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fertiliser
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Last month we spoke about soil – what it is and how its properties influence what we can grow. In this issue we’ll look at how we feed the soil, and in turn, our plants.
We all need plenty to eat and drink to survive and maintain good health. The same goes for our seeds and plants. And that’s where fertilisers come in.
Fertilisers help plants grow. If the plant is a fast grower, then the more fertiliser we apply, the happier the plant will be.
If your soil is healthy, then it might not always be necessary to add fertilisers. But, if you do then your plants should produce a much more impressive show of flowers or higher yields of fruit or veg.
So, what are fertilisers? All fertilisers will usually contain a source of plant nutrients in either a chemical or organic form. Some might contain major nutrients, which some of our plants might need in higher quantities. Some will contain something that is referred to as a trace element, which plants only need in tiny amounts. Most fertilisers are based on the three major plant nutrients:
Nitrogen (N): For plants that produce green leafy growth – like cabbages and other brassicas.
Phosphorus (P): For healthy root and shoot growth.
Potassium (K): For plants that produce flowers and fruit – like tomatoes and apples.
If you buy your fertilisers, then their N:P:K ratio should be clearly stated on the packaging. For example, if the ratio is stated as 20:20:20 then this would indicate a balanced, all-purpose fertiliser. If however the ratio is 10:12:24 then this would indicate a fertiliser with a higher potassium content.
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Why is this important? Well, the answer is simple. If you want to grow tomatoes and you pile on a nitrogen rich fertiliser, your tomato plants will plough all their energies into creating leaves and not tomatoes. If you’re looking to have an abundant salad crop, then don’t pile on the potassium.
Where do fertilisers come from? Fertilisers are either man-made (inorganic) or are naturally found in plants or animals (organic).
Some inorganic fertilisers are synthetic, artificial forms of plant nutrients. Others are naturally occurring mined minerals. Both are designed to be fast acting, and are often concentrated and need watering down (a good example is Miracle Gro).
Organic fertilisers such as compost or manure) are naturally produced. They tend to be more slow acting, as the molecules are larger than those found in inorganic fertilisers. So they need time to break down before the nutrients are released. Examples of organic fertilisers include fish, blood and bone, seaweed, and liquid comfrey or nettle feeds. Improve your soil structure. We’ve covered plant nutrition, but now we need to put in some exercise. Time to get the fork out and work the garden over to improve the soil.
A healthy soil structure is just as important as adding fertiliser. Plants are much happier in a soil that has been improved with the addition of manure and compost, or where the soil has been dug over, creating space for air and water between the individual particles.
Every autumn, when we head to the coast for a dip in the sea, we also collect seaweed as a garden treat. Kelp that has been washed ashore after a storm is taken home, put in a water butt, and covered in rainwater. Six months on we have our own liquid seaweed fertiliser, which we then dilute and use to feed our plants. The allotment vegetables grow like stink, it’s free, and we even have leftovers for the worms in the compost. (Okay, it does pong. Most great fertilisers do. Just hold your nose.) And you can make fertiliser a lot closer to home. We use comfrey leaves and nettles to make our own liquid fertiliser. Same approach – chop the leaves, cover with water and then leave. Comfrey tends to be rich in potassium, whilst nettles tend to be higher in nitrogen. Use appropriately or do what we do – use a bit of both to give your plants a nice balanced diet, along with a drop of seaweed tea to provide that vital blend of trace elements too.
There. All free. Harvested and made naturally. And don’t forget, if you live near stables, you can get the horses to do the hard work for you. Just fill a bag, wait till the worms are breaking it down, and serve…
But why is all that important? Well, if there’s only one thing that you do this month then it really ought to be feed your plants. If flowers are your thing, then feed them. Give dahlias a liquid feed, keep them well watered and tie the shoots of tall varieties to sturdy stakes as they grow. Water and feed sweet peas, roses, and summer bedding regularly. Pick those flowers every few days, and remove any seed pods to prolong flowering.
