Re: sulfate of potash for meyer lemons
David Poole wrote:
>
> Barbara wrote:
>
> >I'm wondering if wood ashes would provide the potash suggested for feeding
> >Meyer lemons?
>
> Hmm. I'd be a bit wary about using wood ash Barbara, it adds potash
> but tends to be somewhat alkaline and can lower the acidity in the
> soil - not necessarily a good thing for many Citrus. You should be
> able to get it cheaply enough from any garden dept. It is usually one
> of the least expensive of garden 'chemicals'. Here, we buy it for the
> equiv. of around 3.20 US for a couple of pounds - and you know how
> much more expensive the UK is compared to over there :-)
>
Just a couple of points I'd like to make.
Sulphate of potash is very concentrated and easily overdone. I would
suggest 2oz per square yard for one application (so no more than about 4
oz for one tree at one time, unless you are going to treat a very large
surrounding area). The easiest way to distribute it evenly would be to
dissolve it in water on a can and water it on.
If you also regularly feed your tree with a mulch of compost right over
the root zone this will encourage the soil organisms to retrieve any
potassium already in the local soil, so the need for boosting it
artificially should eventually disappear.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata,
New Zealand (astride the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
