What an excellent thread. I have used pelleted chicken manure for the last few years to give the soil a boost before planting. I was going to use Growmore when planting various fruit bushes out this spring but have changed my mind, I'll give fish bone and blood a go instead. We're very lucky to have such knowledgable people here, thanks for everyone's input.
Alot to take in there, I see bone meal poisonous to dogs. Is there anything safe for a typical 'scoff it and see' lab . I'd hate to use anything she could get near. She is supervised not just put out to roam but we work from she so does have the freedom to mooch. I have used bfb before when planting and don't tend to leave anything on the surface when feeding .
I know this thread is an old one, but I wanted to ask does anyone know if the blood fish and bone is harmful to the earthworms and centipedes, in turn birds?
I had some BFB given to me, its quite old I think but I sprinkled it on two veg beds today in anticipation of heavy rains tomorrow, it didn't occur to me till after that it may not be a good thing for the earthworms, birds etc.
It will be absolutely fine when used as directed on the packet. Chucking a whole packet directly onto a worm, centipede or at a bird would be the only way I could see it harming them!
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Artificial fertilisers can damage worms and also burn up carbon in the soil. Unfortunately even organic based fertilisers can burn up carbon. The simple solution is to use plenty of compost to raise carbon levels as well as Fish Blood and Bone. Biochar is also an option for increase soil carbon but quite expensive at the moment. Another option to think about is to plant a mustard and clover mix on spare beds as this will increase the carbon and the nitrogen in the soil, leading to better yields.
Fish blood and bone is slightly more expensive, but its slower acting and this can be an advantage as plants don't go to lush and become targets for aphids.
Combined with seaweed feeding you will get superb plants. Unless the slugs eat them, but thats another story...
Even bulk prices its like £2+ a kilo (for seaweed meal). But that about enough for 20 square metres, so 10p a square metre price. Worth it for high value areas like raised beds, fruit gardens and so me rose and perennial flower gardens too.
I bet it would be worth piling compost over fish blood and bone, to stop the smell and stop the digging.
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I know this thread is an old one, but I wanted to ask does anyone know if the blood fish and bone is harmful to the earthworms and centipedes, in turn birds?
I had some BFB given to me, its quite old I think but I sprinkled it on two veg beds today in anticipation of heavy rains tomorrow, it didn't occur to me till after that it may not be a good thing for the earthworms, birds etc.
Hope someone can advise.
It will be absolutely fine when used as directed on the packet. Chucking a whole packet directly onto a worm, centipede or at a bird would be the only way I could see it harming them!
Thanks Bob
Only too happy to help the gardeners friends
thanks Edd
Artificial fertilisers can damage worms and also burn up carbon in the soil. Unfortunately even organic based fertilisers can burn up carbon. The simple solution is to use plenty of compost to raise carbon levels as well as Fish Blood and Bone. Biochar is also an option for increase soil carbon but quite expensive at the moment. Another option to think about is to plant a mustard and clover mix on spare beds as this will increase the carbon and the nitrogen in the soil, leading to better yields.
Fish blood and bone is slightly more expensive, but its slower acting and this can be an advantage as plants don't go to lush and become targets for aphids.
Combined with seaweed feeding you will get superb plants. Unless the slugs eat them, but thats another story...
Even bulk prices its like £2+ a kilo (for seaweed meal). But that about enough for 20 square metres, so 10p a square metre price. Worth it for high value areas like raised beds, fruit gardens and so me rose and perennial flower gardens too.
I bet it would be worth piling compost over fish blood and bone, to stop the smell and stop the digging.