Updated Gustavus Specific Organic Amendment Advice from Steller Botanicals

After more intense soil tests at our own little farm and reviewing soil tests from other Gustavus gardeners who have shared their results with me these are updated organic amendment recommendations. This is a big picture post -- the old post has more specific information about each fertilizer option.

Please note that there are some general consistencies upon which this advice is based but without testing your own garden plot it is difficult to give you specific advice. A soil test costs around $15.00 so what is holding you back? It is a great investment for maximizing the time and money you already spend in and on your garden.

In general Gustavus soils tend to be more alkaline than is optimal, and have more Calcium and Iron than is optimal. While being deficient in Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Boron, and Sulfur.

However there are anomalies based on what has happened on a plot in the past, so the above is a generalization that may not be true for your site.

A note about Boron. Boron is a trace mineral. It is often deficient in Alaskan soils. But it only takes very small amounts of boron to bring your soil back into balance. I never recommend adding boron to your soil more than once without doing a soil test as it can quickly over-accumulate.

What ORGANIC Fertilizer or Garden Supplies do you Need?

note that this is a list of supplies that Steller Botanicals carries-- pick what is best from you from these options based on whether you prefer liquid fertilizers (quickest effect) or powders (slower release) or granules (even longer time to breakdown).

In Gustavus conditions are often windy so some people prefer granules as they don't blow away in the wind during application.

Another consideration is fencing-- fertilizers with animal products should only be used in fenced gardens as dogs will dig up these lovely odors that you plant.

And of course we live in a rainforest, so the rain leaches away nutrients that we would rather keep in our garden beds. One application may not be enough for the season. We often apply amendments when planting in May and then notice that around the end of June our plants look a little pale (a sign of nitrogen deficiency) so we do another application.

General Recommendations for Gustavus Gardens:

1. An all purpose fertilizer + Sulfur + Langbeinite (or K-Mag) in your entire growing area

2. Compost and seaweed
3. Boron 1 x then test your soil before re-applying

   
   

   ALL PURPOSE OPTIONS, for Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers, Berries & Fruit Trees

   
   

   · 8-2-4 Granules- slower release and better in the wind

   · 5-5-3 Powder: faster release and contains mycorrhizae which is great for perennials and increasing uptake of nutrients

   · Ocean Rich Fish Compost

   · 3-2-2 Chicken Manure

   · 1.5-2.5-0.4 Seacoast Compost

   · Seaweed

   o Kelp Meal: does not supply N-P-K but does supply important micronutrients

   o Soluble Kelp: seaweed concentrate dilute in water then apply

   o Liquid Kelp

   

   
   

   NITROGEN Options: for leafy green plants

   
   

   · 9-4.5-0 Fish Meal: for those with dog/bear proof fencing

   · 12-0-0 Feather Meal: , for those with dog/bear proof fencing though it is less stinky than fish meal.

   · 2.5-0-2.5 Alfalfa Meal: vegan, no animal inputs, does not attract animals

   
   

   PHOSPHORUS: for root crops

   
   

   · 4-17-0 Fish Bone Meal: powder, for those with dog/bear proof fencing

   · 1.7-7-0 Fish Bone Meal Liquid: quicker absorption, best for seedlings as its not highly concentrated

   
   

   POTASSIUM: for proper plant metabolism

   · 0-0-22 Langbeinite : granules

   · 0-0-21.4 Potassium Magnesium Sulfate: soluble powder, stir into water and water beds before planting

   
   

   MICRONUTRIENTS

   · Kelp:

   o Kelp Meal: does not supply N-P-K but does supply important micronutrients

   o Soluble Kelp: seaweed concentrate dilute in water then apply

   o Liquid Kelp

   
   

   Specific For FLOWERS & FRUIT PRODUCTION:

   · 2-2-2 Bloom Liquid: great for fruiting plants and contains beneficial micro-organisms.

   · 2-8-4 Power Bloom : powder

   · 2-6-4 Liquid Bloom: liquid, best used at time of transplanting

   
   

   
   

   Specific Options for FRUIT TREES:

   · 6-2-4 Fruit Tree Fertilizer : coarse powder

   · 5-5-3 Powder: powder with mycorrhizae

   · 2-6-4 Liquid Bloom: for new transplants

   · Neem Oil: liquid sprayed on bark, buds and soil in the spring to protect from pathogens

   
   

   Specific Options for BERRIES

   · 4-3-2 Acid Mix

   · 5-5-3 Powder

   · 2-6-4 Liquid Bloom: for new transplants

   · Neem Oil: liquid sprayed on bark, buds and soil in the spring to protect from pathogens

   · Plant Helper for Raspberries: 2 part Alaskan beneficial fungi. Powder application and soluble powder water application.

   · Rooting Hormone: dilute for new “roots” to take to the soil

   
   

   GREENHOUSES:

   4-1-2 Neem Meal mixed into the soil as a growth stimulant and prevention of aphids, fungal diseases

   and any combination of compost/seaweed or organic fertilizers.
   Note that due to higher temperatures fertilizers will likely break down more quickly in a greenhouse environment.
   And many of the crops grown in a greenhouse are "heavy" feeders and like higher amounts of nutrients for healthy growth.

   
   

   SEEDLINGS:

   · Liquid Kelp and Liquid Fish Applications every 7-10 days

   

   TRANSPLANTS:

   · Liquid Kelp and Liquid Fish to decrease transplant shock

   · 2-6-4 Liquid Bloom: for rooting

   
   

   SOIL IMPROVEMENT- GENERAL:

   · Coir: decreases alkalinity of Gustavus soil and adds organics, adds tilth

   · 2-2-2 Bloom Liquid: great for fruiting plants and contains beneficial micro-organisms.

   · Bio-Ag Microbial: increase beneficial micro-organisms. Great for new soil or general conditioner or added to mulch or a seed soak

   
   

   

   ORGANIC PEST CONTROL:

   · Agribon 19 Light Row Cover for prevention of root maggots on all brassicas (kale, cabbage, turnips, rutabagas, broccoli, cauliflower) and onion maggots on onions

   · 3 in 1 Safer Spray: for powdery mildew, rust, aphids, caterpillars, mites, whiteflies, thrips, beetles, leafhoppers and more

   · Neem liquid works against almost all pest, wait 7 days before eating anything sprayed with neem

   · Peppermint Fury Spray: for powdery mildew, aphids, spiders. Indoor or outdoor plants.

   · Orchard Spray: for berry bushes and fruit tree pests, fungal diseases, aphids, thrips, moths, fruit flies, whiteflies, leafminers, caterpillars, leafhoppers, and more

   · Plant Helper: 2 part Alaskan beneficial fungi. Powder application and soluble powder water application. Useful for preventing fungal diseases on raspberries, onions, potatoes.

   · Sluggo: slug control