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North Of The Border

I am asking for many people on this sight right now. I am sure quite a few people would love to know how to grow on $100, but haven't asked.


My idea. These are all from Holland's Land of Giants.

5 lb,$23 Cover crop, either one.
1 lb, $19, Granulated steamed Bone meal.
10.7 oz, $20, soluble seaweed powder
1 lb, $17, Nutri aid 20, 20, 20
1 lb, $20, soluble fish powder.
Total, $99
I am definitely not the expert on this, but this is a pretty good price for so much, and would probably be a good plavpce to start.

1/19/2021 6:59:21 AM

North Of The Border

From Wallace Organic Wonder,

10.7 oz, $21.95, soluble seaweed powder
1 lb, $22.95, mychorizeahal fungi
24, $14.95, wow starter paks
800 g, $ 31.95, compost tea
Total, $91.80

1/19/2021 7:05:35 AM

Centennial Colorado

No cover crop. Doesn't add any new elements. I would take out the starter packs from wow and add in neptunes harvest Fish and seaweed.

1/19/2021 10:11:58 AM

Plymouth, MN

You need some pest control in there.
If you're looking for stuff that's easy to find (e.g. at your local big box store) and not trying to set up a rotation due to the small budget:
BioAdvanced product w/ Imidacloprid active ingredient (15-20$)
Immunox Multi-Purpose Fungicide 16 oz Spray Concentrate For Gardens ($15)

1/19/2021 12:24:57 PM

Grittyville, WA

If your soil is poor you're gonna have to think in terms of more than 1 lb of fertilizer. I think mine could soak in 10 lbs of soluble fertilizer over the course of the season. I will say Ive had good results with wow packs mixed into the pottimg mix, also with Miracle Grow bloom booster or equivalent which you might be able to find for $3-4 bucks a pound. (Team up with your club or another grower to get better deals because for those small quantities a lot of what you are buying is the shipping cost.)
It would be nice to use expensive organic type fertilizers for half your fertilizer requirements but that does require a larger budget in my opinion. Granular fertilizer will get you a much bigger result on a small budget. But look for one with boron etc. and possibly calcium/magnesium. This could cost 80 cents a pound whereas those that lack micronutrients would cost 50 cents a pound I think but those ones will cause you problems. Really, maybe you should buy a used shovel, borrow a pickup truck, and find some good manure?
Overall... the best $100 I ever spent was having a full dump truck of goat dairy manure delivered.

Ps hose, overhead sprinkler and a timer might be part of that budget too? I think that would be the cheapest way to kill two birds with 1 stone... what to do to protect your plant in a heatwave or drought.

1/19/2021 1:43:40 PM

Grittyville, WA

If you can squeeze another $50 into it then there are some of us who thought a $150 challenge would be the financial equivalent of the 150 sq ft challenge. Dont break your bank account, but yeah... a $100-$200 budget is the right amount for some people. (Me included.)

1/19/2021 1:53:39 PM

North Of The Border

This wasn't for me, I was just trying to ask questions for other people. I think manure is the best way to go, but I have never seen somewhere deliver for under about $300 for a large enough amount.
97pounder, no cover crop is okay, just replace with natural rock phosphate, 6 pounds, $23.
Cjib, you can keep away most pests with some garlic and water, as I mentioned on a different post. The things you suggest sound good too, but is as just wondering how anyone would get a complete fertilizer plan for $100 or under.

1/19/2021 2:19:20 PM

https://www.unconventionalfarmsupply.com/bim

Click on the unconventional farmer tab and it will give all sorts of recipes for next to nothing.
Look up how to make your own enzymes for next to nothing{make sure it tells you how to use it)
Make your own compost tea a lot cheaper.
Go catch some fish.
Collect leaves and mulch them with lawn mower(let rot}
If there is enough plant available phosphorus, myco really does not help much(look that up)
Buy a bag of alfalfa meal from feedstore.
This only takeswork and cuts down expenses.
Expect most of what I just posted to be pooh-pohed by somebody that has never looked into it and thinks expensive is better.

1/19/2021 3:00:12 PM

North Of The Border

Nice link, thanks. I would agree that sometimes professional products could be better, but that's a good idea, with all of those recipes. I have a book I got used, that's called "Garden tonics" and its a simmilar idea.
Thanks for the post.

1/19/2021 4:22:31 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

97pounder, don't shoot down cover crops.

Cover crops greatly help biological and physical properties of soil. It reduces compaction, aerates the soil, provides benefits for microbes, helps with erosion, prevents nutrients from leaching. Also, some can help with disease when tilled in. Nodules in cover crop roots help fix and store nitrogen (in legumes), and when tilled in and eventually breaking down, they add organic matter to the soil.

1/19/2021 10:03:35 PM

Centennial Colorado

I have spent $75 and never gotten a cover crop. Snow kills it always.

1/19/2021 11:02:12 PM

Centennial Colorado

The question was for $100. I would say 25% of your budge

1/19/2021 11:03:43 PM

Centennial Colorado

Budget. If it were more and you live in a better environment I would agree.

1/19/2021 11:04:38 PM

Have you ever planted the proper winter rye. People usually call all rye "winter rye" but there is a difference. Find out when to plant in the fall in your area.

1/20/2021 6:17:38 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

If I only had $100 I’d spend every last cent on pesticide and fungicides. Merit, daconil, bifenthrin, and eagle 20. All generics.

1/20/2021 7:19:24 AM

Centennial Colorado

Yep. It finally took off in June and by that time my plant was mostly filled in and I couldn't rototill it in. Also, I think land resting is not a bad thing, yes amendments leach out, but it is a common practice for farmers. My great grandfather always let the land rest for 6 months out of the year and had healthier plants because of it. If I could ever get mustard to grow I would totally do a cover crop.

1/20/2021 9:35:05 AM

Cincinnati,OH

Find a source for free manure, lots of it.
I'm with Orangeneck spend your money there.

1/21/2021 8:09:48 PM

Syracuse, NY

Yes, and if I had to choose anything, it'd be Mycorrhizae, of course - as much as is saved upon by anything else. Aged manure, Mycorrhizae and a cover crop - I cannot YET speak of a CC, as when I planted mine last year on (late!) Labor Day, it froze out big time that night into the next day, and then there was no rain anyway for the next week or more. Nuthin'. This year, man, this year...eg

1/22/2021 2:31:28 AM

President - GPC

Wrong on the cover crop, "doesnt add any elements", Cover crop can do much more if the right crop is planted and at the proper timing. A good winter rye will come back up in the Spring... Sulphur is best put down in fall so it has time to convert. A good cover crop ahead of winter kill keeps the soil from blowing away... all that precious top soil heading to who knows where with our high winds. My best year > 1387 happened when I had two cover crops in one year. Tilled one up in the spring, placed hoops, then over seeded again before the plants went in, this time with a good CC mixture. Then till again as the plants get out, give about two weeks before the vines get to it. Heck me and Biz had to mow it a couple times too. So it does add a lot more to the soil than you recognize... Keeps the soil growing... bare soil vs a Cover waiting to wake up.... Saves Money, keeps the bio active in the soil, keeps the soil in place, deters the weeds and adds tilth to our Colorado Clay, just worth it IMHO. If you want to have better results year after year... Take care of your soil, test, balance, and yes... it cost some bucks..is more work. but is worth it in the long run.

1/22/2021 12:42:00 PM

President - GPC

Oh and cover crop just loves RichLawn Organic Turf fertZ.

1/22/2021 12:43:36 PM

President - GPC

Agree with Orangeneck.. Cant let them eat up your plants, $100 budget would be hard indeed.

1/22/2021 1:57:55 PM

Ontario

100 percent with Orangeneck. Go with pesticide and fungicides first then rest on other products.

1/22/2021 2:42:09 PM

Central Ca

Thanks Prez

1/22/2021 3:38:51 PM

Partlow,Va

1 lb Nutri Aid 20-20-20 for $17.
50 lb 19-19-19 for $20 here at the feed store. Think about buying in bulk on things you can, things like 0-0-50 and the high priced insecticides and fungicides. Spend more upfront but then you have them for the following years.

1/22/2021 7:44:25 PM

North Of The Border

HankH, is that triple 19 a water soluble, or a granular. I have seen granular for a very similar price, but I have bought a 35 pound bag of water soluble for about $50, which is still a great deal, but not for $100. I agree with the buting in bulk, and i have done that where posible, but not easy for water soluble ferts, or liquids, because they coat so much.

I see what you mean, about the fungicides, and pesticides, but the extent of that for me, in 3 years, was a total of maybe 4 sprays for powdery mildew in mid September when the plant was almost done anyway, and some pesticide, in May for cucumber beetles. I have spent maybe $20 on it over 3 years, so that is not on my list of best products. Maybe i have just been lucky, or maybe its because there wasnt even a gatden where my pumpkins are hntik 5 yeats ago, and that changes it, but pesticides, and fungicides have never been a necesity for me.

1/23/2021 8:30:29 AM

Boston

X2 on granular fertilizer. I am a second year grower with a pretty basic program and Ron Wallace recommend granular 10-10-10. Some of the heavy hitters use Marvel Nutriculture which is water soluble. 25lb bags are priced at $25-$30 and if you have a distributor close by you can pick it up and avoid shipping fees. Wow Soil and Plant booster is $22 for 2.2lbs and contains Mycorrhizae. Espoma also makes some potassium granular fertilizers that are good quality and reasonably priced.

6/13/2021 1:59:27 PM

Bethlehem CT

I would look for ripped or damaged bags, often you can get them at a good price if you ask.

6/13/2021 6:40:18 PM

Bethlehem CT

Be careful if the ripped bags are from a synthetic salt fertilizer. Like 19-19-19, or plant marvel. If the tear is recent the fertilizer could still be good. If not moisture will get in and ruin it.

6/13/2021 6:44:08 PM

Grittyville, WA

Does it off gas the nitrogen or cause chemical bonding that locks away the nutrients? I have a bag that got moist and it does seem to have lost its potency.

6/14/2021 5:56:56 AM

Boston

Curious, did you grow on a $100 last year?

6/14/2022 4:58:13 PM