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Mill Bay, British Columbia

OK, first year Agro-K user here and I have a question regarding mixing and application rates during this early part of the season. In the cycle right now, applications are calling for 1oz concentrate per 1 gallon water and foliar applied.

Since the plants are so small right now, mixing a full ounce and entire gallon of mixture seems like a waste as I understand that it does not store for later use. What I have been doing is mixing the solution in a 1 litre spray bottle and applying as a foliar as directed. Since there are 4.456 litres per Canadian gallon, I mix about 1/4 of an ounce per litre of water.

I am assuming that I am doing the right thing and wondering what the rest of you do in the same case. If I had more plants then mixing the full gallon would make sense but since I have only 2 plants, a gallon would just be too much and I don't want to waste any of this valuable program.

Any suggestions or thoughts? Thanks/Glenn

5/16/2006 12:26:29 AM

Wallingford,CT

I use a syringe to measure the smaller amounts for my 2 plants. After feeding the pumpkins I use whatever is left in the spray bottle on other plants.

5/16/2006 6:16:07 AM

Sheridan . NY

you need to only mix yes-- very little amounts --with 4 plants i mix 1/2 quart--at 1 oz to the gallon of water that is 1/8 oz and puff -puff the plants and as bart says do the new plants around the house --flowers tomatos ect ect---craig

5/16/2006 10:08:18 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks, kind of what I figured,

5/17/2006 11:53:20 AM

Midwest

I will be starting today...I did not know that you could not save any extra mix and use later. I was going to mix it up in 1QT bottles then just fill sprayer from the pre-mixed bottles....CK

5/17/2006 12:09:23 PM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

Glenn, mix a little "Dexol Barren Vegetation Killer" in there with it (don't be fooled by the name - it's a great foliar). I find the solution on the bottle is a little weak, so triple it, and apply generously early on, and then again at pollination time - well, don't save too much for the second application, but see how it works for ya...

:)

5/18/2006 4:38:17 PM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

Oh, I almost forgot, don't put any on the 869.5... so we can compare the results, of course.

5/18/2006 6:00:28 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Nice try LawBOY!! The 869.5 is getting the full Agro K program too.....we'll see.

5/19/2006 1:14:43 AM

San Diego, Ca.

Glenn, I was thinking the same thing, that mixing a whole gallon at a time was a waste so here's what I worked out.

(1 fl. oz. = 2Tbsp or 6 tsp.)

1 gallon water - 2 Tbsp agro-k
3/4 gallon water - 4 1/2 tsp. agro-k
1/2 gallon water - 1 Tbsp agro-k
1/4 gallon water - 1 1/2 tsp. agro-k

21.3 oz water - 1 tsp agro-k
16 oz. water - 3/4 tsp agro-k
10.6 oz water - 1/2 tsp agro-k
5.3 oz. water - 1/4 tsp agro-k
2.6 oz water - 1/8 tsp agro-k

Hope that helps you. Vince

5/19/2006 1:54:47 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks Vince, I'll be watching your progress....grow em big!!

5/19/2006 8:59:08 PM

Cottage Grove, MN

Buy a sprayer/spreader that mixes as it sprays rather than premixing, that way what you don't use can be poured back into the original container. I have one that I believe is made by Scotts, just fill it, dial the dilution and go.

5/23/2006 10:33:22 AM

Sheridan . NY

THE Agro-k is made for foliar feeding -- the compressed air sprayer that BJX2 is talking about I never have heard of --but if it will spray micro fine at rate of 1oz of product to the gallon of water it will save a great deal of product---if not i suggest everyone stick with the quart spray bottle and the bigger sprayers as the plant get bigger --also you will see on most of the bottles INST for irragation you will still use more product--but if someone finds a unit that will do the oz to gal let me know---craig

5/23/2006 4:19:57 PM

Colorado

Here is a link with a pretty good discription of
the Scots hose end spray n dial. I have been using
one of these and they work good. No mixing so you
can pour back any unused product.
http://lawn-and-garden.hardwarestore.com/77-493-hose-end-sprayers/ortho-dial-n-spray-hose-end-sprayer-621559.aspx

----Kirk

5/23/2006 4:35:55 PM

Colorado

"Scots hose end Dial N Spray"

----Kirk

5/23/2006 4:42:57 PM

Cottage Grove, MN

Yep, that's the one I have Kirk. Seems to work good, plugs a bit with the fish and kelp though. What do you think Craig?

5/24/2006 10:50:05 AM

Sheridan . NY

bjx2---Longbeard-- does this sprayer put out a fine spray like a pump up compressed air sprayer---all-so could one of you guys do a test for me with it by putting 1 oz of food coloring water in the product jar and spray it to a gallon jug to see if you can make it run 1 oz to the gallon of water---thanks ---craig

5/25/2006 7:29:04 AM

Cottage Grove, MN

Craig, will do this weekend, great idea. I should have done this to test it. The spray pattern is basically a fan, similiar to any garden spray spreader. The nossle is adjustable, you can turn it 180 degrees to angle the fan up a bit or down a bit. Note that the pick up tube has some space at the bottom of the jug, so it may not pick up the full oz, but we'll see.

Bob J

5/25/2006 8:52:12 AM

President - GPC

I sprayed Block 2 last night with this same Scotts sprayer. I pulled the screen off the bottom of the pickup tube because it does clog quickly, especially with Humic Acid. It seemed to pickup the solution better but I do notice that it cloggs and I question the accuracy of dilution ratio. There must be better sprayers out there to use. I liked this one due to the dial ratios but if its wrong what good is it? I will try Craigs suggestion tonight also, quality control, I must remember this!

5/25/2006 9:16:55 AM

President - GPC

PS. My pickup tube is a bit longer and bent and forcing it sideways on the bottom so it should always be getting something to draw. Try pulling yours from the top it appears to have about a 1/4 inch of play to work with.

5/25/2006 9:21:12 AM

President - GPC

Craig,
I tested the Dial In sprayer last nite. Mine is made by Ortho. I think Kirks is too..
The ad states the following:
Dilutes and sprays liquid weed killers, insecticides and fungicides
-No mixing, no measuring, no mess
-Remove nozzle tip for jet spray - shoots up to 25 ft
-Select from 14 settings from 1 tsp. to 8 fl. oz. per gallon of spray
-Unused product can be returned to original container
-Instant "on-off" trigger action
-Simply add product, set dial to the rate per gallon listed on the product label and spray
-Delivers spray pattern suitable for application on shrubs, vegetables, soil, and lawn
We often use this sprayer with Hot Pepper Wax products, liquid seaweed and liquid fish fertilizers.

Sent in 2 parts.....

5/26/2006 8:58:23 AM

President - GPC

Part 2......even had to dilute my post....lol

My tests produced the following results. With only one ounce of colored water in the bottle I sprayed into a 5 gallon bucket shifting the sprayer side to side. Had to stop towards the end as it could not pick up all the test water leaving about 1/3 teaspoon remaining in the bottle. Measured out at 1 3/4 gallons. I have used this to spray other garden products from the Jerry Baker stuff. It does a great job if you have lots in the bottle and not too thick. How would one really tell if its diluting as prescribed?? I become skeptical after a while. What would be the BEST sprayer to use when the patch gets larger and we are trying to spray some of the thicker solutions like humic acid, molasses? Another question, dont these fertigation injection systems have the same problem as with diluting the solution beyond what is called for? Are we diluting too much, and wasting our precious Agro-K stuff?
My last question. Why cant one take a quart sprayer bottle, fill it up the proper amount of say VC, Cal, etc.. and distilled water and use it every 7 days per the program until the patch gets larger? Have 7-8 of these all ready to go... Is it not the same product thats sitting on my shelf now just diluted to the proper application formula and ready to go? Sorry....for all the ?'s But I want to get it right. ThanksGary in CO

5/26/2006 8:58:58 AM