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  • Blood, fish and bone

    Could anyone tell me please, what you would use blood, fish and bone for? For example, which plants would benefit most from it, brassicas, legumes or roots... and would you rake it in a couple of weeks before sowing/planting, or when about to fruit or, for example, when a cauli is forming its head? Is it a source of nitrogen? It might seem daft but I've already bought some, knowing that it might be of use, but there are no instructions on the packet. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks.

  • #2
    Blood, fish and bone is an old general purpose fertiliser. It's not particularly high in nitrogen so is not really beneficial to fast growing leafy crops. I believe it was mainly used as a top dressing either around established plants such as fruit bushes or on new beds a few weeks before planting. Growmore is an alternative. I'm surprised there are no instructions on the pack, Nowadays there is so much writing, instructions and warnings it's a job to work out what the stuff is.

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    • #3
      I have also noticed a lack of instructions on both growmore and blood, fish and bone. Plenty about treating the soil 2 weeks before planting, but nothing about using it as a feed on plants which are actively growing. I just put a small amount close to plant and scratch it in to the soil and water well, I hope that is right but haven't killed anything yet!
      Happy Gardening,
      Shirley

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      • #4
        I like to dress my onion and leek beds with it before planting it is a long lasting slow release fertiliser.

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        • #5
          Hello Blackcatlois. Blood , fish and bone is a general purpose fertiliser. Like the others, you can rake it into the soil before planting, or dust it around plants part way through the season for a boost.
          It is favoured by organic growers who don't want to use fertilisers which are chemically based such as growmore. Hope that helps.

          From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

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          • #6
            It was as near as they could get to a balanced fertiliser ie equal portions of the three main nutrients (N) Nitrogen for leaf growth (P) Phosphate for root growth and (K) Potassium for fruit and flowers. It is still used because it is organic, slow acting and works!
            Growmore was a cheap inorganic balanced fertiliser brought out during WW2 for the 'Dig for Victory' campaign.
            My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
            to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

            Diversify & prosper


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            • #7
              but what plants benefit from blood fish and bone fertiliser???

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              • #8
                I've been using blood fish and bone when planting flowers, shrubs and the like for years now. I sprinkle a little around when preparing the bed, and into the hole when planting something new. I'm new to veg growing, but sprinkled around the new bed as I would have for flowering plants and it certainly hasn't done any harm! I read lots of warnings a few years ago re 'mad cow disease' but I've never suffered any harm and my plants all love it so I shall carry on using it regardless, it's great stuff and organic!
                Life may not be the party we hoped for but since we're here we might as well dance

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                • #9
                  I've got a bag of the stuff and not sure what to do with it. My plants are all nice and healthy so not sure they need the extra fertilisation. Would it be good to sprinkle it around my pumpkins and courgettes? Or should I wait unti autumn / winter and just dig some into the bare veg plot?

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by eskymo View Post
                    I've got a bag of the stuff and not sure what to do with it. My plants are all nice and healthy so not sure they need the extra fertilisation. Would it be good to sprinkle it around my pumpkins and courgettes? Or should I wait unti autumn / winter and just dig some into the bare veg plot?
                    If somethings not broken, don't fix it!

                    Its usually used as a dressing in the spring and I think it would be wasted to add it in the autumn to bare soil. Better still to wait til the following spring and apply it as a topdressing when preparing seedbeds just before planting! Thats my view anyway!

                    PS The Nitrogen content would have vanished by the spring anyway!
                    My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
                    to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

                    Diversify & prosper


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                    • #11
                      I agree Snadger (well for flowering plants anyway) - a quick sprinkle in spring as you plant - or into the hole as you plant. But maybe doesnt have the correct nutrients to allow veg to fruit up? I used it as a top dressing before planting, but wouldnt use it as a feed during the season.
                      Life may not be the party we hoped for but since we're here we might as well dance

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                      • #12
                        Just Doing Research on Fish Blood and Bone and came across this old thread. I was just trying to work out how much fertilizer I would need for my plot. There was an article on GardenFocused for growing Peas and Beans. Add FBB monthly - 3 dressing or so for the 12 to 16 weeks growth. It was my understanding that FBB is a slow release fertilizer (2 - 4 months), so couldn't see why you would apply monthly. Many of the peas would be harvested before fertilizer exhausted. Perhaps a second feed for Main Crop and a potash fertilizer for fruit growth?

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                        • #13
                          I use FBB and have done for years, although reading through the old posts I might take up the fact that it's organic, because I doubt it actually is, do they really know where all the blood and bone came from?
                          I use it as a pre planting feed and as a top dressing for anything in pots, but work into the soil or you get a mouldy "fur" growing on the surface.

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                          • #14
                            I had quarter of a box left which i found on a tidy up of shed yesterday. Its now all gone apart from a lump in th bottom. I can only surmise that mice have beeen eating it!
                            My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
                            to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

                            Diversify & prosper


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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Snadger View Post
                              I can only surmise that mice have beeen eating it!
                              Well it is good all purpose feed

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