How to amend too much nitrogen

[frdnicholas]

I added aged rabbit manure and compost in the winter to a bed where I had asparagus for5 years without them producing much. This spring I planted eggplant and poblano peppers in this bed. The peppers are growing very tall and look beautiful except there's no fruit. A couple of flowers have come and gone and I'm wondering if it due to the extra nitrogen I put in for the asparagus? If that is the case, is there something I could add to the soil around the plants to help them produce fruit? I'm in zone 8b Southeast Coastal Georgia and the plants are 2 and a half to 3 feet tall.

 

[Chuck]

No, it is not too much nitrogen. FRESH rabbit manure has an N value of 2.4% and dried aged rabbit manure has even less. What you are probably missing is phosphorus which makes for blooms. Was the manure and compost the only thing you added?

 

[frdnicholas]

Yes it was. What could I add now for the phosphorous? I have some organic fertilizer, Dr. Earth. Would that work or is there a better source of phosphorous?

 

[Chuck]

Yes it was. What could I add now for the phosphorous? I have some organic fertilizer, Dr. Earth. Would that work or is there a better source of phosphorous?

If you are not an organic gardener use a small amount of a product called Triple Phosphate. If you are an organic gardener use fish bone meal. Fish bone meal is faster acting than regular cow bone meal and has a slightly higher P number. Adding manures also raises P levels. Or, you can use Rock Phosphate. Your Dr. Earth is an excellent fertilizer with a higher P number than most other organic fertilizers. If it were me I would just add a big serving of the Dr. Earth and maybe a handful of Fish Bone Meal if you have it and if not regular bone meal or rock phosphate. Give your Pablanos a little more time. My peppers are just now getting started good.