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Tue, Sep 7, 10 at 5:31
| I read somewhere recently that blood meal can add iron to the soil, and it helps when leaves turn yellow. I bought some of the blood meal but I am now hesitant to put it near my tomatoes. Would it be better just to add it to the compost for next years garden?
I know that I should have a soil analysis done, but I feel that since I have applied compost to different areas our garden, all these area may have a different soil analysis from each other. Terry |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Whether to add any nutrient to your soil should be based on knowledge not a simple guess. Yellowing of plant leaves, Chlorosis, has many causes not just lack of Nitrogen, or Iron. Depending on how the leaves yellow the cause could be anythjing from Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iton, Sulfur, Boron, Copper, Manganese, or Molybdenum deficiencies. Blood meal is a source of Nitrogen, I've seen nothing that indicates it is a good source of Iron. I find Blood Meal is best in the compost pile. |
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| Yellowing leaves can also be the result of too much or too little water to the plant. Are your conditions droughty now as it is here? Blood meal is a high nitrogen source. Adding too much N can cause excessive height and foliage growth at the expense of flowers or fruit, so proceed with caution there. I'm too cheap to buy anything for my compost except a bale of straw when necessary. I've never added blood meal to compost. Karen |
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- Posted by joepyeweed 5b IL (My Page) on Tue, Sep 7, 10 at 12:36
| Seeing how you have already bought it, I would go ahead and apply it to the soil. IN my area its kind of late in the growing season to have any effect on tomatoes. My tomatoes are just about done... You might want to spread it on your lawn though, it is prime grass growing season. |
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| Seems to me to be an awful expensive way to give a little nitrogen to the pile. Your grass clippings can do the same thing and when you figure how much fertilizer you've put on your lawn, with all the accompanying nitrogen, why not just do that instead. Save the blood meal for putting around plants that need it. |
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| I agree with goren 7. I would use 'Real salt' or 'Azomite' which are ancient sea salt or volcanic ash in Utah. They have many of the 20 essential elements, as well as 60 trace minerals & elements.You should check out Biochar also. But for Nitrogen, phosphate,potash, as well as some trace elements, manures, comfrey, cottonseed mill,soybean mill,grass clipping,nut shells,alfalfa,clover,legume,green sand,& more. www.GrowOrganic.com |
Here is a link that might be useful: Peacful Valley
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