by johnah on October 31, 2020
Zucchini Plant Fertilizer: Tips On Feeding Zucchini Plants
FERTILIZER FOR SQUASH AND ZUCCHINI PLANTES
How To Make Female Squash Flowers And Male & Female Zucchini Flowers
HOW TO MAKE MALE ORGANIC FLOWERING BUSHNIES FOR YOUR SQUASH PLANTS
The following are some tips on making male or female flower buds for your squash plants. These are good for those who want to make their own organic flowers for their garden. You may use them to decorate your garden or even sell them.
1) First, cut off the top part of the flower bud with a sharp knife so it will not break when you put it into water.
Then place it in a container with a little bit of warm water until its fully grown (about 2 weeks). When ready, remove the bud from the water and let it dry completely before placing it back into the same container where you placed it in.
2) Next, take a piece of paper towel and wrap around each end of one of these flowers.
Place this in a glass jar and leave outside for several days to allow the moisture to evaporate out of them. After they have dried, store them in an airtight container until needed.
3) To use, remove the wrapping from the base of the bud and place into the hole you drilled in your zucchini or summer squash.
The flower will last for several days, and can be replaced when it begins to wilt.
DIY FERTILIZER
Please note that using this or any other fertilizer can lead to over-fertilization that can kill your plants. Be aware of how much you are using. If you are new to this, stick with the manufacturers recommendations on the package and be especially careful with these as they can be more potent than the synthetic or organic options at the grocery store.
1) Fish fertilizer: Fish emulsion—available at most garden centers—is an organic source of nitrogen and other nutrients that promote plant growth.
Look for a product that is low in ammonia and isn’t dyed.
2) Guano: Bat and bird guano (and even cave bat guano) are among the best natural fertilizers available.
Although these may be hard to find, they are well worth seeking out for their high nitrogen content and ability to promote plant growth.
3) Blood Meal: Made from ground up animal carcasses (yum!
), this is a good source of nitrogen and other nutrients for your plants. It’s a little heavy on the nitrogen, so use it in conjunction with other fertilizers.
4) Crab Shells: Crushed up crab shells are an organic source of calcium that can help improve your plants’ health.
5) Human Urine: That’s right, you can actually use the “waste” from your own body to fertilize plants.
And while it might seem gross to you, it’s completely organic and helps plants grow. (We’re not endorsing this method. We’re just saying that some people use it).
6) Coffee Grounds: Dried coffee grounds are an excellent fertilizer that can provide your plants with plenty of nutrients.
7) Animal Manure: Fresh (and sometimes not-so-fresh) animal manure can be a great fertilizer due to its nitrogen content.
However, since it can also carry weeds, diseases and other contaminants as well as nutrients, it should only be used as a compost ingredient or in very small quantities on your plants.
8) Liquid Manure: There are many types of liquid manure available at nurseries and garden supply centers.
Some are specific to plants like tomatoes, strawberries or flowers; others are not. Be sure to check the ingredients before you buy them. Look for those that have a high content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Avoid those with herbicides or pesticides since they could be dangerous to people as well as plants.
9) Seabird Guano: Pre-mixed, all-natural guano is another good fertilizer for your organic garden.
Look for those low in nitrogen since they are easier on plants and include other necessary nutrients like phosphorus and potassium.
10) Rock Dust: Sometimes called glacial dust or rock phosphate, rock dust is a good way to increase your soil’s phosphorus content. It can also provide your soil with several trace minerals necessary for plant growth.
11) Compost: Making and using your own compost is the best way to keep your plants healthy. The “secret” to making good compost is to make sure there is a good balance of “green” materials (high in nitrogen) and “brown” materials (high in carbon). Be sure to shred or chop up any material that you intend to add since this will help with the decomposition process.
In preparing your soil, you should have already added some organic matter. If not, add some chips or other organic matter to your soil to help keep in the moisture and improve drainage. To take your soil to the next level, you can start adding in some of the aforementioned materials. Remember, all of these can be used either as a top-dressing for your plants or as part of the actual planting hole.
Some of these materials may be easier to find at a pet store rather than a nursery since they are mostly used for animal bedding. Check your local pet store; you may be able to find some great deals on these materials.
1) Shredded Wood: Chopped or shredded wood is good for providing your soil with some carbon and can also improve drainage.
It’s best to use some that has not been pressure treated since it may contain chemicals that can be dangerous to plants.
2) Peat Moss: Commonly used as a soil conditioner, peat moss helps to loosen soil and keep in moisture.
It is a good additive but should be used sparingly since it can lead to compacted soil.
3) Hay: Hay is an excellent additive for your garden.
It is high in carbon and also helps improve drainage.
4) Wood Ash: Using wood ash in your garden can provide the necessary potassium content that most plants need.
Sources & references used in this article:
A haematoxylin squash method for the root tips of Dolichos lablab Linn. by KM Marimuthu, MK Subramaniam – Current Science, 1960 – cabdirect.org
Movement and feeding patterns of Epilachna cucurbitae Richards (Coleoptera:Coccinellidae) on pumpkin and zucchini plants2 by LJ Wilson – Australian journal of ecology, 1986 – Wiley Online Library
Comparison of organic and synthetic-inorganic nutrition of soilless grown summer squash by HY Dasgan, A Bozkoylu – … Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild …, 2006 – actahort.org
Influence of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) Infestation and Squash Silverleaf Disorder on Zucchini Seedling Growth by HJ McAuslane, J Chen, RB Carle… – Journal of economic …, 2004 – academic.oup.com
Effect of nitrogen form during the flowering period on zucchini squash growth and nutrient element uptake by WO Chance III, ZC Somda, HA Mills – Journal of plant nutrition, 1999 – Taylor & Francis
The population dynamics of several herbivorous beetles in a tropical agroecosystem: the effect of intercropping corn, beans and squash in Costa Rica by S Risch – Journal of Applied Ecology, 1980 – JSTOR
Categories:
Tags:
No Tag
Post navigation
Previous post Tomato Mosaic Virus Symptoms: Managing Tomato Mosaic Virus
Post navigation
Next post Chipmunk Control: Eliminating Chipmunks From Your Garden