Best top dressing for vegetative growth?

olaf687

Well-Known Member
Anyone know the best top dressing for vegetative growth? I just planted 12, 8 inch plants in 30 gallon fabric pots about a week ago. Money is not an issue so looking for the best top dressing. I heard blood meal and bat guano is good. But what are the best when your not held back by cost? And also when should you add top dressing and about how much?
 

FresnoFarmer

Well-Known Member
Alfalfa meal, soybean meal, cottonseed meal, rice bran , crustacean meal,and kelp meal, beet pulp, oyster shell flour gypsum and epsom salt. Take your pick lol. Some for npk. Some for micronutes and microbe food.
 

Bigbruce420

Well-Known Member
I am a big Fan of Gaia Green grow/bloom, I bought a 10kg bag for around $125, it should last me the grow season with 65 smart pots. you would use around 1-2 cups every 3-4 weeks. its organic and has the kind of stuff fresno is talking about but all together...
 

FresnoFarmer

Well-Known Member
I am a big Fan of Gaia Green grow/bloom, I bought a 10kg bag for around $125, it should last me the grow season with 65 smart pots. you would use around 1-2 cups every 3-4 weeks. its organic and has the kind of stuff fresno is talking about but all together...
I like to mix it myself. Surrounded by graineries and feed stores. 50 lb bags for 7-15 bucks goes a long ways
 

Cali.Grown>408

Well-Known Member
I do about a tablespoon of 2 types of compost, ewc, alfalfa, kelp, oystershell, neem/Karanja mix, rock dust or basalt, fish emulsion in water!
 

olaf687

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info everyone but what specifically do I need use for vegative growth not flowering? Im too early in, for flowering top dressing.
 

Cali.Grown>408

Well-Known Member
The recipe I mentioned is for veg.
You can buy roots organic Uprising Foundation and Grow and top dress..if it’s easier for you. Got some samples from the hydro shop and I used it recently and it’s works good
 

Rivendell

Well-Known Member
When, what and how much really depends on what you built your soil with.

If you used plenty of fertilizer, some ewc or compost is fine to use.

If you skimped building the soil, a multi source fertilizer like Espoma Tomato Tone or a similar product from Jobes etc will work well scratched in and topped with ewc or compost.
 

radiant Rudy

Well-Known Member
You can make a more informed decision about what would be best for top dressing your pots by having a soil analysis. I dont think loading in too much K while the plant is building structure is good for bud quality or plant health.


This 'Silver Queen' is doing well on agricola and some AEA foliar

6-18 about to tassel.jpg Ive had good results with this Astera product with my veggies and flowers.

http://soilminerals.com/Agricolas4-8-4_MainPage.htm
 
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CanadianJim

Well-Known Member
If you don't want to get a soil analysis they sell test kits, mostly geared towards tomatoes a lot of places. Feels like one of those junior scientist kits the first time you use them.
 

kratos015

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info everyone but what specifically do I need use for vegative growth not flowering? Im too early in, for flowering top dressing.
Neem Meal and Crab Meal would be my go to, covered in the best quality compost you can find.

If you don't make your own compost/EWC, I recommend grabbing Coast of Maine's Lobster Compost. I've found that most of the EWC you can buy online is subpar at best, especially for what they're charging.
 
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