General Feeding Recommendations

A general guide to feeding crops with Solufeed water soluble fertilizers.

Liquid feeding will optimise the growth of your crops and the following recommendations are for general guidance.  We will gladly give more specific advice on request.

Where overhead irrigation is used, avoid feeding in hot sun or when the plants are stressed.

Soil Grown Crops

Where appropriate, it is recommended that a soil analysis is taken and a base dressing applied accordingly prior to planting.

Nursery stock & Ornamentals 

Rooted Cuttings 1:1:1 @ 1:200 to speed establishment and root development.
    
Liners Early Spring through active growing season - 4:1:2 @ 1:150.  From mid summer to leaf fall, change to 1:0:2 @ 1:200.

Established Perennials 1:0:2 @ 1:200, or 1:0:1 @ 1:150 if extra growth is needed.

Bedding & Mixed Displays 4:1:2 @ 1: 150 until well established, then change to 1:0:2 @ 1:200.

Cut Flowers & Foliage

Chrysanthemums 1:0:1 @ 1:150 
Carnations, Pinks, Roses, Alstroemeria, Limonium, Bouvardia, Cut Foliage, and similar longer-term crops, where phosphate is applied in the base dressing - Early growth and summer: 1:0:1 @ 1:150.   Autumn and winter: 1:0:2 @ 1:150

Bulbs & Corms - 1:0:1 @ 1:200 until buds visible. For Freesias and other fluoride-sensitive plants, use 1:1:1 @ 1:200 with no superphosphate in the base dressing.
Annuals from Seed or Plugs - 1:0:1 @ 1:150, start feeding soon after planting out.

Salads

Tomatoes, Peppers, Aubergines - Early crops: Propagation period 1:1:3 @ 1:150 or 1:100 for extra control of growth.  After planting change to 1:0:2 @ 1:150, or 1:100 during low-light periods. Under heavy fruit-loading, change temporarily to 1:1:1 @ 1:150 until heads resume normal growth.
Lettuce, Celery, Salad Onions, Beetroot, Radish  & Other fast-growing Leaf crops - 4:1:2 @ 1:150 from planting until 3 weeks before harvest for summer crops.  Leave longer harvest interval at other times of the year.
Cucumbers - 4:1:2 @ 1:150, reducing to 1:200 in hot weather.

Vegetables

Courgettes - 1:0:1 @ 1:150
Brassicas - 1:1:1 @ 1:150 until well established, then change to 1:0:1 @ 1:150.
Broad Beans - Autumn sown 0:1:3 @ 1:200, Spring sown 1:1:3 @ 1:200.
French & Runner Beans - 4:1:2 @ 1:150 until established, then change to 2:1:4 @ 1:200.
Carrots & Root Vegetables - 1:1:1 @ 1:150 until established, then change to 2:1:4 @ 1:200.
Sweet corn - 4:1:2 @ 1@ 150.
Potatoes - 1:1:1 @ 1:100 for early growth.  Change to 1:5:1 @ 1:150 at start of tuber formation.
Onions & Shallots - 1:5:1 @ 1:150 for late-year plantings.  Change to 1:1:1 @ 1:150 in the spring.

Fruit

Strawberries - 1:5:1 @ 1:200 until established after planting, then 1:1:1 @ 1:150 until flowering, then change to 2:1:4 @ 1:1:150 until fruiting.  After fruiting, or at any time that extra growth is needed, use 4:1:2 @ 1:150.
Cane Fruit - As for strawberries, using 4:1:2 @ 1:150 when cane renewal is priority.
Apples, Pears, Stone Fruit - 1:0:1 or 1:1:1 @ 1:150 from February to August.
Grapes - 2:1:4 @ 1:200 from bud break to fruit fully developed.
Melons - 1:1:1 @ 1:200.

Grass & Sports Turf

4:1:2 @ 1:200 from February to August. 1:0:2 @ 1:200 September & October. Alternatively, the fertilisers can be applied as a medium-volume spray of 300g fertiliser in minimum 5 litres clean water per 100m².     Irrigate after application.

Compost Grown Crops & Plants

These are general recommendations.  For optimum performance, the liquid feed needs to be matched to the particular compost and the quality of the irrigation water used.  Note that coir based composts often suffer from poor calcium availability at first. Use calcium - containing feeds to prevent deficiency. Please consult us if you require specific advice.
When using alternate mixes of feeds containing calcium and phosphate, use separate stock tanks or completely empty the tank before making the new mix to avoid possible sedimentation.

Plugs & Young Plants

Start feeding early, before the base dressing runs out.  Use 1:1:1 at 1:150 or alternate mixes of 1:1:1 & 1:0:1 + Ca @ 1:150.

Pot Plants

Foliage Plants - Alternate mixes of 1:1:1 & 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:150
Flowering Plants - Early growth: Alternate mixes of 1:1:1 & 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:150. Change to alternate mixes of 1:1:2 & 1:0:2+Ca @ 1:150 at bud formation.

Displays, Containers & Baskets

Where Solucote Controlled Release Fertiliser has been used, no further feeding should be necessary.  Where it has not been used, or to speed plant recovery after storm damage, feed with 4:1:2 @ 1:150.  Occasional feeding with 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:150 may be helpful if leaching rates are high and coir - based compost is used.

Nursery Stock

Young plants 1l pots or smaller - 2:1:4 @ 1:150 or alternate mixes of 1:1:2 & 1:0:2 +Ca @ 1:150
Older plants - Active growth season: Alternate mixes of 1:1:1 & 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:150 changing to alternate mixes of 1:1:2 & 1:0:2 +Ca @ 1:150 where more compact growth is needed.

Cut Flowers & Foliage

Chrysanthemums - 4:1:2 @ 1:150 for early growth, 2:1:4 @ 1:150 at bud initiation.
Carnations - Alternate mixes of 1:1:2 & 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:150 reducing to 1:200 during the summer.

Alstroemeria - Alternate mixes of 1:1:2 & 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:150.  If summer dormancy occurs, change to 4:1:2 @ 1:150 for a month afterwards.  
Roses - Alternate mixes of 1:1:1 & 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:150 reducing to 1:200 during the summer.
Pinks - Alternate mixes of 1:1:2 & 1:0:2 +Ca @ 1:150 late summer and autumn, changing to alternate mixes of 1:1:1 & 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:150 early spring.
Anthurium - Alternate mixes of 1:1:1 & 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:150 
Orchids - Alternate mixes of 1:1:1 & 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:300 
Bulbs - Alternate mixes of 1:1:2 & 1:0:2 +Ca @ 1:200 
Cut Foliage - Alternate mixes of 1:1:1 & 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:150 during the growing season, changing to 1:1:3 to harden off for cutting and to enhance winter hardiness.

Vegetables & Salads

Tomatoes - Propagation period 1:1:3 @ 1:150 or 1:100 for extra control of growth.  After planting, change to alternate mixes of 1:1:2 & 1:0:2 +Ca @ 1:150 or 1:100 for extra control.  Under heavy fruit-loading, change temporarily to 1:1:1 @ 1:150 or 1:200 until heads resume normal growth.
Peppers & Aubergines - As for tomatoes, except use alternate mixes of 1:1:1 & 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:150 for the main feed.
Cucumbers - Alternate mixes of 4:1:2 & 1:0:1 +Ca @ 1:150 reducing to 1:200 in hot weather.

Fruit

Strawberries - 1:1:1 @ 1:150 until well established, then alternate mixes of 1:1:2 & 1:0:2 +Ca @ 1:150 through fruiting.  Where crops are cut back, reduce the feed strength to 1:200 until growth has re-established. 
Melons - 4:1:2 @ 1:200.