Fertiliser advice for raised beds, please!

[TeaMonsta]

I have three raised beds to which I have added 2 parts soil, 1 part multi-purpose compost. The compost (Miracle-Gro all purpose) had plant food already in it and the packaging claims that it feeds for up to three months. The soil/compost mix has only been in the raised beds for about 6 weeks and I can still see the little balls of fertiliser in it. Shoots and seedlings are starting to show now and I'd like to add some crop-specific fertiliser to the beds but would it be too early? This is my first year of growing veggies so I'm a complete novice. Any advice very gratefully received!

[Jungle Jane]

I would use it if I thought the plants needed it,if i had strawberries planted in there,that were fruiting,I'd be feeding it a high potassium feed,even though the compost has feed in it. If it's well mixed into the 2 parts soil,then I don't see any problem. I used potato fertiliser & the compost has feed in it? It would depend what you're growing,as to what they need now?

[TeaMonsta]

Thanks, Jungle Jane. The beds' veggies are split like this:

Bed 1 - Spuds and beetroot
Bed 2 - Carrots, garlic*, red onion* (* to hopefully keep carrot fly away)
Bed 3 - Salad leaves, rocket, peas (for pea shoots), radishes and white onion

The only shoots I haven't seen yet are the carrots. Maybe it's because I'm in Aberdeenshire where Spring reaches us slightly later in the year

[Jungle Jane]

Carrots took about a week or two longer than my peas,have you had carrot fly damage before? They can overwinter & reproduce in a bit of carrot left in the ground,don't think they'l be able to smell your carrots though with all those strong scents that a good idea!

[TeaMonsta]

I'll have a bit more patience with the carrots, then. This is the first time I've grown anything so haven't experienced the disappointment of crops spoilt by pests. Hopefully they'll leave my veggies alone.

[Martin H]

Hi Monsta, welcome to the forum!

I wouldn't be looking to feed anything for a while yet, there will be plenty of nutrients left from the soil and compost. But a genuine expert on raised bed growing will be along soon I expect.

[Potstubsdustbins]

The Miracle-Gro compost has been diluted by two thirds due to the addition of the soil so don't expect it to feed as described on the bag. Dependent on what was in the soil you used you could now be running low on nutrients.

For a start I would add some 7-7-7 neutral fertiliser like Grow-more or blood fish and bone, this will give all your plants a general feed whilst you decide on more specific fertilisers.

Welcome to the Vine by the way.

[TeaMonsta]

Thanks for your advice and for your welcomes. The advice has been gratefully taken on board. No doubt many more questions will follow over the coming months as a complete newbie to growing veggies

[Potstubsdustbins]

We love questions, keep them coming. Gardening is not an exact science so opinions will vary you will then be able to choose which reply suits your circumstances best. There is an old saying you should bear in mind 'Ask two gardeners the same question, you will get three different answers'.

If you could put your rough location on your profile the answers you get will be more relevant to your patch.