Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Feeding squash plants

c.humphreys712c.humphreys712 Posts: 36
in Fruit & veg
Hi

I understand that squash like high pot ash fertilizers but I can't seem to find a helpful guide that tells me which to buy. Can anyone help please?

Also, I've got a log burner (I only use dried hard one and no coal) and I've kept all the ash. Can I put this in to the soil or have I left this too late since I'm planting out the squash this weekend?

Many thanks!

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Tomorite will be good, and if you have any, seaweed extract once every couple of weeks gives them an extra boost
    When planting them out I bury a decent size empty pot next to the roots then water/feed via the pot so it gets straight to the roots

    I think wood ash needs to be weathered before use. I'm not sure how long for though. Last time I done it I was about 10 years old, which is a long time ago..

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • c.humphreys712c.humphreys712 Posts: 36
    Eventhough Tomato feed is high in potash I thought it was also high in nitrates, that later is good for leaf growth but not for fruit. Though i may be wrong. Any idea?
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Tomorite has NPK of 4-3-8 so it has double the amount of potassium (potash) to nitrogen, so it's biased toward flower (fruit) production.
    Plants need some nitrogen and phosphorus too for balance

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited May 2021
    I agree, tomato feed will be fine - they do need to grow a lot of leaves, too.  Wood ash can be highly alkaline, so I'd avoid using that for now - probably best spread lightly on the borders when rain is forecast.  I mix well-rotted manure into the soil beneath the planting holes for all my squash and courgettes so rarely need to feed.  When I do, I use comfrey 'tea' (which is also used on tomatoes and flowers.)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Sign In or Register to comment.