Mild, soluble fertilizer boosts early transplants

Tag: Soluble Fertilizer

A mild fertilizer solution can boost flower and vegetable transplants that move into the garden during early spring´s cool weather.

It basically is called a transplant solution, starter solution or root stimulator, explains Ward Upham, Master Garden program coordinator for Kansas State University Research and Extension.

He says plants that don't receive this kind of feeding may develop a purplish tinge because of a phosphorus deficiency."Surprisingly, it can even result in soils with plenty of phosphorous," says Upham. "The actual problem is that transplants often have difficulty in taking up nutrients from cool soils. Soluble nutrients, applied near transplants´ roots, can help them get off to a better start."

He offers a homemade solution.

The base is a fertilizer that contains more phosphorus (P) than nitrogen (N) or potassium (K), He names examples of that kind of N-P-K combination: 5-10-5, 10-20-10 and 11-15-11.

"Put 2 to 3 tablespoons of the fertilizer in a gallon of water several hours before use. Then apply about 1 cup of solution per

transplant," the horticulturist advises.

The fertilizer will not dissolve completely, but he sees enough of it going into the solution to give early plants a strong beginning. Once garden soil warms up in late spring or early summer, new transplants do not need the boost.

According to University of Missouri horticulturist Mary Kroening, cool-season crops like peas, beans, letuce, spinach and beets can be planted through mid-April. Summer vegetables - tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers - are at risk for late frost damage, which can extend almost a month later.

Below-ground plants, including bulbs, planted in cold soil likely will rot and die, so the effort may have to be repeated.