News from Bob's Market & Greenhouses, Inc.

Using Organic Fertilizers

Phosphates and nitrates found in fertilizer contaminate waterways and kill fish. Have your soil tested to see what nutrients it needs, and then look for labels listing "natural organic" and "slow release" ingredients. To avoid runoff, never apply fertilizer before heavy rains or to frozen ground.

THE BASICS OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS:
Like traditional fertilizers, organic fertilizers show their content with three bold numbers. These numbers represent three different compounds: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potash, which we can also describe with the letters N-P-K. The three numbers listed on fertilizer labels correspond to the percentage of these materials found in the fertilizer.

In addition to other properties, Nitrogen helps plant foliage to grow strong. Phosphorous helps roots and flowers grow and develop. Potassium (Potash) is important for overall plant health.

Organic fertilizers are made from a huge variety of naturally occurring elements such as bat guano, blood meal, bone meal, feather meal, and fish meal. See this website managed by the National Organic Program for more information about organic gardening products and standards in the U.S.

BEFORE YOU APPLY ORGANIC FERTILIZERS:
One of the best ways to improve the health of your plants is by adding organic compost to your soil. Compost can help reduce the amount of fertilizer treatments your plants need. If you're not composting organic garden waste and kitchen scraps now, you should start as soon as you can. The addition of compost to your garden soil will add nutrients, improve drainage, and help your plants' immune systems. You can learn more about composting from our June 24th Newsletter.

When you're looking for organic fertilizers, it's important to first know what kind of fertilizer your plants may need. You can test your soil with an electronic soil tester, which will give you a good idea of the quality of your soil and what it may be lacking.