thoughts on fishy organcis

anyone have any thoughts on using seaweed and fish meal outdoors, will it bring animals around and dig up the plants? ill be using it in teas, they usually dont smell like fish they smell like the molasses i add. is it safe outdoors?

the molasses will attract more than the fish

if your going to use fish and smelly materials, make sure to berry it about 2 1/2 to 3 feet deep before planting. I've never had problems using organic liquid concentrated fertilizers outdoors as long as you don't leave any containers out there. Best advise is to build a fence around your property.

animals are attracted to the fish emulsions but generally they do not stay interested long. what i have done in the past is start puttung emusions, guanos, blood meal that sort of thing out in my plots a month or so before i plant. the animalls (racoons love doing this) will dig around looking for what smells after not finding anything a few times they tend to leave it alone.
yes a small fenc is another option along with pissing around (not on) your plants. i will have to say being the sick guy i am i piss in a gallon jug for a day let it set and stink then dumb in in surrounding area it works well. but having it break open in your backpack in no fun.

Just another thing to attract critters attention IMO. Osmocote Plus is an outdoor growers friend...

purpz said:

if your going to use fish and smelly materials, make sure to berry it about 2 1/2 to 3 feet deep before planting. I've never had problems using organic liquid concentrated fertilizers outdoors as long as you don't leave any containers out there. Best advise is to build a fence around your property.

Click to expand...

That's wayyy tooo deep. Roots don't even go that deep. Stick with a foot and a half.

PIPBoy2000 said:

That's wayyy tooo deep. Roots don't even go that deep. Stick with a foot and a half.

Click to expand...

A good rule of thumb to follow when it comes to outdoors plants and their root systems is this. Basically a mirror image of whats above ground. Of course different soil textures and hardpan level effect this some. But roots are pretty tuff, I mean they can split rocks...
In a well prepared hole 2-3 foot deep is a fine place to mix in some food before planting...try to dig your hole as deep as you do wide, another good rule of thumb too follow.....

Yeah, but who digs 10 feet deep? I dig a 8'x8'(if I have the room) 18" deep. Cannaroots spread wayyy out before they'll go wayyy down.

Sounds like thats because your holes are prepped accordingly. Shallow roots systems mean more susceptible to drought stress...of course a 10ft deep hole is not needed, a 3ft diameter 3ft deep is a nice size hole for outdoor plants IMO. The roots will find their way deeper as needed.....

Shallow root systems drain faster and grow faster - flushing/aerating the soil and pulsing growth. Shallow roots can also cope with massive amounts of water - for those who don't experience droughts

Alright, this fall/winter I'm going to dig down three feet and see what's there

i use raised beds when i can, i dig a foot and half maybe and use boards for another 12"-16" above. in my "safe" spots this works great. i'll see if i can find a pic.
i know a bunch are going to think this is to much work, but 8-10 hours in a good week and i made this area. when the surrounding foliage grew up it couldn't be seen from 20' away. and the end result is worth it.

as the plants get taller i keep bending them away from each other as best i can. the roots drain well in an otherwise moist area and it help keep the critters away. i do have the bennefit of living in the middle of nowhere i can go use a chainsaw to cut for light in i feel the need. the pic is 2 years old and i have had some great plants there. i use fish emulsions and earth juice both of which stink but only have small problems with animals. the most plants i lost last year were from mice eating away the outer layer of stalk.

looks very tidy and nice sedate!good job!

probly wait for a while till the plants begger and can handle a bit of abuse before i start using smelly ferts, and chicken wire the shit out of the stalk