so..
hibernation is over and I'm back with the newbie questions

When do I start feeding the DL's in my garden and what kind should I give?
Do you use the same kind during the whole season or do you give an extra boost of something in particular as a start?

I've had my seedlings in a growtent during the winter, under lamps that gave off quite a lot of heat (around 70 - 75F). The last week I've kept the growtent open so the temp went down to 60-65F . Should I start bringing them outside to get used to the 'normal' temperature or should I keep them inside until the temp outside catches up?


Mayo

I usually feed with 2 things: a water soluble as close to a 3:1:2 N:P:K ratio as possible, and alfalfa pellets. We didn't get much snow this year and I was laid up for most of what we did get or I would have just scattered the pellets on the snow and let them work in that way. I'll probably give things their first feeding in a couple weeks. Depending on how bad the forecasted freeze is.

hi James,

so you start feeding as soon as the risk of frost is over?
Officially that is around the end of April - 1st half of May.

Our winter was so mild that even my dormants are already about 4-5" above ground...
Don't they need to be fertilized sooner?


Mayo

Mayo in not as concerned about frost as the hard freeze they were forecasting. Yesterday they were predicting temps around 20 F with a high the following day of 30-32 F. I don't want to put a bunch of water on plants leading up to that as I grow quite a number of plants in pots. If that cold spell weren't coming I'd fertilize as soon as I could.

It's worth noting also that many granular or time release formulas work best with warm soil temps so they would be ineffective for some time here.

I only have 4 day lilies. A couple were planted this past fall. The growth is about 4 inches or so. I haven't fertilized. I love a product named 'super thrive'. I use this on everything! I gave the daffodils and the day-lilies a dose yesterday.
Anyone have any suggestions?
You say to fertilize, ASAP.
Magnolia, flowering crabs (I think), daffodils are all in bloom and I saw my first violet bloom yesterday.

@Bibeegirl I believe, Superthrive is not a complete fertilizer. It's listed as 0.5-0-0 analysis on the label. It's basically just nitrogen. This is why they call it a vitamin solution, instead of a fertilizer. I'm no expert, maybe @Sooby can help.

Karen, as far as I remember Superthrive is mostly vitamin B1 (which plants make themselves so don't really need) and a hormone (auxin). I don't remember for sure, or what else is in it, but I know I looked it up for someone once before so I will look it up again to remind myself and post back later. If it is 0.5-0-0 it is a weak fertilizer at best and I don't know if it would be available to Mayo in the Netherlands anyway. I've never seen it here in Canada, and if articles on the web are accurate it's not sold here.

Bibeegirl was asking about SuperThrive, sorry for the confusion. I have some Superthrive. Here is what the label says. Total nitrogen (N) 0.5% 0.4% water soluble nitrogen , 0.1% water insoluble Nitrogen derived from kelp
Also contains non-plant food ingredient 0.09% Vitamin B1 from Thiamine Hydrochloride
They list a link http://www.aapfco.org/metals.h...

I have been experimenting with some seedlings using Superthrive, there hasn't been a noticeable difference over seedlings without Superthrive. The group that has been given Epson Salts instead of Superthrive look much stronger and have grown much better. I'll try to post pictures later. I have company at this time. I'm suppose to be cooking.
Hope everybody has a Blessed Easter!

I usually start fertilizing after my garden cleanup, which I haven't been able to start yet due to weather not cooperating. Last year I tried Scott's Vegetable and Flower fertilizer which I think was a l0-10-10 formula and it worked very well. I had more rebloom than I have ever had in the 20 plus years of growing daylilies. I also use Milorganite.

Sorry, Karen, I'm probably the one causing the confusion - I addressed my reply to you because you "called" me, and Nancy is already using Superthrive. I didn't get a chance to look up the ingredients as we went out yesterday - too nice a day to stay indoors but it's pouring with rain today, supposed to turn to snow later But a quick look this morning suggests it is mostly what I'd said, vitamin B1 and a hormone (an auxin, NAA) with a bunch of other undisclosed ingredients. Some swear by it and some think it is pretty much "snake oil".

FWIW this article tested it:
http://www.sarracenia.com/pubs...

I'm with the snake oil camp.
I use Espoma Plant Tone in my gardens and lots of compost. Oh, I also toss my rabbit's poo in my gardens. I also apply Epson salts in the Fall.

taylordaylily said: Oh, I also toss my rabbit's poo in my gardens.

Ha! I have been thinking about doing that too!
I have 3 bunnies and they produce a lót of pellets
Do you use the night- or daypellets?
And do you let them dry (a couple of days?) before you use them in the garden?


Mayo

I just toss them out when I clean up everyday. I only have 1Blue Dutch rabbit, his name is Benny. He's a great fertilizer producer and sweet as could be.



Rabbit poo doesn't heat up as it breaks down so, it can go straight to the garden. It doesn't burn plants. I don't use rabbit feed pellets in my garden due to the salt contained in the pellets. I use horse pellets, instead.
I'd love to see your bunnies/fertilizer producers.

I also use plantone.

I start on valentines day...or about with milorganite. Get those leaves going, and the plant greened up. Probably the same as the alfalfa, I just have animal issues with the alfalfa. I then use a slow release fertilizer with systemic disease control sprinkled around the plants. After that, i just feed thru the hose till its time to do the other two things again.

taylordaylily said:I'd love to see your bunnies/fertilizer producers.

They produce a lót everyday!

Queenie, the mother


her son Snuffie ('Snuffles' sp?)


and her daughter Zusje ('Siss' )



Don't you get a lot of weeds as a result?


Mayo

Queenie is beautiful and makes very cute bunnies. I love Queenie's facial markings! You have very cute fertilizer machines.
Do you ever feed them daylily blooms? I gave Benny a couple last year, he seemed to like purple blooms the best. Figures since they are the messiest of all.

Yes, I have weeds and then I have weeds waiting to replace the fallen. But, I get weed seeds all the time anyway. I live in the country and there are several unkempt fields around me. I don't use Preen because I grow various types of seeds in my gardens.
My gardens started as wildlife gardens, then daylily Fever hit me. Now they are Daylily gardens with other plants mixed in sometimes. Here's a picture of one of my bigger gardens, look you'll see weeds. I wasn't able to weed last year.

taylordaylily said:Here's a picture of one of my bigger gardens, look you'll see weeds. I wasn't able to weed last year.

It looks very nice. I call that the 'naturalized' style of garden. I have a lot of that style . I'm going to put up a sign stating that my property is a "Certified wildlife habitat" . It's certain the wildlife around here likes it.

I like that Naturalized Garden!
It would be nice to have a certified wildlife garden.

I really like the look of your garden. There is a wonderful book, called A Gentle Plea for Chaos, by Mirabel Osler, that I think you would enjoy. As the title suggests, it argues against over-formalised and regimented gardens. It's one of my favourite books - get a copy if you can, I'm sure you'll love it too!

for the compliment and for the book suggestion. I love reading and, that does sound like something I would enjoy.