When to stop fertilizer in 5-1-1

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erics11

Registered:1399955853
Posts: 102

Posted 1413581977	Reply with quote #1

Hi all, 1st year using 5-1-1 mix. Live in 9b. I have been fertilizing weekly with liquid dynagro. It will not freeze here and will get to low 40s high 30s in the winter. Thanks, Eric __________________ Hayward, CA 9B Own: Brown Turkey, White Kadota, Mission Black, Celeste, RdB, VdB, Hunt, Dominick, Strawberry Verte, LSU Scott's black, Brown Greek, Spanish Black Wishlist: Chicago Hardy, Desert King, Col de Dame Gris, any other favorites

DonCentralTexas

Registered:1390420422
Posts: 475

Posted 1413593313	Reply with quote #2

I was hoping someone more knowledgeable would chime in, this is my first year with figs. But I too have been using what started out as 511 but morphed into straight pine bark, and pine bark compost (that I found at the local lowes. Happi Gro brand I think) + Dolomite and using diluted Dyna Gro Protekt and Foliage Pro. I am happy with the growth and color, but next year I will use more fertilizer, less diluted to push first year growth more. I will also water more during peak of summer. I was worried about over watering but when the rains came in September they took off. I have been slowly diluting the Fertilizer more, growth is steady but slowing. I plan to water rarely during cool weather, and no fertilizer from December to late February or March here in 8B. Just my 0.02 cents. We can see teens often, single digits rarely, so probably store them in shed. __________________ Don (Near Austin, TX zone 8b) If you have these for sale/trade PM me: Zingarella, Grantham's Royal, Calderona, Genovese Nero, Noir de Barbentane

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1413649476	Reply with quote #3

Hi erics11, If your trees are growing and fruiting year round, then fertilize year round . I don't see a reason to stop fertilizing, as long as you don't over fertilize as that would result in burning the trees. If you see less activity (trees leafless ) in January and February then fertilize less during those months. So, do your trees keep their leaves year round ? Here altough temps have still been over 10°C even at night (except may be for two nights ) , the leaves on some fig trees started yellowing and began to fall. So days shortening might induce the yellowing on my fig trees here in my Zone7. This week, at 7:00 PM it was already totally dark outside. __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

Centurion

Registered:1293429646
Posts: 810

Posted 1413734247	Reply with quote #4

Fully agree. When I lived in an area that did not freeze one winter, my trees continued to grow throughout the winter. Growth slowed, to be sure, but the trees never went dormant. __________________ Dave Verde Valley, AZ Zone 8

erics11

Registered:1399955853
Posts: 102

Posted 1413735870	Reply with quote #5

Thanks for the responses. The leaves dont always fall off. It definitely slows down though. Ill continue to fertilize. Theres no chance of freezing here. __________________ Hayward, CA 9B Own: Brown Turkey, White Kadota, Mission Black, Celeste, RdB, VdB, Hunt, Dominick, Strawberry Verte, LSU Scott's black, Brown Greek, Spanish Black Wishlist: Chicago Hardy, Desert King, Col de Dame Gris, any other favorites

pitangadiego

Moderator
Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1413751140	Reply with quote #6

The point of stopping fertilization is to not artificially stimulate new tender growth that will not have time to become "hardened" before the colder, and especially freezing weather arrives, which will take a greater toll (kill) growth that is still green and/or tender. Wood that is not dormant or still has green color to itwill generally be lost (killed) when temps drop below freezing. This damage can invite disease by providing an entry point, and is obviously a waster of fertilizer, since you didn't get any useable/lasting growth benefit from the fertilizer. As mentioned, if you are in the tropics, or where there are no freezing temps or frost, the reason for not fertilizing disappears. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

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