Tomato feed v's chilli focus v's water?

[darcyvuqua]

For the first year I ever grew chillies I used a pot with compost and just watered now and then (this was when I was in the army and had a room with a small bright window)
I had a good'ish crop from a shop bought chilli!

Then for a couple of years while being married and going away/work grew on window sills and watered when I could then tomato feed every now and then!
Providing a good crop!

Last year greenhouse with bought seed and tomato feed all going great guns but my dad died and I never really cropped much to due going away and sorting that out mid summer!

This year my seedlings are going great a little slow and on Sunday I gave them a weak solution of chilli focus seems to have given them a deep green colour and seem to have shot up about an inch!

What do you use and do you notice any noticeable difference?

[Alison]

I only really feed mine when they've set fruit and then either use a tomato food or more likely my own home made concoctions. They will feed off the compost for a few weeks for normal growth and at this stage in the season that's getting refreshed quite a bit. I find that they grow in fits and spurts a bit sometimes depending on the temp and lighting but so long as they're not getting leggy then you're doing fine - the weak solution you suggested is definitely better than an expresso shot though as they just confuses them.

[darcyvuqua]

I only really feed mine when they've set fruit and then either use a tomato food or more likely my own home made concoctions. They will feed off the compost for a few weeks for normal growth and at this stage in the season that's getting refreshed quite a bit. I find that they grow in fits and spurts a bit sometimes depending on the temp and lighting but so long as they're not getting leggy then you're doing fine - the weak solution you suggested is definitely better than an expresso shot though as they just confuses them.

Yeah it states on the bottle the recommended dose to give at seedling stage however as there still young and there may well be nutrients in the compost as you stated I gave them half of the recommended dose I will gradually increase this as there growing and be on par once flowers appear

What concoction do you feed comfrey? As I'm hoping to start a comfrey bed thanks Chris

[Philthy]

Overwintered stock, I give a weak dose of liquid seaweed feed at alternate waterings (roughly every 10-14 days), to keep them ticking over.
I switch to Chilli Focus at the recommended strength for young plants (ie. before flowering commences) from March onwards, and then switch to normal dose when flowering starts later on.
Seedlings, I use just water initially, as the seed compost has everything they need. I switch to Chilli Focus once they've been repotted, and follow the same dosage as per the overwintered plants.
Once first fruits appear and start swelling, I usually feed with Chempak no. 4. Tomato feed is good too, but I have noticed slightly heavier cropping with the Chempak stuff.
I continue feeding until late September, then switch back to just water for the plants I intend to keep for the following season, to encourage them to slow down before it gets too cold.

[Alison]

What concoction do you feed comfrey? As I'm hoping to start a comfrey bed thanks Chris

Yes I use a lot of comfrey, have got used to the smell over the years, make nettle tea too for the green leafy stuff.

[sparrow100]

i use a light comfrey feed to water with as I'm a bit suspicious of the nutrient levels in my compost this year. I made comfrey concentrate last year, kept it in an old plastic bottle, and it doesn't smell at all. Genius. Will be doing the same with nettles this year for free plant food.

[Bren In Pots]

Mine get watered with comfrey once they'e in the GH permanently.

[darcyvuqua]

Mine get watered with comfrey once they'e in the GH permanently.

Does anyone know the N-P-K of a comfrey/nettle feed??

And would you be able to mix these up if there are different trace elements in them??

[Bren In Pots]

I use comfrey for fruiting plants then nettle for brassicas and green stuff like that. I did have the NPK saved but can't find it, I suppose it depends how many leaves you use and how much its diluted by.

[darcyvuqua]

I use comfrey for fruiting plants then nettle for brassicas and green stuff like that. I did have the NPK saved but can't find it, I suppose it depends how many leaves you use and how much its diluted by.

Been scouting around google but can't really find any definitive answers! But I'm guessing a 1:10 ratio would suffice?

[Alison]

I do about a 1 in 10 dilution but as with most things gardening, it's not an exact science.

[The Cobra]

I'm with Alison. I only start giving my plants a tomato feed when they start to fruit. My seedlings are flying along right now and are a vivid green already, they look really healthy. A good quality potting compost is as much as young chilli plants need (in my opinion). Look after them and then feed them up when they flower and fruit

[darcyvuqua]

I'm with Alison. I only start giving my plants a tomato feed when they start to fruit. My seedlings are flying along right now and are a vivid green already, they look really healthy. A good quality potting compost is as much as young chilli plants need (in my opinion). Look after them and then feed them up when they flower and fruit

That's the thing a couple of mine in fact quite a few are setting flowers that's why I fed them

[sparrow100]

Comfrey NPK 1.8-0.5-5.3 according to here: Garden Benefits of Comfrey Powder Plants: Organic Gardening

I can't find Nettle NPK.

[chilli_grower]

loads of mine have shown early flower buds, but it is way too early for that.

So I just nip them all off.

Feeding starts around late May for me usually...