Fertilizing Mirlitons

 

There has never been a scientific study for home gardeners on how to best fertilize mirlitons,  so we get to invent the science ourselves.  In the growers guide that I wrote several years ago, I recommended  8-24-24 fertilizer. I don’t advocate that specific one anymore. Any fertilizer with a lower percentage of nitrogen (the first number)  such as 5-20-20 will work fine and old-fashioned 8-8-8 or MIracleGro are good choices. A couple of tablespoons at planting and again in July is sufficient—as long as the vine is vigorously growing and green.

 

 But there are two important fertilizing principles I have learned from experienced growers:

 

(1) Use a slow-release fertilizer such as manure. A mirliton’s nitrogen needs vary throughout the growing season. You don’t want to jolt their tender young roots when you first plant them. They like a buffet where they can eat light, but return for more helpings when they need it. Manure provides that. Ideally, work into your soil or planting pit before you plant, but you can side-dress throughout the season. Rabbit manure is the best choice, but any manure will do the job. 

 

(2) If you are using fast-release fertilizers, stop before the flowering season. A dose of fertilizer can delay and disrupt flowering.   

 

I asked our home gardener mirliton scientists last year to tell us how they fertilized mirlitons.  What were the signs it was helping or hurting? Did the experiment with different techniques?  I got these thoughtful responses. Click here to read them.

 

No More Guesswork In Watering Mirlitons: The Soil Sampler

 

 

 

Excessive rains and prolonged droughts make it nearly impossible to know if we have the right soil moisture for mirlitons.  Extremes in soil moisture–too much or too little–can stress the plant and cause diseases. Mirliton growers in Brazil long ago took the guesswork out of determining exactly how much available moisture lies below the surface. They use an inexpensive “soil sampler” which allows them to take a core sample of their gardens/fields and see and touch the soil at all levels. You can’t beat that.

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You can buy a small soil sampler for less than $20, or if you are like me and have an old worn-out back, you can get a 36” one with a footstep. Once you pull up a core, you can pop it out onto a table touch the soil at each level and to feel for moisture levels. A mirliton’s primary root zone is in the top 7” of soil, so no more drowning or dehydrating your plants. Watch this clip on how easy it is to use.

Buy the 12” one here

Buy the 36″ one here

Here’s a short video on how to use the “sight and touch” method for the core sample you take.