Need a Substitute for Miracle Gro

[Le Taz Hot]

Fertilizer Company Goes Public with Romney Support

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021098608

Any suggestions?

[Arkansas Granny]

1. Compost tea would be an organic substitute.

You can find directions here:

http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/brewing-compost-tea.aspx

This place also has a lot of gardening products that are environmentally responsible. I've bought from them before and have had a good experience.

http://www.gardensalive.com/

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. Fish goo, Seaweed goo and compost

A gallon of fish fertilizer is about $12. A quart size bottle will last me all season with some left over. Seaweed is a little more, but excellent for blooms. compost contains all the micro nutrients and microbuggies that keep soil alive.

Chemical ferts like miracle grow do more damage than good in my opinion.

[MuseRider]

3. I like Bill's Perfect Fertilizer

Here is a link to a site you can purchase it from. It does a great job both as a drench or as a foliar feed. I think everything I have used it on has grown well, stays healthier so I use it on everything now.

http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com/Bills-Perfect-Fertilizer/products/18/

[beac]

4. Worm poop.

I use Wiggle Worm brand:




http://homeharvest.com/soilamendmentswormcastings.htm http://www.vermiculture.com/store_soil_builder.html
(I buy mine locally at the organic gardening store, but it's available many other places online too.)

One 15lb bag lasts me a whole season with some left over for winter houseplant gardening.

[Rowdyboy]

5. "Osmacote slow release" lasts up to 9 months and has worked well for us....

We don't use any other chemicals-just compost and osmacote.

I wass really disappointed to see the news about the people at "Miracle-gro". I've used it in the past but I never will again.

[oldhippydude]

6. not sure it's still around, and don't know their political leanings

but for water soluble fertilizers... W.R. Grace co.. used to market a number of formulations under the label "peters".. while i agree as gardner with the organic folks, i worked a number of years as a retail nurseryman, and used the peters products extensively.. they have a number of formulations available from greenhouse supply outfits

[Denninmi]

7. Nope. Circular firing squad there.

Grace became a company called Grace-Sierra, which was bought out by Scotts. All the same company now.

[oldhippydude]

8. thanks

did not know... like i said been years..

[Gormy Cuss]

13. And Whitney's Organics was also purchased by Scotts

which is why we switched to EB Stone's. Whitney's was better but the price skyrocketed after Scotts acquired the brand and the bulk bags were no longer carried by our local nurseries, just the small boxes.

[glinda]

16. These buy outs are making me really angry.

[Javaman]

9. Lady Bug. It's all I use.

http://www.ladybugbrand.com/

All organic.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

10. I believe Scotts is ultimately owned by......

Montsanto.

Another reason to start your own worm farm.

I'm lucky enough to live near the ocean, and horsefarms.
Make my own with seaweed-poop and other organic materials.

[silverweb]

11. TerraCycle or other worm compost.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I have my own worm composter, but have been cheering for TerraCycle since 2007, when Scott's sued them for claiming that worm poop was as good as Miracle Gro.

Surprise, surprise! TerraCycle demonstrated that worm compost was indeed as effective as Miracle Gro, so won the suit. You can't go wrong going natural.

[roody]

12. Kelp. And you can grow your own

worm castings.

[Le Taz Hot]

14. Update

Well I finally decided to go with worm castings added to my own compost. I found a local guy with a worm farm who sells worms and worm castings. I got 30 lbs. for $75.00 which is half of what I would have spent on Miracle Gro for the fall/winter garden.

Just planted butternut squash, onions, spinach and collards in the first square foot garden plus I started some extras in starter pots. I'll continue planting the other 2 square foot gardens in the next couple of days. I'll know if the soil additive combination was effective in about 7-10 days.

Btw, I showed my husband some of the vermiculture videos I had researched and he's now convinced we can raise our own worms next to the compost bins. Who knows, maybe this time next year we'll have our own worm castings instead of having to buy them.

[beac]

15. Brava, Le Taz!

I think you will be pleased with your wormy results!

I looked into worm farming but didn't have anywhere in my small house where they could overwinter in peace.

[JDPriestly]

17. Worm tea. A worm bin.

Worms are easy to manage. The liquid they produce is great for your garden.

[Le Taz Hot]

18. See post #14.

I found a local guy with a worm farm. The espoused one has started an indoor (for now) worm bin which will eventually be moved outside. The little fellers seem to be happy and are poopin' away.