Crab Meal

Crab meal (5-2-0.5) is an excellent food source for soil microorganisms. It's a 100% organic soil amendment produced from the shells of crabs. It acts as a slow release organic fertilizer and nematode suppresser.

Chitin, The Key Ingredient in Crab Meal

Crab shells have high levels of chitin, which encourages soil microorganisms to exude enzymes known as chitinases, which break down the chitin that's a part of nematode egg shells.

The existence of chitin within the fertilizer helps it be an all natural biopesticide that's non-toxic to animals, birds, plants and fish.

Crab meal is an organic, eco-friendly fertilizer. It's made by drying shells in a kiln and then grinding them into a fine dust. The crabs are usually gathered from Mexico to Maine.

Using Crab Meal Organic Fertilizer

You can fertilize the garden with this meal on its own or mixed with other fertilizers. Whether used alone, or blended, the producer usually provides a set of instructions for you to use.

It's possible to make the meal yourself, using guidelines that have been agreed upon by gardeners and scientists.

For use in your gardens:

• Vegetables—5 pounds per 50 foot row (2.27 kg per 15.25 meter row)
• Ornamental trees—4 pounds (1.82 kg) per tree
• Ornamental shrubs—3/4 pound (340 grams) per bush
• Tomatoes and peppers—6 ounces (170 grams) per plant
• House plants—2 to 4 ounces (60-120 grams) per pot, determined by the size of the plant

As you're planting, incorporate the fertilizer into your soil prior to placing plants in the ground. If the plant is already in the soil, blend crab meal around it.

Mulching the garden bed offers some advantages when using crab meal. The mulch will maintain a higher moisture level in the soil, making the meal more available. It will also keep the meal from blowing away if you apply it on a windy day.

Add meal to your compost pile as well to increase the nutrients it will supply to your plants, and to keep down the nematode problem.

Crab meal is a very beneficial organic fertilizer. The time release quality means your plants won't be overfed. And the side benefit of nematode management will keep your plants happy in your garden.

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