One size fits all ??

[Primrose]

I have a very cluttered garage and am trying to reduce the stuff I store in it, including gardening materials. We're constantly reading about fertilising and nutritional aids for plants but I wonder if we really need several different types of fertiliser?. I have a large tub of chicken manure pellets for general gardening use, and Tomorite, which I tend to use for topping up all types seedlings if they have to stay in pots longer than I would like before planting out, as well as for tomatoes, peppers, chillies, etc.

Am I doing more harm than good sticking to Tomorite for everything, or should I REALLY be using different liquid fertilisers for different types of plants?. I do use an iron based nutrient for my azaleas and rhododendrons though !

[hilary]

Hi Primrose,
Am a bit like you with regard to fertilisers and tend to stick to chicken manure pellets and comfrey tea (Tomorite) and seaweed as a general pick me up. I do have various partly used samples of Vitax etc which I will eventually get round to using but once you have to start measuring out then I soon lose interest!
I guess as long as you are feeding correctly and everything looks healthy then stick to what works!
I should add that fish,blood and bone I use in the borders and for planting.

So yes when I think about it I do have more than just one to fit all!!!

Hilary

[Motherwoman]

I think you need a general dry fertilizer for open ground and a liquid one for pots. I use Fish, Blood and Bone on the plot and Tomorite for pots. Having said that I do the rounds on the plot with manure and rotted compost heap matter to keep it in good heart. As long as plants look healthy and do the business you're doing OK.

You can overfeed and end up with fantastically green plants that don't actually produce anything!

MW

[Elaine]

There are so many different products aren't there? We tend to use chicken manure pellets and Growmore, for general purpose. Tomorite for the toms, cues and strawberry plants. That's about it really. Oh and sequestered (?) stuff for the Pierris.
You could spend a fortune on all the fertilisers for this that and t'other.