Quote from: pj1881 (Patrick) on March 03, 2015, 01:24:30 PM

Quote from: cbss_daviefl on March 03, 2015, 01:15:23 PM

My mom, she lives a little over a mile away from me, gets away with using the 8-3-9 by applying every two weeks during the rainy season and her trees look good.  She doesn't have a job and has time to burn.  For me, time is money.  I now have over 150 trees in the ground.  I will save lots over the long run if I can apply the 8-2-12 just once a month.

With a good time released formula you could do it every two months with half as much weight and still have better nutrient delivery.  That would cut down on use by at least four times making $75/50lb bag a better value in the long run.  Not to mention a quality blend could be formulated with better fillers (instead of treated sludge) and cut down on contaminants (like those found in municipal sludges, metals and other industrial waste).  Add that to the use of sulfate sourced nutrients which also help with high pH issues that are higher quality and its a no brainer.  Its the equivalent of a healthy balanced diet for human consumption consisting of steady small meals, instead of woofing down pizza once a day.

Hey, what is wrong with a good pizza?  Isn't pizza a food grouip, along with bacon?

If you add bacon it acts as a minor nutrient package!

Quote from: pj1881 (Patrick) on March 03, 2015, 11:22:10 AM

Another issue is the amount of 8-3-9 I currently use based on the label.  I purchase and use over 500lbs a year, most of which gets washed right into the ground.  When properly used the costs would be about the same with either product.  The difference is that the proposed product would be a much higher quality and would keep nutrient levels consistent.  For the "less-neurotic" grower the second product would work better and require less applications.

To clarify, the proposed mixes slow release makeup would keep the nutrients around longer requiring less weight used and application.  The immediate release formulations dump everything and most washes right past the root zone.

Isnt the second product is a zero nitrogen product?  No benefit for young/growing trees.

Sorry! I was referring to the second product in my post being either of the new mixes. And my hands smell of 8-3-9 right now, I just applied some on my lunch break.. The treated sewage sludge gives it a nice smell!

Im glad this topic was brought up.  Har did a really good job explaining his reasoning for the proposed new blends.  While the old 8-3-9 with minor package created for the RFC years ago is still widely used and somewhat adequate, he is proposing high quality materials and slower release grading.  He also wants to add/adjust the minor package for PBC soil makeup.  The purpose of the two types (high and low N) was for trees growing vs fruiting as well as for older/newer trees.  I would happily pay $75 a bag for a high sulfate based mix of slow released quality derived blend of both types proposed.  Har did mention some current blends on the market that he recommends.  I hope he will post those on here so I can start tracking them down.  Winfield carries ones with N in slow release in 12 and 15%, I would really like one with nitrogen about 6-10(max) and one with no nitrogen at all (both with quality grade materials.)

Also, he pointed out that the current mix lasts one or two rainstorms at best, the newer blend would sustain levels throughout the year.

Actually I was just looking for your recent post with pictures of your cocktail trees.  I swear you had posted pics no? Also, the reason I recommended approach grafting is because you said you had 0% success with a specific variety. 

Turpentine is an all around favorite.  As for the other questions the jury is still out.  I believe that there is only minimal research underway.  Gary Zill is conducting a variety of experiments on mango rootstocks but nothing has been made public.

High nitrogen lawn fertilizer?

Those are flowers

Nothing compares in quality to Tina knives.  The more expensive the better T605 and T640-10 are my favorites. They sharpen to a razors edge and feel awesome in use. I use a schick injector for budding and those for everything else.

That all depends on what they are covered with.  Some frost cloths breathe adequately enough, other methods don't.

You should be okay in Davie

I got a few from my tree last year with minimal blooms, this year its blooming a lot better.  Its a very large fruit so I wouldn't want to have to much production at this stage, I don't think the tree could handle it if it held a lot of fruit.

If the growth flushes out of the scion within the first three weeks chances are its just energy from the scion itself. 

Med Fly! That thing causes one hell of a disturbance when it shows up in South Florida!!