January 22, 2010, Newsletter Issue #429: Organic Farming Fertilizers

Tip of the Week

Organic amendments such as compost are a wonderful way to provide your plants with a slow, steady stream of necessary nutrients.
 
In fact, many organic farming fertilizers provide trace elements that are sometimes hard to find in commercially prepared compounds.
 
Even better, organic farming fertilizers such as compost, steer manure, chicken manure, cottonseed meal, alfalfa meal, kelp and liquid fish emulsion can actually improve the soil's texture and water retention abilities.
 
Organic farming fertilizers cause less pollution than chemical fertilizers. They are safe to use around children and pets. These fertilizers break down slowly and are not as strong as chemical fertilizers.
 
You may not want to use bone meal or blood meal around areas that raccoons or dogs visit, as they are attracted to the scent.
 
Before buying a fertilizer, organic or not, it is important to understand the numbers on the bags.  Fertilizers on the market list the proportions of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), always in that order.
 


For example: a 21-7-14 fertilizer has 21% nitrogen, 7% phosphorus and 14% potassium, or potash.
 


A 5-10-10 fertilizer contains 5% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 10% potash.
 


Steer manure is typically rated 1-1-1 and is very low in plant nutrients.
The first number is nitrogen. Nitrogen is what makes your plant foliage grow.
 
The second number is phosphorous which is what helps your plants to bloom.
 
The third number, potassium, is what helps keep your plants healthy.
 
Always follow the instructions on organic farming fertilizers bags. Remember you can overdo fertilizers but you cannot put too much finished compost on or around your plants.

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