Guano

Question from Robert:

Where did you get the guano for your artichokes ? and the ratio 10-10-2 or ? and do you fertilize anymore during the season and if so do you still use the guano, Thank You, Robert, Newport Oregon

Answer from Pat:

Nurseries and mail-order catalogue companies that specialize in organic products often carry guano. Formulas vary widely. Here is a company that sells guano with a 1-10-2.5 formula. :http://www.theorganicpages.com/topo/companylisting.html?CompanyId=1141 And here is a site that carries many guano’s containing adequate nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to be used as complete fertilizers:http://www.dirtworks.net/Bat-Guano-Organic-Fertilizer.html

Most fossilized seabird guano is usually very high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen. I have used this with good results when the soil already contained plenty of nitrogen from other sources. Here is one with 1-20-1 formula. http://www.planetnatural.com/site/fossilized-seabird-guano.html
Fossilized guano, such as this one, is a superior source of phosphorus. I am not currently using it since I have a bag of fish bone meal on hand. But Fossilized Seabird Guano has given me good results when adequate nitrogen, potassium, and trace minerals were already present in the soil. You could combine it with seed meal, for example, to provide nitrogen and Greensand or Sul-Po-Mag to provide potassium.

Peaceful Valley Farm Supply sells Guano Plus: 11-5-2. http://www.groworganic.com/guano-plus-11-5-2-50-lb.html It’s a combination of guano with feathermeal to provide nitrogen. Feathermeal is a by-product of the poultry industry and an excellent source of organic nitrogen. If you choose to use this product, which sounds really good, it might be wise to add some seaweed meal to provide trace minerals.

When growing artichokes in fast-draining soil I fertilize once a month and apply irrigation daily. This is what it takes to grow an artichoke from a 4-inch pot size planted on March 1 to full harvest by mid June. It is fun to grow a good artichoke plant to harvest, but not a money-saving or dry-farmer plant.