At the Tropical Fruit Society of Sarasota meeting late last month, MRFC Vice-Chairman Wayne Clifton spoke on the topic of fertilizers. As usual, he enjoyed the full attention of everyone from beginner to expert. Though I heard him speak on this topic at the MRFC a couple of years ago, I wasn't the least bit bored on my second go-through. With so much plant wisdom to be had, plenty got by me the first time. And Wayne keeps up-to-date with the latest products, so there is always new information as well.
Here are a some highlights from my notes:
---Read what it says on the bag or container! If it says more than 2% chlorine, don't buy it.
---Florida soils are deficient in nitrogen and potassium, but not phosphorus. They are also deficient in minor elements, so always buy a fertilizer with minor elements.
---Nitrogen comes in various forms. Ammonia and urea are fast-acting, but dissipate quickly. Water-insoluble forms are released slowly, and are generally preferable.
---Make sure a plant is well-watered before fertilizing, unless the fertilizer is slow-release.
---It's good to use foliar spray fertilizers once in a while, but they are not long-lasting. Spray early or late, not in the heat of the day.
---Wayne likes to vary his fertilizers, using both chemical and organic fertilizers.
---Wayne is a firm believer in organic soil amendments because they feed the soil. They only work, though, when the soil contains bacteria to break them down and release the nutrients. Fish emulsion is a good organic fertilizer, and kelp is excellent.
---Horse manure is a a good organic fertilzer, but often contains weed seeds. Chicken manure is very high in nitrogen, so should always be composted before use.
---Worm castings are a fantastic soil amendment, but too expensive to use in large quantities.
---Wayne likes Kocide, an organic fungicide for use on anything subject to fungus.
---A product called Root Guard consists of ground-up crab parts. Used as a soil amendment, it appears to be an excellent nematode suppressor. It's worked for Wayne, enabling him to grow excellent tomatoes in-ground. Info is at www.agriculturalsolutionsusa.com. It might be available at Steve Cucura's Fruitscapes Nursery.
---CitroBio is citrus product that is a mix of beneficial bacteria. It is extensively used as a food wash, but also as a soil amendment called RGA--- rapid growth activator. It appears to help citrus trees withstand HLB infection, by promoting vigorous root growth. Info is at www.citrobio.com and, concerning its use on citrus trees, www.citrobio.com/blogs/what-is-citrus-greening.
Wayne recommends attending the Ag Expo every November in nearby Balm, Florida. Besides a lot of great information, you can often get samples of new fertilizers and other products for free.
Wayne's deep love of plants always shows through when he speaks. After he fielded a number of questions at the end of the talk, I presented him with a Tropical Fruit Society of Sarasota coffee mug, something we give to each of our speakers. I said that our two clubs are friends, not rivals--- indeed we even have quite a few members in common. Wayne echoed that message, and told the crowd that the clubs share the same goal--- we just want to learn as much as we can about how to grow fruit as well as we can. He invited the Sarasota club members to come to our MRFC meetings. A fitting end to an outstanding presentation.
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