1. to compare a chemical (Miracle Gro) against an organic (Better World) plant food.
2. to see how much I could grow in a confined space.
I’ve had a number of questions about feed amounts, cost comparisons, etc. I appreciate the interest. My comparisons are not in controlled lab conditions; they’re on my back deck, prone to excess heat, insects, and assorted wildlife. So I like to think my tests are real-life, even if my record-keeping is sloppy. (Come to think of it, real life is pretty sloppy too.)
Let me answer the cost question: organic costs more than chemical. Period. I knew that going in. As for the difference? That depends on how much of the organic (in my case Better World) you use. Like all manufacturers, Better World has suggested amounts. I’ve discovered, by accident, that I can use a lot less than recommended, and still get results as good or better than with Miracle Gro.
You can experiment with Better World without fear of harming your plants.
You can’t vary the Miracle Gro amounts, unless you are willing to risk over-salinating the soil, and possibly burning your foliage.
I think you also need to look at yields and growth times. If you look through the history of my blog, you’ll see consistently better and faster yields with the organic Better World. If I was growing on a larger scale, this would be important to me.
The other item that I think is important in this image-conscious world is the overall appearance of the food grown. Middling as my photos are, you can see very clear differences in the strawberries at these progressive links:
http://hasenfrass.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-7th-five-days-of-neglect-and.html
http://hasenfrass.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-8th-some-additional-photos.html
http://hasenfrass.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-13th-berries-and-lettuce-ready-for.html
http://hasenfrass.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-19th-and-rounding-first-corner-its.html
In the process, I think I’ve answered the second question too. How much of each do I use? The answer again is, it depends. I started out using the recommended amounts. Then quickly screwed up the Better World amounts by inadvertently under-using the recommended amounts. Recently, because I have so much stuff in such little space, I’ve doubled the Miracle Gro dose, and doubled the suggested Better World dose. Miracle Gro I continue to use as a liquid (made from the blue powder) because I have to. Better World I am now spooning directly into the soil, because I can and it’s easier to use than as a liquid tea.
Here’s today’s photos:
Mister Lincoln rose on Better World.
Mister Lincoln rose on Miracle Gro.
Mister Lincoln rose on Miracle Gro.
This rose, and the raspberries, are the only plants I’ve found that seem to prefer Miracle Gro.
Strawberries on water only.
Finally getting some fruit, weeks after the Better World results (see links above).
Jalapeno pepper on water only.
Eggplant on Miracle Gro.
This is where my eggplants on Better World were at the end of June...
before the squirrels ate them!
Jalapeno pepper on Miracle Gro.
My eggplant on Better World has recovered from the squirrel attack and caught up with Miracle Gro inside a month. Amazing.
Jalapeno pepper on Better World.
Jalapeno pepper on Better World.
Jalapeno pepper on Better World.
I have 3 or 4 good-sized peppers. Anyone want to taste it?
Peas.
Miracle Gro on the left.
Better World on the right.
’nuff said.
I have one marigold left on Miracle Gro.
Tomato on Miracle Gro, looking like Scarface.
I have nine tomatoes coming in on Miracle Gro.
I have several marigolds left on Better World, and more coming in.
Big honkin’ healthy tomato on Better World.
Ten tomatoes on Better World.
More marigolds on Better World.
More tomatoes on Better World.
Raspberry on Miracle Gro.
Raspberry on Better World.
The Better World over-packed bean pot.
The Better World over-packed bean pot bearing beans.
The Better World over-packed bean pot bearing beans.
Better World tomato, Test Bed Two.
Two fruit.
Miracle gro tomato, Test Bed Two.
One fruit.
Basil comparison.
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