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Honesdale, Pennsylvania

If there are any osmocote users out there? I was wondering what the best time is for application. It seems to me that to broadcast the entire patch of the slow release fertilizer is wasting some of its punch as it would be a couple of months before a lot of the plant will reach out. Would it be better to side dress later on and mix it into the soil gradually?

4/25/2003 7:01:08 AM

Phoenix Az

Ive used it on tomatos, never pumpkins tho.

4/25/2003 4:53:13 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Probabbly. I planned to use it that way

4/25/2003 6:03:17 PM

syracuse, ny

i'm not sure yet if there's another type of osmocote
that lasts LONGER in the ground than the 14-14-14...
which i believe is about 100 days depending on moisture and temperature.....
there is another one called nutri-cote, i believe from
the same company, and i will be buying like 3 bags of
Osmocote tomorrow---i'm not an expert yet, but i would think that most of what the osmocote dispenses will still be in the soil, except perhaps the nitrogen--consult the
Osmocote site perhaps, look into a FAQ section, if they have one...heck, i'm gonna do that tonight too! good luck!

4/25/2003 6:25:35 PM

there is an Osmocote that is supposed to last 9 months, it's the same pellet form that the 3 month stuff is

4/25/2003 8:39:42 PM

Puyallup, WA

According to a well-known New Hampshire grower, the delayed release of nitrogen during the growth spurt in August will contribute to splitting.

4/25/2003 9:37:45 PM

[email protected]

Osmocote is made from the same basic elements that regular commercial fertilizers are. Urea for Nitrogen, DAP or MAP for Phosphorous, & Muriate or/or Sulphate of Potash for potassium. In order to make it a slow release product, all of the ingrdients are RESIN coated. Water breaks down the resin coating over time, releasing the nutrients contained. It is absurdly expensive to produce & Scott's enjoys an even more insane profit margin than one might imagine.
Release rate can & is engineered by varying the thickness of the coating during manufacture. Scotts bought this technoloy from the former Grace Sierra.

I think Stan brings up a good point. Plants (like pumpkins) that feed heavily early in the season need more nutrients than Osmocote can release at one time. To correct for this, we would have to apply much more than is economically feasible. And then the balance of nutrients will release at a time of year that isn't desirable for pumpkins.

In the case of pumpkins, the complete control obtained from soluble commerial (all mineral) fertilizers as actually more desirable & a whole lot cheaper too. But careful rate & element selection is critical.

Steve

4/25/2003 10:17:53 PM

Puyallup, WA

I've had to pay $50 a bag for Osmocote!

4/26/2003 11:27:03 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Stan wrote a interesting point, to be considered.

Maybe a smart way to use it could be choosing a lawn one (richer in N) and mixing it in a low proportion with a typical normal release one and spread them prior to planting, now, over all the patch. When the vines get to the ends of the patch, they will find the P and K from the normal fertilizer and the N from the Osmocote.

Don

4/27/2003 2:03:19 AM

[email protected]

When I program fertility for turf & ornamental plants this is what I do. Look to the plant for it's fertility needs in all three macros. N, P, & K needs on a per month basis. Then look at the clients budget & soil tests.

Better more expensive slow release source fertilizers are MORE economical in some cases becasue cheap synthetic solubles are subject to leaching & volatalization losses. This is due to the cost of labor which is usually much more than the fertilizer options. But at $1.00 per pound, Osmocote is not even a consideration. Anything over $.40/lb has to be very carefully scrutinized.

The entire fertility need has to be chart plotted by month & by element. Obviously if the Osmocote release rate was completely flat, then a 1-1-1 ratio fertilizer isn't what we're after in the May-June & Late July-Close parts of the season. More N is needed in May & June. More K & Ca in July, Sept, & Oct.

Since being in the patch is good for both us & the plants, and our own time is billed to no one, I just can't see the need for this sort of guessing game. Take advantage of the lower cost & more predictable commercial grades. Throw in some organics & you have the bases covered.

Steve

4/27/2003 7:50:14 AM