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Hinckley MN

Anyone ever bury fish under their pumpkin plants as fertilizer? Native Americans did for their corn/beans/squash fields. I thought I might dig down a foot and put 3-4 bullheads under each hill.

1/10/2012 3:05:46 PM

Minnesota

No, but I catch or go to the local oriental market and buy one, blend it up, strain (mixed with water), that is what I use for fish emulsion. I think you have to worry about cats raccoons animals digging up your garden trying to find the fish they smell.

1/10/2012 3:40:18 PM

canal winchester ohio

depends on where you live, if you live anywhere that racoons, foxes or anything similiar are I wouldn't do it. They will dig up your plants to get the fish.

1/10/2012 3:42:07 PM

Hinckley MN

suposedly, if you put the fish a foot deep the smell is contained, especially with heavy soil like I have. I have to double dig the area under my stumps anyway so it isn't adding any aditional labor, other than HAVING to go fishing....

1/10/2012 5:23:56 PM

Western NY

I've done it, several times. I usually bury them at least 4 or 5 feet from the planting site so that they have decomposed by the time the roots get there.

1/10/2012 5:56:03 PM

South Hero, VT

Native Americans didn't have blenders, etc. to break up fish.

The finer the particles, the more easily absorbed.

Deter critters with mint oils/red pepper from digging.

Or compost fish for a year with a cover to prevent leaching.

1/10/2012 6:41:07 PM

"Bass-O-Matic"

1/10/2012 8:35:45 PM

Cameron

We spray @ 1 gal of Neptune's Harvest Fish mixed with 10 gals of water, in a 10' dia ring around each planting site in the spring.

Jane & Phil

1/12/2012 9:52:28 AM

Hinckley MN

I found a research study calculating the g of Nitrogen per weight of fish. it comes out to 12.4 g of nitrogen for 450 g of catfish. 4 lbs of bullhead catfish would be about 50 grams of actual nitrogen.

I have a few gallons of fish and seaweed fertilizer, too, but I was thinking of using it as a foliar. Now maybe I'll use it as a drench.

1/12/2012 3:46:03 PM

Seattle, WA

Going with a fish hydrolysate like Neptune's Harvest (NOT fish emulsion) is a great way to increase fungal activity in your soils. I would probably use it as a drench.

In addition to the hydrolysate preserving all the enzymatic qualities of the fish, the smell is significantly decreased. You could get the same results from throwing your whole fish in a blender, but it's going to stink to high heaven!

Organic Gem is another great National brand. If you had the choice, I'd pick them over Neptune's Harvest based on how they process the fish, but they're both good products.

1/12/2012 6:31:44 PM

Minnesota

It does not smell that bad, it actually smells fresh, the trick is to use it right away, if you let it sit around and warm up it starts to smell.

1/12/2012 9:43:49 PM

Minnesota

It does not smell that bad, it actually smells fresh, the trick is to use it right away, if you let it sit around and warm up it starts to smell.

1/12/2012 9:43:50 PM

Owatonna Minnesota

I have used fish parts and whole carp that I chopped up ww/the shovel.I live on an old dairy farm and I have never had any issues w/critters digging up the fish.The carp bones are very pointy and can be needle sharp until nature does her stuff.BTW b4 I found this group my biggest was 238 and that was w/store bought seed w/carp burried under the plant.

1/26/2012 7:33:38 PM

West Manchester, OH

I run a hatchery in my spare time and i have come up with a good fish emulsion. I usually throw in 3-5 Suckers around 10-14 inches in about a foot of water in a 5 gallon bucket. (More fish more water) Place suran wrap over the top of it and put it in the sun. The fish will eventually break down completely, i use one 8oz plastic cup and put it in a 3 gallon watering can. Using this i would get a explosion of growth in the next week or 2. But i have had situations where i fertilized too much and burned the plants.

2/7/2012 11:38:35 AM

Minnesota

Pendog, what about the fish poop, do you clean out the poop from the hatchery? it is suppose to be good fertilizer.

2/7/2012 12:44:19 PM

West Manchester, OH

i will take the sludge from he bottom of the ponds and put in the garden. But for the inside tanks i will take the poop water and water the plants with it

2/7/2012 1:53:01 PM

Minnesota

I would take that over cow manure.

2/7/2012 2:31:36 PM

Gig Harbor, Wa

TAD12, Do you have any opinion about the Alsaka Fish Fertilizer products that are readily available in the Norhtwest?

2/10/2012 2:31:39 PM

Simi valley, ca

I put fish around all veges last yr, over 2000 sardeens probably 500-700 lbs worth ! I suggest blending them first put on top of soil for 3-5 days , then mix ,,, if you bury you could have animal problems, destroying a good plant !! Blending will solve problem, 3-5 days on top of soil the smell will be gone !! It works !! I blended over 2000 ! it took 12 hours !! you should be done in 15 minutes !!

2/13/2012 9:02:32 AM

Simi valley, ca

I use the Alaska fish emulsion ! been using it for 15 yrs , seems to make things grow better !!! since its 13$ at lows per gallon , not home depot ,also if you can use some neptunes - you just cant use as often as its like 40$ per gallon !

2/13/2012 9:07:30 AM

Seattle, WA

I haven't experimented directly with the Alaska product. My experience based on researching fish products under a microscope is that fish hydrolysate is far superior and is an excellent fungal food. The process for making fish hydrolysate preserves the enzymatic quality of the fish much better than the emulsion process. I've found emulsion does not have anywhere near the same beneficial impact when it comes to soil biology. The two hydrolysate brands I looked into were Organic Gem (my 1st choice) followed by Neptune's Harvest. Both are National brands and there may be smaller fish hydrolysate companies in your area. The type of fish and the processing method are both important though.

Keep in mind I'm only talking about emulsion vs hydrolysate. I use fish meal in my soil mix at a rate of 1 c./cubic foot for container plants. I also use fish bone meal. Fish products are great!

2/13/2012 11:52:50 AM