Sulphate of Potash

[HotStuff]

I recently read that around this time of year it's a good idea to apply some Sulphate of Potash to my Garlic crop. Does anyone else do this or has anyone else heard of it?

[oldie]

Sulphate of potash is sold as a fruit and flower enhancer. Don't think it's meant for garlic.

[ginger ninger]

Fertilize garlic in the spring if you want a big, healthy crop of bulbs by summer. The best way to fertilize growing garlic plants is either by side-dressing, working in a little fertilizer alongside each plant, or by broadcasting it all over the bed. High-nitrogen organic fertilizer, such as blood meal, or a synthetic source of nitrogen works best.

[Two_Sheds]

High-nitrogen organic fertilizer, such as blood meal, or a synthetic source of nitrogen works best.

So you want nitrogen, not potash then

[sarraceniac]

Yes. Heard of it. Sulphate of potash for potassium in January. Sulphate of ammonia for nitrogen in March. Superphosphate every 3 years in winter. I do it.

Um. On my fruit trees and bushes. If you are organic - forget it.

[HotStuff]

Sulphate of potash is sold as a fruit and flower enhancer. Don't think it's meant for garlic.

That's what I thought, N for Leaves, P for Roots & K for Fruit. But this was in an e-newsletter from the Garlic Farm, so I assume they know what they're talking about.

[Pies]

...Superphosphate every 3 years in winter. I do it.

How does that work then,as i expect to lift my garlic I planted in October around July

I will not be planting garlic in the same bed for at least 5 years

[sarraceniac]

How does that work then,as i expect to lift my garlic I planted in October around July

I will not be planting garlic in the same bed for at least 5 years

Pies. Sorry if my post was not clear. I did say 'on my fruit trees and bushes.' That is how it works. They stay in the ground for years.

On my aliums (onions and garlic) I just throw some seaweed fertiliser on about now.

[northepaul]

I read somewhere else ( an unmentionable rival mag) that you add potash to onions, (which I did in January in a very small dose) and they seem fine, infact slightly more vigorous - it would logically follow that you could do this to garlic then.

[HotStuff]

I read somewhere else ( an unmentionable rival mag) that you add potash to onions, (which I did in January in a very small dose) and they seem fine, infact slightly more vigorous - it would logically follow that you could do this to garlic then.

An anagram of GK by any chance?

[sarraceniac]

In my Dad's day (he was Lord Downes' head gardener for years) the only thing you put on your onions was soot. Of course, you can't get decent quantities of soot nowadays. (I'll just sweep out the central heating?) but I reckon that was simply that being black it absorbed heat so the ground was a bit warmer. Can't find anything on feeding them carbon.

I remember when he put sheep manure on them and Lord Downe did an inspection. 'I've put manure on the onions mi'lord' said Dad. 'I think you should refer to it as fertiliser,' said his lordship. My mother was there. 'Sorry Lord Downe,' she said, 'it's taken us 30 years to get him to call it manure'.

[northepaul]

An anagram of GK by any chance?

you could say that, but I couldn't possibly comment

[Snadger]

Striving to be an organic gardener, so can't see the point of adding chemicals........at any time.

Havig said that Potassium can be added in autumn or early spring as it has a 'hardening' effect on plants helping them to cope with the rigours of winter. If I was to do it I would add Comfrey tea (if i had any left!) or Comfrey in another form, (I believe you can get pellets?)which is a high potassium liquid feed.! Wood ash is also full of Potassium I believe!

[mogs]

Well - my onions and garlic have very recently received the Human Liquid Manure fertilizing treatment in 1:3 part solution. I'm told it's bursting with nitrogen and some potash - P being the operative word rather than K :-)) - I'm reliably informed it has to be of the male kind, due to female kinds having hormones in them. I have a willing donor in that department fortunately, although it's not applied direct of course - that could cause legal problems on such a busy allotment site!!!

Bob Flowerdew and Lawrence Hills swear by it and if it's good enough for them it's good enough for me, and I have to say the onions and garlic are growing away luvverly since treated, although you could argue they are desperate to get away from the smell.