Seedling Starter Solution

It's tough being a transplant. If you've ever moved to a new house or a new town, you know how stressful relocation can be. Moving is just as tough for your plants as it is for you. So give your transplants a break on moving day by serving them a sip of weak "starter solution." Your young plants will recover quickly from the shock of transplanting with this nutrient boost.

Ingredients and Supplies
1/2 cup fish emulsion 1/2 cup seaweed extract Small disposable container,
like a coffee can 8-ounce jar or bottle with lid

Directions

1. Mix the fish emulsion and seaweed extract together in the container.
2. Pour the mix into a jar or bottle. Seal it tightly, label it, and store it in a cool, dark place, like a basement storage cabinet.
3. To use, add 3 tablespoons of starter solution to 1 gallon of water. Use as a soil drench at transplanting time or as a spray for foliar (leaf) feeding.
Yield: 1 cup of fertilizer concentrate


Keep seedlings growing
strong by misting them with starter solution
every 2 weeks. The light mist from the spray bottle won't disturb
roots or leaves like thi heavy stream from a watering can would.


More starter solutions

If you don't have the ingredients to make a fish emulsion-seaweed extract starter solution, you can substitute compost or manure. Don't use manure tea or manure-based compost tea to provide a nutrient boost for your fruit or vegetable crops, since there's a chance manure can carry E. coli bacteria.
To make compost or manure tea, fill a large trash can or other waterproof container one-eighth full of compost or manure. Then fill the container to the top with water. Allow the mixture to steep for a day or two, stirring several times during this period. Dip off the liquid and dilute it with water to a light amber color.
Water each transplant with clear water, then pour about a cup of this solution around the base of each plant. Repeat at 10- to 14-day intervals.