TRUG & LETTUCE fertiliser
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ast 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Examples of organic fertilisers include fish, blood and bone, seaweed, and liquid comfrey or nettle feeds. Continued...
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Ho u s e & Ho m e
