make it. Get a bucket and keep feeding nettles into it until it's packed, then top it up with water. Leave it in a sunny spot and in a week or so you should have some highly smelly liquid which tomatoes love. Dilute it to a straw colour - it's much too strong when it's neat. -- Rusty Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
"Jaques d'Alltrades" wrote in message k... The message from "Teleman" contains these words: About six weeks ago, a gardener friend of mine gave me 2 tomato seedlings. The next day, i got called upon at work to go abroad for a time, so i never had the time to pot them on. When i returned i repotted the plants into bigger pots and watered them. While they never died, they aren't exactly flourishing either, so i thought it best to take a look at what was happening, and lifted them. I saw that the roots were in a ball - all growing anywhere but the right place. How i remedied this was to wash all the soil away from the rootball and THEN repot them again. Was this the right course of action, or will i now lose them? Its early days i know, as i just did this about an hour ago, but any advice would be gratefully recieved. They should be OK as long as you've got plenty of contact between root filaments and soil. One other thing is i have never fed these, as i dont like using chemicals on stuff. Is there any organic feed i8 could buy? Make it. Get a bucket and keep feeding nettles into it until it's packed, then top it up with water. Leave it in a sunny spot and in a week or so you should have some highly smelly liquid which tomatoes love. Dilute it to a straw colour - it's much too strong when it's neat. -- Rusty Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ Thanks for that - just thinking where to get nettles ;) |
On Sat, 9 Jul 2005 15:28:30 +0100, "Teleman"
wrote: About six weeks ago, a gardener friend of mine gave me 2 tomato seedlings. The next day, i got called upon at work to go abroad for a time, so i never had the time to pot them on. When i returned i repotted the plants into bigger pots and watered them. While they never died, they aren't exactly flourishing either, so i thought it best to take a look at what was happening, and lifted them. I saw that the roots were in a ball - all growing anywhere but the right place. How i remedied this was to wash all the soil away from the rootball and THEN repot them again. Was this the right course of action, or will i now lose them? Its early days i know, as i just did this about an hour ago, but any advice would be gratefully recieved. One other thing is i have never fed these, as i dont like using chemicals on stuff. Is there any organic feed i8 could buy? A good organic feed is seaweed solution which you can buy. You can water the roots and also spray the foliage to give them a boost. It's a bit less smelly than nettle solution. I think you've done the best you can. Pam in Bristol |
Thanks for that - just thinking where to get nettles ;)
I got plenty in my garden.. mike |
What? No nettles in a garden? thought everyone grew them, worth their weight
in gold to wildlife. seriously tho. try any overgrown area. Or you could try comfry but slightly higher in nitrogen I believe. regards Gordon "Teleman" wrote in message ... "Jaques d'Alltrades" wrote in message k... The message from "Teleman" contains these words: About six weeks ago, a gardener friend of mine gave me 2 tomato seedlings. The next day, i got called upon at work to go abroad for a time, so i never had the time to pot them on. When i returned i repotted the plants into bigger pots and watered them. While they never died, they aren't exactly flourishing either, so i thought it best to take a look at what was happening, and lifted them. I saw that the roots were in a ball - all growing anywhere but the right place. How i remedied this was to wash all the soil away from the rootball and THEN repot them again. Was this the right course of action, or will i now lose them? Its early days i know, as i just did this about an hour ago, but any advice would be gratefully recieved. They should be OK as long as you've got plenty of contact between root filaments and soil. One other thing is i have never fed these, as i dont like using chemicals on stuff. Is there any organic feed i8 could buy? Make it. Get a bucket and keep feeding nettles into it until it's packed, then top it up with water. Leave it in a sunny spot and in a week or so you should have some highly smelly liquid which tomatoes love. Dilute it to a straw colour - it's much too strong when it's neat. -- Rusty Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ Thanks for that - just thinking where to get nettles ;) |
I think it's only fair to warn you just how stinking nettle manure really is. Yes, it's free and all natural and great for plants and generally a marvellous idea, which is why enthusiastically made some in spring. Light-hearted 'oh it smells a bit farmyardy' comments aside...
Never again. It's not just that it smells...but that it smells so bad it will make you gag, a stench I would describe as being like a mix of the worst decay-ridden bad breath you've ever had the misfortune to come across and fully rotten cow manure. It hits you right in the gut, I nearly choked on it several times and I am by no means a delicate flower. Not only that, but the smell doesn't fade away for quite a while and will contaminate almost everything it touches. I wish someone had told me this, even though I probably would have ignored it. My advice - wear a clothes peg at all times, wear machine washable clothes when applying and apologise to any close neighbours who will wonder what you've killed and hidden in your garden. Bob |
The message
from undergroundbob contains these words: I think it's only fair to warn you just how stinking nettle manure really is. (snip) I wish someone had told me this, even though I probably would have ignored it. Quite. It has been mentioned here, but maybe only a dozen times....you can take a horse to water, etc... Janet |
I think it's only fair to warn you just how stinking nettle manure really is. (snip) I wish someone had told me this, even though I probably would have ignored it. Quite. It has been mentioned here, but maybe only a dozen times....you can take a horse to water, etc... Janet Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit and I didn't think Barrowcloth would sink so low, however . . . . |
The message
from "Mike" contains these words: I think it's only fair to warn you just how stinking nettle manure really is. (snip) I wish someone had told me this, even though I probably would have ignored it. Quite. It has been mentioned here, but maybe only a dozen times....you can take a horse to water, etc... Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit and I didn't think Barrowcloth would sink so low, however . . . . I see you're on your sweetness and light kick again, Mike. -- Rusty Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
Janet Baraclough wrote:
:: The message :: from undergroundbob contains :: these words: :: :: ::: I think it's only fair to warn you just how stinking nettle manure ::: really is. (snip) I wish someone had told me ::: this, even though I probably would have ignored it. :: :: Quite. It has been mentioned here, but maybe only a dozen :: times....you can take a horse to water, etc... but a pencil must be led? -- If God had intended us to drink beer, He would have given us stomachs. |
"Pam Moore" wrote in message ... On Sat, 9 Jul 2005 15:28:30 +0100, "Teleman" wrote: A good organic feed is seaweed solution which you can buy. You can water the roots and also spray the foliage to give them a boost. It's a bit less smelly than nettle solution. I think you've done the best you can. Pam in Bristol Hey - you may be onto something there !!!!! I live by the sea and could get seeweed galore Thanks |
The message
from "Teleman" contains these words: "Pam Moore" wrote in message ... On Sat, 9 Jul 2005 15:28:30 +0100, "Teleman" wrote: A good organic feed is seaweed solution which you can buy. You can water the roots and also spray the foliage to give them a boost. It's a bit less smelly than nettle solution. I think you've done the best you can. Pam in Bristol Hey - you may be onto something there !!!!! I live by the sea and could get seeweed galore Just pile it on the soil as a dense mulch, no need to rinse or dig it in. It's a great fertiliser and soil conditioner. Janet. |
The message
from "Teleman" contains these words: Hey - you may be onto something there !!!!! I live by the sea and could get seeweed galore Ah. If you add seaweed to your compost, and can get hold of horse/cow/pig muck to add, you will have (more or less) what crofters use to keep their crofts in good condition. It used to be the springtime job to pull the old thatch from the crofthouse roof and layer it with seaweed and the deep litter from the byre (the whole winter's worth) to make the compost for spreading in the following spring. However, I don't know whether the nettle method would work well with seaweed - you'll just have to try it. Beware! it might be a bit saline. -- Rusty Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:49 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter