marlingardener
Central Texas, zone 8
Posts: 2387
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| Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:54 pm Post subject: A few words about fertilizer |
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I admit I have a memory like a sieve-only the big stuff remains! I have trouble remembering the N-P-K, 0-0-0, thing about fertilizer. But I found a quick and easy way to remember which does what.
Leaves-Flowers-Roots! Whichever number is highest (5-10-5, eg.) means that you are stimulating that growth. Now I admit I use composted manure and garden compost, so I have no idea what the numbers would be, but if you buy bagged fertilizer with the Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (K) labeled, you can tell if it's right for your application.
For a simpleton like me, L-F-R is easier than 25-10-10!
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toni
 Administrator
Plants Moderator
Regular Plants Contributor
North Texas, Zone 8a
Posts: 11710
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| Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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Very helpful information Jane and the timing couldn't have been better for me, I was going to be searching which one of those letters I needed for my garden this year. Last growing season my plants had good roots and lots of leaves but very few flowers.
My memory is going to have to have a little more of a boost to remember LFR instead of RFL or FLR...Leaves come up first, followed by Flowers and they all come from the Roots.
Thanks much
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Kay
Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 1114
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| Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Marlin, I like that! L F R I'm like that too, no matter how mant times I have had it drilled into my brain, I always seem to need to stop, and go over it again. This makes it easier to explain to my customers too. Thanks 
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Kay
To love what you do, and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun?
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Jerry Sullivan
Regular Plants Contributor
Chelmsford MA
Posts: 3061
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| Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:19 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Jane, I love rules of thumb, they are so much easier to remember. I wonder how many more are stored away in other members minds that we can use?
Like Prune spring flowering bushes AFTER they have flowered.
Or use grub killer on your lawn BEFORE the forsythia blossoms fall
Jerry
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marlingardener
Central Texas, zone 8
Posts: 2387
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| Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 2:13 am Post subject: |
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Jerry, why don't we start a "rules of thumb that greenthumbs need to know" and post all the little tidbits of esoteric information stored away in our brains. We could do it on the Gardening Other forum.
You do have good ideas (probably all that cold bracing air that you breathe in.)
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