I want the biggest and best veg. possible from my hard work. But when is the best time to spread chicken pellets on what?
I have tried research in books; when to sow/transplant/harvest/ water, but when do I spread fertilizer in the growing season?
All help welcome!
I use it usually when the plants have been planted a few weeks or when the seedings have got their first main leaves. You can dig it in before you plant, but I reckon, as they recommend 4 weekly use, that is about the life of the stuff, after that it might be too weak to give much goodness. 100g per m2 is enough.
I've just added some chicken pellets to my plot as my clay soil is nice & damp & we have more heavy rain forecast so it should start soaking in quickly. I really hate how it smells when it gets wet & breaks down so I've spread it about now as I am on a weeks holiday next week & hopefully will avoid the worst of the pong!
I add to plant holes when transplanting, and also top dress and rake it in throughout the season. I like the smell of them ...(not sure what that says about me!) but unfortunately so do the local foxes, they are inclined to have digging sessions after I've used them...
Chicken pellets are a fairly balanced manure (at least the ones I use) so I think a little often is a good policy - a good scattering every four weeks. What is the right amount though? I used to do 2 - 3 handfuls to a square yard / metre but in Buckingham Palace Gardens (as one does) I saw that amount heaped round some hungry plants (epimediums, I think), so I'm a bit more generous now.
I find broccoli likes it I put a good handful when I plant them out and another handful when I pick with the hope of another crop.
Thanks for all your good advice. I spread it on everything yesterday (except the strawberries we are eating) and last night we had a downfall which continued until this midday! How lucky can you get?