Hey everyone! This year we set up some raised beds without doing a soil test — which I now realize was a mistake. We use our rabbits' litter (only the hay from their boxes) as fertilizer, but since it's rich in nitrogen, I think my soil is too nitrogen-heavy. Our tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants are thriving, but they're not flowering and fruiting as much as I'd hoped. I switched from Fox Farms 6-4-4 to their Big Bloom, which helped a bit, but I'm running out and wondering if there's a better fertilizer option out there. By the way, I also sprinkle crushed eggshells around the plants, but I'm not sure how effective they are for nutrient release. Any tips?
4 Answers
Crushed eggshells take a while to break down, so you might want to try adding gypsum instead for some instant calcium. It’s a good choice for quicker absorption!
I recommend adding more compost throughout the year and cutting back on the high nitrogen fertilizers. I’ve had success using Espoma Tomato Tone along with bone meal at planting time, and sometimes I throw in Epsom salt too. While nitrogen helps with leafy growth, you definitely need those other minerals for root and fruit development!
Consider using a bacteria tea — it’ll help break down fertilizers and nutrients for your plants more efficiently. Just do this with every watering or after it rains, and mix in some cal-mag once a week to boost calcium levels.
I recently had a nitrogen-rich bed and just added some potash to balance it out. I’ve been getting a ton of blooms but need them to start setting some fruit instead of just showing off leaves!
Thanks for the suggestion! I originally did it to deter slugs, but I’ll look into gypsum.