Foliar Feed before a couple of chilly days

wxcrawler · #1

We've got a couple of chilly, dreary days coming tomorrow and Tuesday. Looks like the temperature is going to stay between 48 and 53 for about 48 hours before warming up significantly late Tuesday/early Wednesday. It's also going to rain some and be misty/drizzly during that cool 48 hour period. Today is sunny and in the 60's. Would it be mostly useless to do a foliar feeding today, before the cool period?

Lee

bower · #2

Hi Lee,
I don't foliar feed so no expertise there, but I have gotten more than a few tomatoes through 2-3 days of miserable cold.
I have often given my plants a feed of kelp drink as we're going into the challenge.
Good to do it in advance, because you don't want them too wet during the cold period. I've seen plants sustain way more leaf damage when they were watered before I cold night (that is, seedlings outdoors in beer cups). But my transplants in the greenhouse, they never complained about getting a drink of kelp or any other liquid treat.
I guess if it's raining that might wash the foliar feed off? Ends up in the ground anyway, I guess...
Anyway, a light feed of something without a deep soaking may be a good thing.

JosephineRose · #3

I have never foliar fed but I am reading about it a lot lately.

Generally speaking, what are the advantages? Disadvantages?

Anyone have anecdotal experience with it improving health or production? I am intrigued.

wxcrawler · #4

I've never done a side-by-side comparison of tomatoes where I did foliar feed vs. none. But both times I've done it this season, I noticed an increase in new growth and flowers after I did it. The first time I used a little Texas Tomato Food and Neptune Harvest Tomato Fertilizer in a gallon of water. When I did it recently, I used a manure tea from alpaca/sheep poo I brewed up. I used a dash of molasses as a "sticker" in the sprayer. The only disadvantage I know is you generally need to do it early in the morning, before the Sun gets up much.

Lee

JosephineRose · #5

I am intrigued to try it this year. I will give it a go!