Applying fertilizer question

[Oldcountryboy]

I done a soil test on 4 garden area's that I want to use this summer. Every one of them was completely depleted on all nutrients and all had about a 7.0 to 7.5 ph. With the exception of one garden area, the main one I use. It was high in phosophurus and potash but way low on nitrogen.

I bought a bag of 27-0-0 for the garden area that lacked nitrogen only and I bought a bag of 13-13-13 for the other garden area's.

My problem is that 3 out or 4 of my garden area's are quit large. Where talking like 1500 to 2000 square feet in each spot. It would get quite expensive if I try to cover every square foot with store bought fertilizer.

So my question is: Can I just spread the fertilizer down the the row before I plant any seeds? Will this give them time to break down in time to feed the plants? Or will it harm the plant any?

I use to bring home bags and bags of leaves to till in my garden, but since I don't work in town anymore I don't have enough leaves gathered up to put in my garden area's anymore.

Thanks for your inputs. R.H. in Okla.

Also forgot to add. I also bought a couple of bags of sulpher to bring the p.h. down a little. Can I also just spread this down the row when I get ready to plant? Instead of powdering the whole field?

[ksfarmer]

Nitrogen can be put in the row at planting time(preferably a couple of inches to the side of the seed) or side-dressed later, it will be available to the plant almost immediately, assuming adaquate moisture. Not sure about Phos but I think potassium needs time to become available. Most K fertilizer on farm fields is done with an eye towards next years crop. I wouldn't worry too much about pH , most veggies do well at 7.0. Perhaps you would get some benifit to side-dressing sulfur, but I would think this should be done on a area wide basis.

[themamahen]

When my grandmother planted her garden we planted the fertilizer right along with the seeds. she did it for 20+ years and it worked. however at the end of garden season i would definately throw a bunch of manure on the whole thing

[Oldcountryboy]

Definitely, come the end of this garden season I'm gonna see if I can sneak one of those chicken litter trucks in here and stink up the whole place.

Also, I bought me a few chicks about a month ago so I can have fresh eggs and fresh fertilizer to use next year. Thinking about getting a rabbit or two and feed them lots of garden waste and such so I can have their litter to use.

[Paquebot]

You can sprinkle the 13-13-13 fertilizer in the actual row rather than broadcasting it. If it were the usual 10-10-10, that would be applied at the rate of 1# per 100'. With the higher analysis, the rate would be 1# per 130' of row. That may not seem like much but that's all you'd need.

You're probably also aiming to bring the soil pH down to 6.5. To go from 7.5 down to 6.5 would require about 2# per 100 square feet if broadcast. If applied in the row, I'd cut it in half to 1# per 100'.

Martin

[Oldcountryboy]

Thanks everyone. Just spreading it in the rows will save me some money.