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FERTILISERS

• Message 1. 

  Posted by madeleineR (U14451255) on Tuesday, 22nd March 2011

  Hello All
  
  A discussion point about various types of fertilisers.........
  
  For years I have been using Growmore as a gen purpose fertiliser for my veggies and plants. Recently I was given a couple of cartons of blood fish and bone which I have never used before,
  
  Does anyone have a preference of Growmore over Blood Fish and Bone? Does any one of those give better results for certain types veggie growing or flower growing?
  
  And then of course there are chicken manure pellets and bonemeal......
  
  Madeleine

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Tuesday, 22nd March 2011

  I tend to use FB&B on veg and growmore on flowers and non edibles.
  
  It's not really an organic thing, but FB& B is classified as organic whereas Growmore isn't.
  
  As far as differences are concerned I can't really comment as I use them for different crops so can't compare!
  
  So I guess it all boils back to organic / non-organic and I am not prepared to go into that issue as I don't see 'organic' gardening as a level playing field
  
  nuff said!

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by As_Iff (U13951957) on Tuesday, 22nd March 2011

  I think of Growmore as a more -or-less "instant " fertiliser, and I think of Blood, Fish and Bone as a slow-release fertiliser, because BFB has to break down over time in the soil.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Wednesday, 23rd March 2011

  Yup.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by madeleineR (U14451255) on Thursday, 24th March 2011

  OK so do you re-apply BF&B to your veggies later on in the season or just rely on a once only application when planting? I often think my veggies could be a bit better and wonder if i should be adding another applicatiion of GM later on in the season too.
  
  Thanks all

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by David K (U14115317) on Thursday, 24th March 2011

  This isn’t quite as easy to answer as it may at first seem. To understand fertilizers, you must first find the amount of nitrogen phosphates & potash (NPK) in the product and balance that against the requirements of the crop you intend to use it on i.e. leaf crops such as brassicas will need more nitrogen.
  
  Fish, Blood and Bone
  This is the organic version of Growmore with similar N-P-K levels. Fish, blood & bone runs at 6-6-6 whereas Growmore is 7-7-7. Cost is around 15% more than Growmore.
  
  Dried Blood or Blood Meal
  Dried blood is a straight fertiliser being 12% nitrogen. It is easily soluble and as fast acting as inorganic fertilisers although it is between 4 and 5 times the price for nitrogen delivered as its inorganic cousins.
  
  Hoof & Horn
  Hoof & horn is a straight fertiliser, like dried blood it is 12% nitrogen but it is slow acting. The benefit of this is that you can use it as a base dressing for crops like brassicas and it will gradually release its nitrogen payload over the season rather than in one go and then be leached by rain etc. Cost is slightly less than dried blood.
  
  Bonemeal
  Bonemeal provides a small amount of nitrogen, 3.5%, and is an excellent source of slow release phosphorus, 18%, as well as containing calcium. It is often used as a base dressing when planting trees and bushes as phosphorus is used by plants to promote strong and healthy root growth The slow release aspect means the plant is well supplied for the crucial first year as it establishes.
  
  Chicken Manure Pellets
  Widely available these usually have an N-P-K of 4-2.5-2.3 or thereabouts. Additionally they contain organic matter and trace elements, making them an excellent choice for top dressing.
  
  Hope that doesn't sound too complicated.
  
  

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by madeleineR (U14451255) on Thursday, 24th March 2011

  Thank you very much David.
  
  Will be looking at the NPK levels in future and possibly extending my range of fertilisers to cover different plantings. I shall be planting out some brassicas over the next few weeks so based on what you have said, hoof & horn sounds a good investment for them. I think I have always provided good soil requirements (Not loose and not freshly dug) for them but they have been a bit disappointing.
  I also have a couple of tubs of Growmore which I have always used as a general purpose fertiliser around the veggie plot, allotment & garden which I wil use up. Wish I had known about the bonemeal earlier as I have just planted some shrubs in the borders to fill gaps and if that provides the better start for root growth then it would have been good. Never mind! Will mark that up to use another time.
  
  Food for thought! Thanks again David
  
  

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