30-6 Posted June 4, 2019 Report Share Posted June 4, 2019 I am growing a couple of containers of veg with my 4 year old granddaughter. Beans, carrots, strawberries and lettuce. The lettuce are the ones that you pick a leaf off and it re-grows and are various coloured leaves. Question is, I dilute phostrogen as a fertiliser, and the lettuce are very close together. Can I just water over the leaves and wash before eating ? Or should I avoid getting any fertiliser onto the leaves ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 4, 2019 Report Share Posted June 4, 2019 Fertiliser really works best at the root. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peck Posted June 4, 2019 Report Share Posted June 4, 2019 Just wash them before eating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 4, 2019 Report Share Posted June 4, 2019 I tend to put fertilizer on initially prior to planting which is normally more than enough to produce nice lettuce. Obviously give the leaves a good rinsing anyway. If the lettuce are in full growth then water the liquid at the base with one of those small watering cans used for pot plants. It then puts it where it is needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted June 4, 2019 Report Share Posted June 4, 2019 Sow and water, easiest plant to grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted June 4, 2019 Report Share Posted June 4, 2019 I love growing veg with the kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted June 4, 2019 Report Share Posted June 4, 2019 Or use seaweed fertilizer. It isn't made from industrial chemicals and is very effective as a foliar feed. As it's environmentally friendly it won't harm people and your lettuce will be virtually organic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted June 4, 2019 Report Share Posted June 4, 2019 When im growing veg in tubs i plant up after putting water retaining granules and slow release fertilizer in the compost and lettuce rarely needs another feed before harvesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted June 4, 2019 Report Share Posted June 4, 2019 You shouldn't need to fertilize it. Wash the leaves if you do. I haven't fed my veg for years and use the same patch each time. Occasional bit of compost before planting every other year. Grows like mad and saves a fortune on salad from the supermarket. I don't bother with carrots as they look good till you pull them and find they hit a stone or speck of dust and stopped growing. Also it's 45p for a bag from the supermarket. Small ones that are sweet being the exception. Save your money and just water them. Pick every other one out if you want bigger plants but if it's cut and come again then you'll be fine either way. Strawberries ive never fed and get plenty, same for beans. All it needs is a sunny spot and regular watering. If it goes dry salad may bolt depending on what your growing. Plant a new bag up every 4 weeks to keep it going. Chard is good for over wintering and looks good if you get the multi coloured variety. Garden plants I feed twice a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derbyduck Posted June 6, 2019 Report Share Posted June 6, 2019 always wash veg slugs are careiers of lung worm and you carn't always see where theyv'e been ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted June 6, 2019 Report Share Posted June 6, 2019 Old farmer I used to shoot for used to have a huge barrel full of sheep poop and filled it with water, he stirred it everyday and said it was the best fertiliser he ever used on his tomatoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted June 6, 2019 Report Share Posted June 6, 2019 Make your own plant food with stinging nettles, perfect for leafy plants like lettuce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted June 6, 2019 Report Share Posted June 6, 2019 I've always had great crops from early sewings, but planting later in the summer never worked for me. Now I just plant loads in about 3 waves and keep cropping off them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted June 6, 2019 Report Share Posted June 6, 2019 I have tried various times over the years, they just become cats toilets eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted June 8, 2019 Report Share Posted June 8, 2019 (edited) Comfrey tea is an excellent all round fertiliser google will tell you how. Blackpowder Edited June 8, 2019 by Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30-6 Posted June 8, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2019 Well I had a brain wave. Read that fertiliser is best into the roots, so invented a " close cropping lettuce special irrigation tool " ( patent pending ). A funnel jammed into a short length of 10mm plastic pipe. Wiggle said pipe between close cropping lettuce and tip in irrigation solution of choice. Sorted. Bet Ditchman hasn't made one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobbyathome Posted June 8, 2019 Report Share Posted June 8, 2019 1 hour ago, 30-6 said: Well I had a brain wave. Read that fertiliser is best into the roots, so invented a " close cropping lettuce special irrigation tool " ( patent pending ). A funnel jammed into a short length of 10mm plastic pipe. Wiggle said pipe between close cropping lettuce and tip in irrigation solution of choice. Sorted. Bet Ditchman hasn't made one. Oh I bet he has fat Sarah did love a colonic irrigation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted June 9, 2019 Report Share Posted June 9, 2019 That would be big enough for rhubarb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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