When do you all fertilize during the growing season and how much?

What i've been doing is fertilizing monthly with a 5-10-5 granular on everything from 1 year fast growing plants to 3 year old fig producers.  All pots are fresh miracle grow soil.

Too much? Too little?  

Top right hand corner of your screen see the button called search?  

LOL, now Celt, be nice.

Celt,

I would have expected a more helpful response from a newly crowned "fig-guru". Guess you got up on the wrong side of your high horse today.

If anyone has an issue with me on this board man-up and contact me.  

Play nice guys.

I fertilize soon after they break dormancy and are putting on new growth at a steady pace, then again around now, actually it would be better a week or so earlier than now. What I have been using is a natural blend fruit fertilizer, forgot where I bought it. It was cheap. Some us Osmocote slow release which allows a more constant feed, but it's a little expensive when you've got alot of trees. And still others use a manure of some sort. What you are doing seems fine with one possible exception. Be careful about feeding young trees newly potted in Miracle Grow. MG usually comes with a slow release fertilizer already in the mix. Young trees have sensitive roots that are subject to burning, adding more fertilizer could be a recipe for disaster. Young trees need very little fertilize.  

slingha....

Search for some postings by a man using "tapla".  He has written extensive articles about not only applying fertilizers, but what kinds of fertilizers are most effective, and why.  Lots of good science behind his postings.  He has also posted on the Garden Web Fig Forum on these same subjects.

Too much could harm your fig trees, as well as the wrong formulas.

Hope you find your answers.

Frank

At 1 point in time there was a discussion that got heated on the other forum about fertilizers.
I say kindly read up as much as you can and decide what you can afford for how many plants you grow and still be able to buy groceries and pay the bills !
In a pot i tend to think plants generally use up faster whats given to them as if inground.
I always used MG - 24.8.16 all purpose with what i see are good results for my  plants.
Im no expert by far though just what i do only.

There is no right or wrong answer here.  I say just go for what works.  I use both Garden Blend 6-2-3 organic and Osmocote.  I use  6-2-3 when I make up a batch of soil.  It all works, I like, it only cost $50 bucks for 50lbs.  My young trees like the organic stuff and again, it works.  So, you've asked a broad question so expect a very broad response.  Good luck.

You might want to switch the fertilizer to a balanced or one that has more nitrogen. 

Frank- Thanks.  I'll search the username.  I had searched fertilizer, but didnt find much that was helpful.

Martin - Thanks for the insight. Price always plays a part in the decision making process. 

Dennis - Thanks. I know its kind of a broad question. Ive got pawpaw, apple trees. hardy kiwi, and of course figs. The figs are the first thing i've ever grown in a pot so that aspect is totally new to me.

I like to use 20-20-20 or 10-10-10. You can also use 12-12-12 0r what ever even number you can get. I think Osmocote is 14-14-14, don't hold me for it.

But,,, sometimes I resort to my pops Miracle Gro when I run out.

Go to: figtrees.net and look at Joe Morles way of fertilizing

MG 3-1-2 for vegetative growth, and MG 1-2-1 for fruits and root. I rotate them now on all my trees/plants until figs start to swell. It works for me. Everyone has their way of fertilizing.

Pete

P.S. the numbers are ratio. I forgot what the actual # was.

fertilizer seems to be very personal thing. everyone has one that they swear by. when i first started growing figs, i read alot of thread on it. i think best suggestion was 3-1-2 ratio. i think it was based on scientific findings and environmentally sound practice.

i totally ignored that and started using what was on sale. then settled on MG 3-1-2 and 1-2-1.

I'm still trying to figure it out also, so for now I mix it up.  I use Jobes organic granules, yes it is expensive but I don't have a lot of fertilizing to do - yet.  I also use fish emulsion and spray everything with the hose end sprayer.

I am trying to do everything organically, even the yard -it has been challenging especially when it comes to the bugs!!!!!!!!!!