| Just like us, plants need a balanced diet. They | | | | Growmore is an inorganic general fertilizer; pelleted |
| obtain this in part from soil that has been enriched | | | | poultry manure is an organic general fertilizer. |
| with bulky manures, but such manures do not | | | | Application rates for all proprietary fertilizers will |
| contain large quantities of food - their value lies | | | | be printed clearly on the container. |
| more in their soil-conditioning properties. For this | | | | Sequestered Iron |
| reason, fertilizers are used to provide plants with | | | | Plants that dislike alkaline or chalky soils - |
| nutrients in concentrated form. | | | | rhododendrons and camellias, for instance - usually |
| General fertilizers | | | | do so because they find it difficult to extract iron. |
| Plants have a need for three main foods - | | | | This results in a yellowing of the foliage. |
| nitrogen (N), phosphates (P) and potassium (K). I | | | | Sequestered iron is a plant tonic which contains |
| always think of these as the starter, the main | | | | iron and trace elements in a form that they can |
| course and the pudding. Phosphates are the | | | | assimilate rapidly, so it is a useful tonic for |
| starter - they promote root growth. Nitrogen is | | | | lime-hating pot plants being grown in hard-water |
| the main course - it fuels the development of | | | | areas. |
| leaves and shoots, making the plant grow well and | | | | If you have yellowing lime haters growing in the |
| stay green. Potassium, or potash, is the pudding - | | | | garden, dig them up and plant them in containers |
| it encourages flower and fruit development when | | | | of lime-free (ericaceous) compost. |
| the other two foods have done their bit. | | | | Liquid Fertilizer Feeds |
| Fertilizers described as general or compound have | | | | Proprietary liquid feeds, which are diluted in water |
| all three foods or nutrients in balanced quantity. | | | | before being applied to plants, go into action |
| As well as these three main foods, there are | | | | faster than feeds in powder or granular form but |
| others described as trace elements, which are the | | | | they are not so long-lasting. Apply them to |
| plant's equivalent of vitamins. Things such as | | | | container-grown plants once a fortnight in spring |
| magnesium, boron and molybdenum are all | | | | and summer. |
| present, to a variable degree, in well-fed soil and in | | | | Foliar Feeds |
| general fertilizers. | | | | The fastest-acting plant foods are foliar feeds |
| Organic or Inorganic? | | | | that are diluted in water and sprayed on to the |
| Organic fertilizers are derived from carbon, so at | | | | leaves, preferably on a dull day so that they do |
| some time have been living material. Inorganic | | | | not evaporate too quickly. |
| fertilizers are chemically derived. Both can provide | | | | When to Feed |
| plants with the nutrients they need to grow. The | | | | As a general rule, garden plants are fed once in |
| difference is that organic fertilizers must be | | | | spring and once in summer, while they are |
| broken down by soil bacteria before they are in a | | | | growing. |
| form that can be utilized by plants; inorganic | | | | In winter they do not need feeding, but sulphate |
| fertilizers can be absorbed as soon as they are | | | | of ammonia (high in nitrogen) can be sprinkled |
| dissolved in water. | | | | around fruit trees to give them an early boost in |
| Inorganic fertilizers are thus usually quicker-acting, | | | | early spring. Nitrogen is the food most readily |
| but organic fertilizers improve bacterial activity in | | | | leached out of soil by water and this will replace |
| the soil and keep it healthy. Use organic fertilizers | | | | losses due to winter rains. All plants will enjoy a |
| to keep soil fertile and inorganic fertilizers to give | | | | sprinkling of general fertilizer in early spring to give |
| plants a quick boost. | | | | them a good start. Do this if you do nothing else. |