Kitchen Garden Forum

Currently my seedlings (Tomatoes, Peppers, Celery etc)are establishing themselves nicely in their 3" pots. However I don't envision the outdoor types being planted out for some while yet and depletion of the nutriments in the compost will no doubt occur. For a number of reasons I can't pot up to 5" with fresh compost so was wondering how others overcome this potential setback. A weak liquid feed of some sort seems to me to be the answer, but of what and how weak?
I start on my French beans next week in root trainers and if I have to hold them back could suffer similar problems so what is the solution !!!

i water my pots with water dipped up from an old bath, it gets the occasional shovel of wood ash and bundle of stinging nettles dropped in, its a funny greeny brown colour but doesnt seem to have killed anything yet. and its the only feed my tomatoes get aswell.

Hi WigBag,
Normally seedlings should be watered with nothing but clean tap water. You do not have the foggiest idea what may be lurking in water butts and contrary to the belief of some rainwater is nowhere near as pure as it is made out to be.
If you are organic have a compost heap with some well rotted material in it I would suggest that a solution made up from some well rotted compost in a gallon of water and strained off so there are no solids to the colour of very weak tea and a trial should be done on a few plants to see how they fair before you feed the whole lot.
When I plant seeds in MP compost I always add a very small amount of super phosphate and Vitax Q4 to the compost prior to sowing and this is generally enough to see the plants through to planting out time.
Alternatively the Chempak general fertilizer at quarter strength fed once only should suffice.
JB.

Thanks guys for the replies, I have been away again so only now able to acknowledge .
I am a 'pragmatic' gardener, with aims rather than a slave to any 'system', so will try the chempak while I brew up some 'tea' for later batches.

cheers