Blood, Fish and Bone. When to use it?

[Mr Salty]

I have a box of this stuff and the directions are best described as minimal.

Does anyone have any advice about when and how it's best used? Or is it something that should be habitually sprinkled about when planting?

Sorry if this is basic stuff!

[Jamesy_uk]

Generally it is dug in a couple of months before planting as it takes time to break down into useful feed for the plants.

[Mr Salty]

Good tip, thanks for the response. The soil in my garden ain't very nutritious so I'll do just that!

[hamsterhead]

I use it when earthing up the spuds in the bags. Sprinkle on a layer before adding more compost. Its seems to work OK.

[mrbadexample]

I put some round my runner beans last night, although they've been in 10 days or so.

Was that wrong?

[Flummery]

I usually use it before planting too - in my case a few weeks - after I've done my digging but before my plants are ready to go in.

[Flummery]

I put some round my runner beans last night, although they've been in 10 days or so.

Was that wrong?

Not wrong as in 'you'll kill them' - it's generally used in soil preparation but you've not done them any harm.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I use it at the end of the season, I riddle my used compost and mix it with BFB before storing it in my dustbins. Its a neutral NPK fertilizer so sweetens up the compost ready for reuse.

Colin

[mrbadexample]

Not wrong as in 'you'll kill them' - it's generally used in soil preparation but you've not done them any harm.

Phew!

If it takes a bit of time to break down, then presumably it'll be handy for bean producing time? They're still quite small at the moment.

[Snadger]

Just to be different I sprinkle a half a a handull around plants like toms etc staying well clear of the stem.......and just water it in.

Some of the nitrogen elements in it are quite quick acting (the blood in particular) but the bone meal gives slow release nitro & phosphates.

In effect it gives you the best of both worlds i.e. quick and slow release nutrients.

It was the organic predecessor to National Growmore, and I personally think its better!

[Sylvan]

I mix it in with the planting mix (soil/compost/sand) and then sprinkle some on and water it in every six weeks or so (when I remember). It only breaks down during the growing season so my last application is normally mid to late August.

If you live in a windy area for goodness sake don't stand downwind when you sprinkle it on. It tastes absolutely foul

[Florence Fennel]

I use Snadger's method, avoiding stem and leaves.

[smc999]

I've started using it this year instead of Growmore. I added a small handful to each flower bucket when I put my toms, cuc's etc into their final pots, along with some slow release tomatorite pellets I got cheap from B&Q and everything is thriving in them.
I also added it and raked it into my patio planter and put some in my potato bag and they are fine too. I just sprinkle it on and water it in around flowers in the garden and they perk up no end as well so it seems like the sprinkle method seems to work.

[Snadger]

I mix it in with the planting mix (soil/compost/sand) and then sprinkle some on and water it in every six weeks or so (when I remember). It only breaks down during the growing season so my last application is normally mid to late August.

If you live in a windy area for goodness sake don't stand downwind when you sprinkle it on. It tastes absolutely foul

Might be nice in broth!

Anthrax is the main worry from the ground bones. Its all sterilised thease days though!

[Sylvan]

Well I still seem to be alive and reasonably insane so it can't be too harmful.