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Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I read a lot about using liquid or water soluble kelp for foliar feedings. Has anyone used soil applied kelp meal? What rates do you use and what results do you get? I have a seed/feed dealer close by that sells it at a real reasonable price and I might try it if other growers think it is worthwhile.

2/3/2006 11:30:02 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I think alot of growers use kelp meal as a yearly ammendment to the soil. I use 25 lbs per year. Roughly 8 lbs in and around the planting area and the rest spread over my patch and tilled in.

2/4/2006 4:23:16 PM

Montoursville, PA

It has often been said tha tif you do nothing else to your soil, apply kelp meal. Kelp meal contains all the nutrients from A to Z. It conditions the soil, builds soil life, stimulates root development and plant growth, and helps retain moisture in the soil. I like dehydrated and chopped seaweed of the Ascophylum nodosum variety (tidal water seaweed). Increases yeild. Reduces the effect of both drought and frost. It is not water soluble and has to be released to the plants by microbial activity. It takes about two weeks, to become plant available.

I have used kelp meal at the knees, of my father and now some fifty years,into all gardening that I do today. I use twenty five pounds a year spring applied, on one thousand square feet, for my pumpkins and gourds. I use half that much on most other planting bed applications applied every other year.

At the same time I introduce five to seven pounds, of worm castings, to the nusery. Worm castings are a well balanced soil amendment providing a rich mixture, of micronutrients, microbial organnisms and organic matter. If my worm count is very high by observation I do not make this ammendment. Very high to me is ten worms in every shovel full turned over.

2/4/2006 4:45:35 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Yeah, I'm about the same as Glen. 25 pounds per 1000 in the spring.

I also stir in about 1 cup in 5 gallons of water prior to bubbling the compost tea.

2/4/2006 4:47:24 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

My big concern is buildup of salts. This is grown in salt water, and the analysis I read said that sodium content runs from 4.8% to over 7%. Should I be concerned about this, or is it too small of an amount to worry about?

2/5/2006 5:28:28 PM

Montoursville, PA

Buy from a quality well known firm. Not to worry the salts will have been removed.

2/5/2006 8:05:35 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Doc, for us nu-B's can you name a well known firm that handles kelp meal. Is it sold at any big name outlets? Thanks Peace, Wayne

2/6/2006 7:26:43 AM

Coventry R.I.

hi wayne, neptuneharvest.com has it 12lbs pail and a bigger size

2/6/2006 7:40:40 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I think Alfalfa Meal would be a good alternative...

2/6/2006 8:58:57 AM

Geneseo, NY

Check out North American Kelp @ www.noamkelp.com I have had good luck with this Company & Products.

2/6/2006 9:15:44 AM

Montoursville, PA

Fertrell Distributors have both kelp and alfalfa meal. I agree that alfalfa has many of the same qualities as kelp. In fact I alternate their use, in my growing practices.

Feed pellets sometimes have minerals added. However read and inquire as to what the salt content is in feed pellets. Some feed sources are full of salt. Very high.

I think you have three or four fine sources in this line suggested. The major difference may come down to shipping costs.

2/6/2006 11:20:12 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Thanks for the info. My source is for a feed grade kelp, so it may have too much salt. With the listed sodium content this product probably is too high in salt.

Linus and Doc: I did put on some alfalfa meal last fall, only 50 pounds on around 17,000 square feet. I think I will add more this spring and keep it closer to the planting sites. It's cheaper than kelp, also. The local radio Master Gardener advised that you should just put it on the surface and let the rain leach the nutrients into the soil. He said that too much directly in the root zone could burn the roots. Have you experienced any of this problem?

2/6/2006 1:06:04 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

North America Kelp
http://www.noamkelp.com/products.html
SeaLife™ Kelp Meal for Soil

Get it cheap and fast.

2/6/2006 1:59:21 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Find a Fertrell dealer in your area. The cheapest place I have found it at....

2/6/2006 5:23:48 PM

Montoursville, PA

No problem burning and I seriously doubt if you could. You could maybe overload and tie up your nitrogen. Burning with organic based material is usually caused, by undigested hot manures applied, to heavily and to close, to setting out plants, in the spring. As with alfalfa it only takes about two weeks, to be, in full conversion supplying relatively safe amounts, of nutrients, to the patch. It can do nothing until the bacteria work, on it. They work in a gradual manor in relation, to food available and temperature, of the soil. All organic products have, to work through the process from raw material, to compost, to humates and further on, to humate acids. This then is available food, for the plant. Even so more adjusting takes place. The plant roots maintain a specialized bactera area or factory, in close association with the roots. It is in this little known area where most food that the plant uses is made ready, for the plants use including that created in or by the leaves. Nowhere, in this process has anyone seen harm created, by the natural movement and conversions of once living materials, to plant food. This process is firmly documented, in The Encyclopedia, of Organic Gardening, J.H. Rodale and Staff., 22nd. Edition, July 1974. and, in each preceeding and following edition.

2/6/2006 5:48:07 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Doc, (Tom), Linus, Brat...thanks again as always for all the info...incredible how it works on this site...ask and you shall receive!!! Peace, Wayne

2/6/2006 8:53:48 PM

huntsburg,ohio

cheapest way i found was get acouple guys together and buy a pallet i did last year think we payed 19 dollars for 50 pounds.Jerry

2/7/2006 7:27:23 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Thanks to everyone for all the help.

2/7/2006 12:29:44 PM

Piqua,Ohio

anyone in or near west central ohio interested in buying some kelp meal with me I will need approximately 400# this year so could get 800 for my self if someone wants some more we could get it together would be cheaper for sure. e mail me

2/10/2006 9:06:15 PM