Does anyone know of a book (or other source) that shows the specific nutrient requirements for individual vegetables?
This is quite hard to come by, as a compiled source. I still do it the old fashioned way, by writing down the requirements when I learn them for plants. Keep them in alphabetical order, and it will be easy to maintain.
Most crop producers will focus on maintaining proper nutrient levels as a whole for the entire field, as well as planting certain crops together to maximize uptake of each.
Unfortunately, it will be best to, either, fertilize the crops as a whole, or do individual research on each plant for feeding.
I have a bag of 34-0-0 that someone have me open on my front porch. An area of moisture has come from around it that has a slightly ammonia smell. What do I do?
Consider asking your local fire department to inspect it and determine exact product and safety issues and advise on storage or disposal. 34-0-0 is Ammonium nitrate, which besides fertilizer use, is also used in explosives. (remember Timothy McVeigh, Okalahoma City Fed building bombing)
If you decide to use it for fertilizer, keep it dry, maybe put it in a plastic box with a lid. Use it very conservatively. It is a quick release, high nitrogen, high salt index product and can burn your grass or shrubs if applied too heavily.
It is either pure Ammonium nitrate 34-0-0,
or Pennington All Purpose Nitrogen Fertilizer 34-0-0 :
10% Ammoniacal Nitrogen (Ammonium Sulfate)
24% Urea Nitrogen
Know what your working with and use according to directions. Or give it away to somebody who has use for it.
Quick release fertilizers make nitrogen available immediately for rapid greening, they can burn and can cause growth too quickly that can actually weaken your lawn in the long run. Slow release fertilizer provides nitrogen over a period of time and a steady rate, and are less likely to cause burn and can improve the overall health of your lawn.
How do i know where the brands of bone meal come from. Thanks Robert
Check the packaging label or call the customer service number on the package.
It may be a really basic question but sometimes things don't follow straight math rules. Several sites recommend diluting 20-20-20 fertilizers by 1/2 or 1/4. I'm having trouble finding 20-20-20 but I can easily find 10-10-10 or 5-5-5. Are those equivalent to the 20-20-20 dilutons, respectively?
20-20-20 is twice as strong as 10-10-10 and 4 times stronger than 5-5-5 by volume. If 1/2 C of 20-20-20 is called for, apply 1 C of 10-10-10 or 4 C. of 5-5-5. Always follow recommendations on the package as to how much to apply. 20-20-20 risks burning plant roots which may be why you are having trouble finding it. If you have in-ground plants, you probably don't need a fertilizer with phosphorus as most soils have adequate amounts. Industrial farming is one place where phosphorus may be needed. A soil test through your county cooperative extension service provides pH, soil type and mineral concentrations already present. If there is deficiency or a pH not best for what you want to grow, it will recommended how much to add to compensate. The use of balanced fertilizer where the 3 numbers are roughly the same has fallen out of favor. Excess phosphorus is a major pollutant to watersheds and one cause of dangerous algal blooms.
Can I put used tea bags near some of my plants
This article will help you with use of tea and tea bags in the garden.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/composting-tea-bags.htm
I have seen several articles on the web that state that coffee grounds have a nearly neutral pH. However, I then read another article containing comments from a lab that has tested used coffee grounds whose results consistently show a pH of 5.0 or below. Are all the stories about neutral pH anecdotal? Do any of these sources have lab results to confirm their statements? Thanks, in advance, for helping clarify the issue.
This link may help you.
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/techniques/coffee-grounds-composting
Have you ever used a aspirin for fertilizer?
Salicylic acid, part of the active ingredient compound in asprin, is a naturally occuring plant hormone. It is not usually considered a fertilizer by itself, but it is contained in some stress reduction fertilizer products, like Recover Rx (3-18-18) from Growth Products company.
I've never heard of anyone applying aspirin as a fertilizer.