Fertility Program
Philosophy
One of the lessons we learned early in our journey is that healthy plants are often the result of healthy soil.
When we purchased this property, much of the land had been timbered years earlier and then left to reclaim itself. The soil was compacted in places, low in organic matter, and heavily dominated by grasses and brush. Like many North Florida properties, it presented both opportunities and challenges.
Rather than viewing fertility as simply applying fertilizer, we chose to take a longer view.
Our goal is not just to grow fruit. Our goal is to improve the soil each year and leave it better than we found it.
Every tree, vine, and berry plant at Chesed Ranch is planted with the understanding that we are not only feeding the plant above ground, but also supporting the biological activity below ground. Healthy roots, healthy soil microbes, adequate organic matter, and proper moisture management are every bit as important as the nutrients listed on a fertilizer label.
To support that objective, we use a layered approach.
Arborist mulch is applied around trees and vines to moderate soil temperatures, suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and gradually add organic matter back into the soil as it decomposes. Throughout the growing season, a fertigation system delivers a blend of seaweed extract, humic acid, fulvic acid, and biological stimulants directly through the irrigation system. In addition, each crop receives crop-specific organic fertilizers designed to provide a steady source of nutrients while supporting long-term soil health.
The products and application rates documented on this page are not intended to be a universal recommendation. They simply reflect what we are currently doing at Chesed Ranch and what we are learning along the way.
Like the orchard itself, the fertility program continues to evolve.
Some practices have produced results that exceeded our expectations. Others have taught us valuable lessons about what not to do. Both are part of the process.
If there is a guiding principle behind everything we do, it is this:
We are not trying to force plants to grow. We are trying to create an environment where they want to grow.
That philosophy influences nearly every decision we make, from mulching and irrigation to fertilization and soil improvement.
The orchard, berry patch, vineyard, and gardens are still young. The trees documented throughout this website will continue
How We Fertilize at Chesed Ranch
One of the questions we receive most often is how we fertilize the orchard, berry patch, vineyard, and gardens.
The short answer is that we don’t rely on a single product or application. Instead, we use a layered approach that combines organic fertilizers, biological supplements, mulch, and fertigation to provide a steady supply of nutrients throughout the growing season.
Our objective is simple:
Build healthy soil, develop strong root systems, and create an environment where plants can thrive naturally.
Like everything else at Chesed Ranch, the program continues to evolve as we gain experience and learn more about our soil, climate, and growing conditions.
The Fertigation System
In 2026, we installed an EZ-FLO fertigation system on the main irrigation supply feeding the orchard and landscape zones.
If you’re unfamiliar with fertigation, it is the process of delivering nutrients through the irrigation system. Rather than applying liquid products by hand, the EZ-FLO injector introduces a small amount of fertilizer solution into the irrigation water each time the system runs.
The unit installed at Chesed Ranch is the EZ-FLO EZKIT-3 2.5-Gallon System.
One of the features we appreciate most is its simplicity. Once the tank is filled and adjusted, nutrients are delivered automatically through the irrigation system over an extended period of time, providing a consistent low-dose feeding rather than large, infrequent applications.
No, we are not sponsored by EZ-FLO. We simply liked the design and felt it fit our management style.
Our EZ-FLO Recipe
The fertigation program runs from approximately mid-March through October 1st, depending on weather and growing conditions.
The 2.5-gallon tank is mixed as follows:
| Product | Amount |
|---|---|
| Aqua Power™ Organic Fish Fertilizer | 48 oz |
| KelpStim® (formerly SeaMax®) | 24 oz |
| Fulmax® Fulvic Acid | 10 oz |
| Humax® Humic Acid | 16 oz |
The injector is typically operated on Setting 1.
Under normal conditions, the nutrient solution is depleted during the first week. The second week serves as a fresh-water flush through the irrigation system before the tank is refilled.
This approach helps reduce the potential for emitter buildup while maintaining a consistent feeding program throughout the active growing season.
Why These Products?
Over the years we have used a variety of products, but we continue to come back to the SaferGro line because of the results we have observed on our property.
Again, we are not sponsored by SaferGro. These are simply products that have earned a permanent place in our program.
Aqua Power™ 5-1-1 Organic Fish Fertilizer
Provides a gentle source of nitrogen while supplying organic compounds that support soil biology and root development.
KelpStim® (Formerly SeaMax®)
Derived from natural kelp and used primarily as a biological stimulant. Kelp products contain naturally occurring compounds that may help plants better tolerate environmental stress while encouraging root and shoot development.
Humax® 12% Humic Acid
Humic acids help improve nutrient availability, support microbial activity, and contribute to long-term soil improvement.
Fulmax® Fulvic Acid
Fulvic acids help transport nutrients within the soil solution and can improve nutrient uptake efficiency.
| Program | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💧 EZ-FLO BIOLOGICAL FERTIGATION | ||||||||||||
| AquaPower + SeaMax + FulMax + Humax | ||||||||||||
| Fresh Water Flush Week |
Granular Products
Are there other options out there.. yes, and there are and some good ones, these just work the best for our farm.
Calendar
| Program | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 GRANULAR APPLICATIONS | ||||||||||||
| Application #1 (Late Winter) | ||||||||||||
| Application #2 (Spring) | ||||||||||||
| Application #3 (Early Summer) | ||||||||||||
| Application #4 (Late Summer) | ||||||||||||
| 🍊 CITRUS | ||||||||||||
| Citrus-tone (1 cup/tree, 4x/yr) | ||||||||||||
| 🥭 TROPICAL FRUIT | ||||||||||||
| Mangoes - Citrus-tone (1/3 cup) | ||||||||||||
| Avocados - Citrus-tone (1/3 cup) | ||||||||||||
| Kiwi - Citrus-tone (1/3 cup) | ||||||||||||
| 🍑 TREE FRUIT | ||||||||||||
| Peaches - Fruit-tone (1 cup) | ||||||||||||
| Apricots - Fruit-tone (1 cup) | ||||||||||||
| Apples - Fruit-tone (1 cup) | ||||||||||||
| 🫐 BERRIES | ||||||||||||
| Blueberries - Holly-tone (1/3 cup) | ||||||||||||
| Blackberries - Berry-tone (1/3 cup) | ||||||||||||
| Raspberries - Berry-tone (1/3 cup) | ||||||||||||
| 🍇 VINEYARD | ||||||||||||
| Muscadines & Scuppernongs - Fruit-tone (1/3 cup) | ||||||||||||